Coumadin and tiredness

I have been on Coumadin/Warfarin for almost 6mths now. I have a DVT in my right leg, and 3 PE's that showed up on the PQ scan. I have been experiencing: headaches, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, upset stomach, get cold or hot easily and catch any cold or illness that is airborne, that is going around since I first got put on it. I also now have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but it seems like everyday is a guessing game. Some days are good, some stay good, most are a general feeling of being "off" somehow. I used to be way more active than this, and now I can't stand straight with my eyes closed without wobbling. It's kind of tough to deal with especially when the Coumadin clinic always asks when you come in-any falls, any bruising? And it's hard to find any info on PE's or DVT's that is reliable.....But you are right, I would be more afraid if I wasn't taking it-Just dealing with the sickness is tough-Dr. told me to quit working cuz somedays I feel so ill that I stay in bed...You can't keep a job if you call out all the time But now I don't have $$$....

Betty wrote:

I have been on Coumadin/Warfarin for almost 6mths now. I have a DVT in my right leg, and 3 PE's that showed up on the PQ scan. I have been experiencing: headaches, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, upset stomach, get cold or hot easily and catch any cold or illness that is airborne, that is going around since I first got put on it. I also now have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but it seems like everyday is a guessing game. Some days are good, some stay good, most are a general feeling of being "off" somehow. I used to be way more active than this, and now I can't stand straight with my eyes closed without wobbling. It's kind of tough to deal with especially when the Coumadin clinic always asks when you come in-any falls, any bruising? And it's hard to find any info on PE's or DVT's that is reliable.....But you are right, I would be more afraid if I wasn't taking it-Just dealing with the sickness is tough-Dr. told me to quit working cuz somedays I feel so ill that I stay in bed...You can't keep a job if you call out all the time But now I don't have $$$....

I know exactly how you feel...I haven't been able to work either and will probably loose my house before this is all over...its been 3 months on the med and I hate it!!! They can't get my levels right, home health comes to test me every 2 week and the last time she had to stick me 6 times before the machine worked properly, I am exhausted all the time, I catch every little bug...I cannot take care of my house I am weak all the time, I freeze I sweat, my stomach is tore up or upset...this is really hard but like you said better to keep on the med...

cave76 wrote:

yesterdayschild said:
**All the reading I have done on warfarin/coumadin does not mention the tired issue, until I found this forum I was told that it was not a side effect***
www.rxlist.com has this long list of 'side effects' or 'adverse effects'. If the doctor doesn't take the time to read the ENTIRE list then s/he'll miss "fatigue" and "feeling cold and chills".
rxlist has those as 'reported infrequently'!!!! That may be because the FDA has a site where a 'serious' side effect' can be reported by patients or doctors----- and feeling fatigued isn't considered serious.
Consequently it falls to patient forums like this to discover that we're not the only ones with a certain side effect. I just wish that the doctors would listen to the patients. Sure, we won't die from fatigue but it sure as heck ruins our life.
I hope you will be able to get 'back to normal' when you're off warfarin. Don't expect that to happen overnight (it takes a while to cycle out of the blood) but it probably will happen.
Good luck.
From
http://www.rxlist.com/coumadin-drug/side-effe...

Cave: How long till warfarin cycles out of your blood? Any ideas/thoughts as it has been 7 months for me and I still am not 100%..maybe 60% at best. Thanks

Michael Peikert wrote:

A pt. of mine has experienced extreme tiredness since
starting Coumadin. He seems to have no other significant
side effects. I don't see this listed as a common side
effect. Has anyone else come across this?

yes same with me no energy been on 4 mg for 3 weeks

been on warfarin for 3 weeks and no energy bit worried about it

Don wrote:

<quoted text>
Cave: How long till warfarin cycles out of your blood? Any ideas/thoughts as it has been 7 months for me and I still am not 100%..maybe 60% at best. Thanks

My home health nurse has told me that warafrin is short lived, when mine was reduced my count went down from 5 to 1.8 in a matter of days...I wish I was off this crap!!! I feel horrible and yesterday my legs turned to spaghetti when I was in the middle of vacuuming, I'm wondering if it is worth it, not to mention I accidently scratched myself and bleed for 30 min!

@Don,

Quotes from articles:

"the duration of action of a single dose of warfarin is 2 to 5 days."

"Warfarin activity is determined partially by genetic factors"

"however, peak effects may be delayed 72-96 hours"

Due to different genetic/diet/health/medication s in each person plus height/weight/age/gender would change how fast or slow warfarin cycles out of the body.

Although I don't understand the algorithms that are used for determining how long before a person has eliminated warfarin (and the factors listed above also complicate things) I do know that just knowing the half life of a drug doesn't predict how long before it's eliminated entirely out of one's body.

Half-life is often determined by one dose, as the first sentence (above) states.
And was that determined in a petri dish or mouse or ???(grin)

The culumative amount of warfarin in a persons body after months of use will certainly produce a different amount of time in each person. That length of time I don't have the expertise to figure out. And maybe no one can.

