Dr says Change Warfarin to Xarelto to prevent strokes.

When I was on Warfarin after my knee replacement, "they" told me it was very important to not flip my diet around, trying to adjust my vitamin K levels with food control. It was important I continue eating like I always did, and let the medicine control the levels. It was actually hard trying to be consistent with my diet without going excessive one direction or another after they explained this to me. It took almost 4 weeks to get my levels where they wanted them, just in time to end the regime and start an aspirin regime for a long while after that.

Basically, as I under stand it, your vitamin K levels are normal for you as they are. The medicine is forcing the levels to an abnormal level (so your blood won't clot). This was a hard concept for me to understand, but once I understood it, it made sense. I worked very hard to be consistent with my diet after that. And although it's now been 10 months since the surgery, I'm still aware of my food intake and still watch my intake anything with vitamin K. Luckily, I'm not a big vegetable eater at all, so other than occasional carrots, I'm doing pretty good actually.

It's something to think about, if you don't understand what the Warfairn is trying to do. It's taking you out of your normal and putting you into an abnormal (low clotting risk).

I know this does not answer the question about Xarelto. I see those commercials on television also. I'd work on getting the Warfairn working first. I have no clue how Xarelto is affected by diet, but you may have the same struggles switching too.

When i was on Warfarin, it was a royal pain getting tested weekly, as I was new to the whole routine. The fact that there is NO weekly or Monthly testing is awesome !!!

Unless you change your diet drastically from week to week, adjusting your warfarin level over a monthly period shouldn't be too difficult. The warfarin dosage should be adjusted to your normal eating habits over this period of time. You should not have to alter your diet to achieve the proper PT/INR level.

If you are taking warfarin for Afib, you may switch to one of the alternative blood thinners. Some substitute blood thinners are known to cause internal bleeding problems on some patients, so make sure you are checked frequently for problems till it is determined you are not adversely affected by them.

If you have a mechanical heart valve, Xarelto and other substitute blood thinners CANNOT be used in place of warfarin.

Is there a major financial impact with the change? I get both po’ed and suspicious when dr’s prescribe the latest drug which usually costs more than $10-20 a dose. Is the lack of testing worth it?

For past 5 years I have been on Warfarin.....generically inclined to 'thick blood'

Took almost 3 months/testing weekly to get dosage dialed in......cause I was unaware of the affects foods high in Vitamin K affected the Warfarin

Once I became 'educated' I went to a fairly routine kind of diet and then the Warfarin dosage was steady.
Testing was then every 6 weeks

Until I had my ankle/foot joints fused...surgery required coming off Warfarin, transitioning to Lovenox Injections twice a day for week prior and for 2 weeks after then transitioning back to Warfarin
Stabbing myself in the belly twice a day was PITA ---not so much because of the injections but due to the bruising. Had yellow/bluish spots all over my stomach

Back to regular dosage and 6 week testing on Warfarin



Xarelto doesn't require that close of monitoring
Xarelto is MORE Expensive (much more!)
Xarelto can NOT be counter acted by any drug should bleeding occur


Comparisons

I have been on warfarin for six and a half years, but for a valve replacement. I have made no changes to my life, but it does take some time to get the dosage figured out.
My diet hasn't changed at all, but I ate healthy before my surgery.

I like the fact that warfarin is reversible with a shot of vitamin K.

Check Pradaxa, no tests, no diet restrictions but you take 2/day. A neighbor is on the Warfarin and just a touch makes a bruise. I have no side effects at all with Pradaxa, don't even know I take it.

Along with others on the forum, I get my medical care at the VA as I have since '92. Xarelto looks promising as after my first heart attack I realized that I am a very hard stick. I tell the lab techs that I sneak in the back door so I can catch them as they run out the door to avoid the hassle of sticking me.

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Until I had my ankle/foot joints fused...surgery required coming off Warfarin, transitioning to Lovenox Injections twice a day for week prior and for 2 weeks after then transitioning back to Warfarin
Stabbing myself in the belly twice a day was PITA ---not so much because of the injections but due to the bruising. Had yellow/bluish spots all over my stomach

Back to regular dosage and 6 week testing on Warfarin

With a mechanical mitral valve, this is what I have to go through for any procedure that may require surgery, including a colonoscopy. Not fun! But necessary. Learned to LIVE with it.

Check the price of Xeralto or any of the alternatives and your insurance. That may stop you right there.
I am on Warafin and also reduced sodium(2000 mg per day). I have no problems with what I eat. You do need to get informed about foods containing Vitamin k which counteracts the Warafin.
You can get down to 4-6 wks between testing.

In my younger years we had an egg farm and used Warafin for rat killer. It thins their blood and they bleed to death. Of course you are not taking it at that high a dosage.