Pumping Marvellous

Interesting little post about Coenzyme Q10 and its effects on Warfarin

Coenzyme Q10 can be used in the management of mitochondrial disease, heart failure, hypertension, angina and arrhythmias. It is thought to work by being a free-radical scavenger, antioxidant, and membrane stabilizer. Coenzyme Q10 is structurally related to Vitamin K (menaquinone); therefore, it possesses procoagulant properties which will effect your INR if you are taking Warfarin.

If you take Q10 without your clinician knowing and you are prescribed Warfarin talk to them.

Let’s hit the target

As I drove into the Royal Blackburn Hospital and parked up I thought that Pumping Marvellous needed Anti-Coagulation support as I know alot of you out there are on some form of Anti-Coagulation and would probably like to know more about it.

Anyway after hitting my INR of 2.8 which generated a yipeee down the corridor as I really put effort into being within range I have asked Sister Maggs who is actually become a good friend, to help support the patients and pumping marvellous. She has agreed to recieving emails of which she will answer questions on anti-coagulation and especially warfarin management. We will be adding a link to the site to help you communicate with Maggs.

We will also try and bring the Pharmacy into the fold so you can ask questions about your prescribed drugs.

As always we are trying to stay innovative and focussed on bringing targetted patient care to Heart Failure patients.

Quick Tip on Warfarin and the INR front

I currently have a target INR of 2.5 and I have regulary achieved this when I have my 4 weekly tests at the anti-coag clinic at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. I am 79% in range since I started taking Warfarin which I believe is the top result in the clininc!

There are lots of reason for your INR to fluctuate; diet / exercise etc but there are three very important ones which cause continued instable INR results therefore you need to control these

Alcohol intake – I don’t really drink Alcohol I never really have
Smoking – I use to Smoke but don’t now
Recreational drug use – hand on my heart I don’t do drugs

Reduce your consumption of Alcohol down to a minimum and don’t binge drink – this must be why you are struggling to keep your fluid retention levels under control

Therefore if you haven’t kicked the cigarettes do so – can’t believe you are still smoking with Heart Failure

Recreational drugs are so a complete no no – do I have to explain this?

Be sensible and use your judgement – your Anti-Coagulant Nurse is always there to answer questions.

New to Warfarin?

Just a little helpful tip which nearly caught me out.

After coming out of Hospital I thought that Warfarin Sulphate was the same as any drug in terms of:-

Get your prescription
Go to the pharmacy
Collect your Warfarin tablets

Assumption is an evil – I nearly ran out of Warfarin when I found that the GP had not authorised the prescription.

Remember that you need to show your INR record card to the GP and the Pharmacist to prove that you have been attending regular clinics for checking your INR level. In the UK you must produce your INR record card,
and lets face it Warfarin was used as Rat poison and if you take too much you will cause yourself untold problems; mainly your blood will not clot.