Coumadin and Dentistry

rwj146 wrote:
vic46, yes they (the VA) will retest me weekly if my level gets out of range. I've had two surgeries and both times they have cut off the coumadin and gave me a self injecting anticoagulant called Lovenox. Then when in the hospital I had a heparin drip. I didn't know about the ability to reverse the heparins affect. When I was released I was back on the coumadin and had to do the Lovenox injections for a week. I have inquired about Pradaxa (sp) or another thinner and The Veterans Administration has just started to allow them to be prescribed. I may stick with the rat poison, at least I know the disadvantages of it.

I have learned some new things today and at my age that makes for a good day. Thanks everyone.

I just arrived at the same conclusion. I have been on the rat poison for over 5 years. There are a number of alternatives that eliminate the need for testing but, and it is a big but. The effect of the other meds is similar to coumadin, with one major difference. A bleed when the anticoagulant is coumadin is treated with an injection that terminates the anticoagulation impact of the coumadin. A bleed under the other anti coagulants can only be treated by blood transfusion. That is a much more involved process and arguably more susceptible to complications and is also likely a much slower process.
I don't like the testing requirement. However, the alternative is far more distasteful to me. There is a device on the market now that is similar to a blood glucose testing device. The new one determines the coagulation factor, INR, using a pin poke blood sample. This system is however not likely supported by the VA, or not likely by most health care plans. It is not supported by the Alberta Health Service program either. Rather sad if would say. The cost of weekly visits to a lab for an INR test would surely be a lot more than the cost of the strips for the INR device. The cost of the device would also be quickly recovered through blood testing cost savings I would say.
Vic