Thread: Long term effects of Warfrin?

My wife has been taking approximately 6 to 7 mg of warfrin each day for the past 17 years after aortic valve replacement. Are there any studies or statistics related to the long term effects of warfrin on the blood or other organs?
Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Sorry but I am not aware of any long term effects other than the length of time it takes to normalize once stopping Oral Anti-Coagulant therapy (OAC). For many it is a life long therapy.

First you should know that although called a blood thinner, in fact, the blood viscosity is always the same. This drug inhibits the clotting of the blood which will prevent dangerous clots from forming where they should not.

A more pressing concern would be interactions.

Drugs, herbs and multivitamin supplements can change the way the OAC’s work.

Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) and or paracetamol (acetaminophen) when used with OAC seem can be dangerous because they are readily available and who thinks to ask the doctor when taking a Motrin or Tylenol for a head ache.

Unfortunately, this is often not taught or easily forgot when leaving the hospital or doctors office.

Patients taking this kind of therapy should be concerned with dietary intake of foods high in vitamin K. This is usually taught and comes with a booklet often given when starting therapy.

OAC effectiveness or lack of can be effected by fever, diarrhea, alcohol use or abuse and or physical hyperactivity.

Malignancies, diseases like cardiac insufficiency, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism or hepatic dysfunction may also affect this therapy.

This means you need to become an educated consumer related to the treatment and factors influencing the activity of oral anticoagulants.

There are numerous reasons to avoid the acetaminophen in addition to the interaction. One of the most important is the fact that it depletes the blood and liver of GSH which hinders the ability of the body to produce the various blood cells. Interestingly, the antidote to acetaminophen overdose is a drug that boosts your GSH so much that it detoxifies your liver of the acetaminophen.

Hope this helps.

Good health to you and yours.

PS. You cannot take GSH. It is poorly absorbed and useless as a supplement. You can have a diet that promotes the increase of GSH or take the building blocks of GSH.