What should coumadin levels be

Patients who do fill prescriptions abroad should ensure the accuracy and quality of the medication dispensed. Never increase or decrease your dose unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider. If a dose is missed or forgotten, call your healthcare provider for advice. The major complications associated with warfarin are clotting due to underdosing or bleeding due to excessive anticoagulation.

The most serious bleeding is gastrointestinal or intracerebral. Excessive bleeding can occur in any area of the body, and patients taking warfarin should report any falls or accidents, as well as signs or symptoms of bleeding or unusual bruising, to their healthcare provider.

An unusual headache or a headache that is more severe than usual may signal intracerebral bleeding. If you experience the following signs of bleeding, you should call or your healthcare provider immediately:. Some simple changes to decrease the risk of bleeding while taking warfarin include the following:.

Changes in daily living can affect the INR. Warfarin is not recommended during pregnancy. A woman who becomes pregnant or plans to become pregnant while undergoing warfarin therapy should notify her healthcare provider immediately. It is important to tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking warfarin. If you are having surgery, dental work, or other medical procedures, you may need to stop taking warfarin.

Check with your healthcare provider if you expect to travel. While traveling, it is important to carry your medication with you at all times. Do not put medication into checked baggage.

Patients who take warfarin should consult with their healthcare provider before taking any new medication, including over-the-counter nonprescription drugs, herbal medicines, vitamins or any other products. Many medications can alter the effectiveness of warfarin, resulting in an INR that is either too high or too low. Some of the most common over-the-counter pain relievers, such as: ibuprofen brand name Advil and naproxen brand name Aleve , enhance the anticoagulant effects of warfarin and increase the likelihood of harmful bleeding.

Those who require long-term warfarin should wear a medical alert bracelet, necklace, or similar alert tag at all times. If an accident occurs and the person is too ill to communicate, a medical alert tag will help responders provide appropriate care. The alert should include a list of major medical conditions and the reason warfarin is needed, as well as the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Because no 2 patients are exactly alike, and recommendations can vary from 1 person to another, it is important to seek guidance from a provider who is familiar with your individual condition.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. About Arrhythmia. Why Arrhythmia Matters. Understand Your Risk for Arrhythmia. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems.

It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.

Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Overview How can you care for yourself at home?

When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Overview You had a blood test to check how long it takes your blood to clot. How can you care for yourself at home? After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes. A fingertip test may be done in a provider's office or in your home.

During this test, you or your provider will:. If you are using an at-home test kit, you will need to review your results with your provider. Your provider will let you know how he or she would like to receive the results. If you are taking warfarin, you may need to delay your daily dose until after testing.

Your health care provider will let you know if there are any other special instructions to follow. There is very little risk to having a blood test.

You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. If you were tested because you are taking warfarin, your results will probably be in the form of INR levels. INR levels are often used because they make it easier to compare results from different labs and different test methods. If you are not taking warfarin, your results may be in the form of INR levels or the number of seconds it takes for your blood sample to clot prothrombin time.

If you are not taking warfarin and your INR or prothrombin time results were not normal, it may mean one of the following conditions:. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is it used for?