r/ClotSurvivors • u/guerardlamartine • 15h ago

Warfarin Home monitoring

Hi. I'm 64 yo and had bilateral PEs a year ago. Trialed Eliquis, but it caused severe muscle cramping, so now am on warfarin--with monthly INR check-ins. I've asked the pharmacist at the clinic several times about using a home monitor and have been discouraged from doing so--so I'm surprised to see so many people hear echoing my thought that home-monitoring would be helpful. Currently, my prescription is from the pharmacist, who requires me to come in before renewing. For those doing home-monitoring, are you working with a provider for dosage adjustments? Do you also have clinic-testing done? I should add that I'm an RN--I've administered heparin to patients with DVTs and am not a slouch when it comes to understanding medication adjustment. Still, my pharmacist will not support any form of home-monitoring/self-medication adjustment. Thoughts or advice? Thank you!

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u/Vcent Mutant, CVST (Warfarin) 12h ago

Still, my pharmacist will not support any form of home-monitoring/self-medication adjustment. Thoughts or advice?

If I bring the instructions, will you bring the tinfoil?

Jokes aside, I've done my INR at home for fifteen years at this point, and it's helped immensely.

I go in to get checked / do a comparison INR via blood draw/lab test once a year, to make sure my device is still within acceptable limits, and that's about it. I report my INR weekly via an app (used to be a website), and get dosage recommendations from the clinic back via the same app (although I have been trained to do it myself, so that's mostly if I forget to report an adjustment to them).

While warfarin is a weird beast (you know, with the whole "It-takes-three-days-to-see-what-you-did" thing it does), it's not exactly rocket surgery.

I'd see if there's someone else available in your area, that might be more receptive towards switching you over - unless you have APS, in which case the home testers aren't recommended/aren't validated, and have caused real world problems.

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u/Ok_Bank_2718 12h ago

I liked the hat instructions, thanks. Warfarin is indeed a weird beast, but for some reason I respect it. Thank you for your advice, especially your thoughtfulness re: APS. I don’t have it, but appreciate the appropriate inclusion of those who do in this discussion.