It ain't ever easy! And then add the damage that might occur due to the long term use of warfarin. Warfarin is probably a necessary drug and I'd never suggest that a person stop because of the dangers inherent in it's use. It may be what's keeping most 'users' alive.

A devil's advocate question------ could a blood test determine when warfarin is eliminated? I doubt it, but don't know. The question would be---- does warfarin 'hang out' in the blood or in the organs (liver for example).

My total guess is that although some/many people may feel better in a few weeks/months after discontinuation------ I don't that can be said of all people. Too many differences in each person.

Sorry I couldn't be of any help. And my wishes for you to start feeling better right away.

yesterdayschild wrote:

<quoted text>
My home health nurse has told me that warafrin is short lived, when mine was reduced my count went down from 5 to 1.8 in a matter of days...I wish I was off this crap!!! I feel horrible and yesterday my legs turned to spaghetti when I was in the middle of vacuuming, I'm wondering if it is worth it, not to mention I accidently scratched myself and bleed for 30 min!

Yep..I know the feeling which for me is day in and day out. I just keep hoping that one day a glimmer of my old self surfaces and then I will know I am on my way. What a journey! Thanks

cave76 wrote:

@Don,
Quotes from articles:
"the duration of action of a single dose of warfarin is 2 to 5 days."
"Warfarin activity is determined partially by genetic factors"
"however, peak effects may be delayed 72-96 hours"
Due to different genetic/diet/health/medication s in each person plus height/weight/age/gender would change how fast or slow warfarin cycles out of the body.
Although I don't understand the algorithms that are used for determining how long before a person has eliminated warfarin (and the factors listed above also complicate things) I do know that just knowing the half life of a drug doesn't predict how long before it's eliminated entirely out of one's body.
Half-life is often determined by one dose, as the first sentence (above) states.
And was that determined in a petri dish or mouse or ???(grin)
The culumative amount of warfarin in a persons body after months of use will certainly produce a different amount of time in each person. That length of time I don't have the expertise to figure out. And maybe no one can.
It ain't ever easy! And then add the damage that might occur due to the long term use of warfarin. Warfarin is probably a necessary drug and I'd never suggest that a person stop because of the dangers inherent in it's use. It may be what's keeping most 'users' alive.
A devil's advocate question------ could a blood test determine when warfarin is eliminated? I doubt it, but don't know. The question would be---- does warfarin 'hang out' in the blood or in the organs (liver for example).
My total guess is that although some/many people may feel better in a few weeks/months after discontinuation------ I don't that can be said of all people. Too many differences in each person.
Sorry I couldn't be of any help. And my wishes for you to start feeling better right away.

Cave: I agree with you. A friend of mine told me according to what he understood "coumadin takes a long time to get out of your system". I think it is very much like Chemo. Thanks

I've been on Warfarin (10 mg daily) since 2009, and I have not experienced any of the fatigue you all are feeling. In fact, I think I have a bit more energy than before the blood clot. I know I don't have the leg and foot problems I had before. So maybe the fatigue is more related to medical condition than medication?

LeAnn wrote:

I've been on Warfarin (10 mg daily) since 2009, and I have not experienced any of the fatigue you all are feeling. In fact, I think I have a bit more energy than before the blood clot. I know I don't have the leg and foot problems I had before. So maybe the fatigue is more related to medical condition than medication?

It's great that being on warfarin has been so good to you (while it's being good 'for' you)
I wish that were the case for so many more.

There are some here who were fit and healthy before the clots hit and they report a dramatic change in how they feel, and not in a good way, as do you.

An extant medical condition might be the reason for the fatigue, granted, in some but I don't think that's true for all. Count your lucky stars. I'm envious.

Delores McConnell wrote:

<quoted text>
I have the same syptoms, the tiredness was
prevailent but my doctor said it shouldn't.

I have been on Warfarin since September and I feel tired all of the time. I looked up side effects as well and my doctor told me this isn't one of them. I will try drinking more water. Yesterday I had a very busy day and when I came home I felt so tired that all I could do was go to bed. I worry something else is wrong with me so it was good to see all of these posts about this medicine. Thanks all.

I'm so tired of feeling fatigue!! Can anyone help me please..I've taken enough vitamins and other over the counter energy supplements to help get me going, nothing works..I cannot take this anymore..Before I went on this medication, I was getting up at 5:00am to start my day with a strong work out..Now I struggle to get out of bed by 8:00am..I need help!!!!NOW

@ Greg,

I'm sorry that you've joined the ranks of the warfarin/Coumadin users who are feeling that fatigue that the doctors say 'we can't be feeling because it's not one of the side effects."
Argghhh!

I can only post what I've read from other warfarin users here have said: In some people that fatigue goes away after your body 'gets used to it'.

One point---- you mentioned using energy supplements and vitamins. I don't know if you're keeping your INR numbers stable but if you aren't be aware that supplements and vitamins can skew those numbers. Please be sure that your doctor knows what you're taking. S/he might want to adjust your dose.

The last few months I have noticed a deteriation with my vision.I went and had an eye test and the close vision has slightly deteriated.I take 5mg at night.I am the ten percent they don't know why I had clots.I had them in my legs and multiple clots in the lungs.I've been on warfrin for more thsn three years and doctor I will nee to tske them for life.I am sevnty seven years of age so I do expect some deteriation.

Hi all, thank goodness I found this site. 2 weeks ago was diagnosed with 3 PE's in left lung. The pain was soooo bad that I called 911 from home. Caught it in time...thank God. I'm 34 and have two small children. No one seems to understand my panic so to hear all of you makes me feel a bit better.
I've been exhausted, have leg cramp in left calf that radiates to left inner thigh. And lower abdominal pain. Dr says not to worry. Really?! Dont worry?! 6 months prior to all this I complained about a trickling feeling in my right ankle and was pushed aside. Nothing investigated and look what happens. No one believes me when I tell them about these symptoms.
I have appt at clinic tomorrow but I feel I'm not being heard like I'm overreacting to every little feeling. Do you think it's just me being hypersensitive to my body now.
Big hugs to all

My babies wrote:

Hi all, thank goodness I found this site. 2 weeks ago was diagnosed with 3 PE's in left lung. The pain was soooo bad that I called 911 from home. Caught it in time...thank God. I'm 34 and have two small children. No one seems to understand my panic so to hear all of you makes me feel a bit better.
I've been exhausted, have leg cramp in left calf that radiates to left inner thigh. And lower abdominal pain. Dr says not to worry. Really?! Dont worry?! 6 months prior to all this I complained about a trickling feeling in my right ankle and was pushed aside. Nothing investigated and look what happens. No one believes me when I tell them about these symptoms.
I have appt at clinic tomorrow but I feel I'm not being heard like I'm overreacting to every little feeling. Do you think it's just me being hypersensitive to my body now.
Big hugs to all

They need to do an ultrasound on your leg, I went through the same thing after my clot and found out I had a bleed in the leg and my levels were over 5...are you getting your levels tested? I get mine done every two weeks and I have been on Warafrin for 4 months..I know how you feel I am 51 but I have 5 year old twins and I live alone with them..it scares the crap out of me that something will happen to me and they will be home alone with me passed out or something and them not knowing what to do...I am more than happy to lend a ear...I wish you well...

Question to anyone? My Father was just put on Coumadin, there are so many food do's and dont's, does anyone know where I can find a menu, starting at the beginning is hard, if I had a week or month food menu to look at I would catch on very quickly. any info would be so much appreciated.

losing it wrote:

Question to anyone? My Father was just put on Coumadin, there are so many food do's and dont's, does anyone know where I can find a menu, starting at the beginning is hard, if I had a week or month food menu to look at I would catch on very quickly. any info would be so much appreciated.

According to the Mayo clinic there is no real Coumadin or Warfarin diet..my home health nurse said "the greener the higher up on the don't eat list" which I have found to be pretty much true...here is a site from the Mayo clinic which tells you what you have to avoid

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin/AN0...

and here is a cool site with recipes that I went to the first day I was home from the hospital

http://www.drgourmet.com/warfarin/

I am not a big green veggie eater but I love salads, I can still have them but I had to switch to only iceburg lettuce..also I love potatos and could eat them every meal, we do not have to cut out these foods just watch the intake and also let our docs and nurses know so when they check our levels they will be aware..

I live in Oklahoma and we have a lot of green eaters, my RN said that if you ate a lot of greens before you got sick and were eating them when you started the drug your levels and your medication would reflect that...so if you cut the greens out totally your levels according to your dose would go high...hope I made sense, the recipes aren't too bad actually...hope this helps good luck helping your dad, he is lucky to have you!!

yesterdayschild wrote:

<quoted text>
According to the Mayo clinic there is no real Coumadin or Warfarin diet..my home health nurse said "the greener the higher up on the don't eat list" which I have found to be pretty much true...here is a site from the Mayo clinic which tells you what you have to avoid
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin/AN0...
and here is a cool site with recipes that I went to the first day I was home from the hospital
http://www.drgourmet.com/warfarin/
I am not a big green veggie eater but I love salads, I can still have them but I had to switch to only iceburg lettuce..also I love potatos and could eat them every meal, we do not have to cut out these foods just watch the intake and also let our docs and nurses know so when they check our levels they will be aware..
I live in Oklahoma and we have a lot of green eaters, my RN said that if you ate a lot of greens before you got sick and were eating them when you started the drug your levels and your medication would reflect that...so if you cut the greens out totally your levels according to your dose would go high...hope I made sense, the recipes aren't too bad actually...hope this helps good luck helping your dad, he is lucky to have you!!

Thank you for your help.