Warfarin for Prosthetic Heart Valves, Mechanical Valves - Thrombosis Prophylaxis User Reviews

• Sea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 2, 2020

Warfarin "I have a St. Jude mitral valve prosthesis implanted 11/2002. I began anticoagulation therapy with Coumadin without any difficulty and a stable INR. The insurance company switched me to a generic warfarin with terrible results - headaches, unstable INR, including emergency need for stomach shots to restore INR levels rapidly. My cardiologist switched me back to the brand only - Coumadin, and for the past 16 years, I'm now 75 years old, I have taken the same dosage with no negative side effects and a consistently stable INR averaging 2.5 for a therapeutic range of 2.0 - 3.0. Now Coumadin has been discontinued by Bristol Myers Squibb with no notice or explanation, leaving me and others with no choice but to use generic warfarin. Why is this allowed to happen, and why are we constantly told there is no difference between the brand and the generic when, for a large number of patients, this is simply not true? Will anyone help us?"

• Dot...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 10, 2020

Warfarin "Coumadin is the only drug that has worked for me in 23 years, and now it is no longer available. Because of Warfarin, I had to be shocked back to life 3 times. Now I have been put on Jantoven since June 22, 2020, because I can no longer get Coumadin. Since then, I have lost weight and appetite, along with a bad cough with yellowed goop. What am I supposed to do? How has this happened? When a drug works for people and then it is just stopped with no notice, and the drugs that are available don't work, then what?"

• Nta...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 25, 2023

Warfarin "I have a mechanical aortic valve and have been prescribed warfarin sodium to control clotting. I have used warfarin sodium for over 20 years but was given Jantoven recently as a substitute, but it caused my INR to be difficult to stabilize. Why is Jantoven different from warfarin sodium?"

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2020

Warfarin "I had open heart surgery in 1973. A Bjork Shiley Steel Cage Ball Valve was implanted. I had some problems in the following years because of blood clots. I was put on the medication Coumadin, and the problem was resolved. Jump forward to 2012. My insurance would not cover the medication, so my doctors and I tried to switch to a generic (Warfarin). I was having complications with the Warfarin, so I was instructed to stay on 'Name Brand' Coumadin and to never attempt to change to a generic again. Now Bristol Myers Squibb has discontinued making 'Name Brand' Coumadin; therefore, I am being forced to make that change. When my supply runs out, I will have to make that forced change! By the way, the BMS manufacturer that supplied the USA is located in Puerto Rico. There is another location that supplies France, Germany, and Italy, but BMS will not tell me where it is and/or how to get the drug from them, wherever they are. Can anyone help me, any suggestions?"

• OZP...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 7, 2021

"I started warfarin in 2002, so been on warfarin nearly 20 years. I get tested every 7-10 days. My INR changes like the wind, but have learned to live with it and sometimes change my own dose if I'm drinking."

• war...
• July 9, 2008

"It is very beneficial medicine for valve replacement patients. While taking this medicine, outcomes must be monitored carefully, otherwise, it may cause some harmful side effects, but it helps to give a good quality of life."

• And...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 21, 2021

Warfarin "I had a St. Jude mechanical valve implanted in 2011 and have been on Coumadin since. Now I hear they’re stopping making the brand name formulation? What am I supposed to do? My INR has been fluctuating between 1.8 and 4.6 weekly, and I get blood drawn once a week, and determining how much to take or not take is almost a daily battle. I’m going to need another similar medication now? I’ve been faithful to my schedule, and despite the constant daily dose changes, I’ve been doing okay. I hear that there are now better and less dangerous anti-clotting medications. This may be a good thing. There’s not just Coumadin available now. We’ll see. Insurance is still paying for it, so until they stop covering it, I will stay with Coumadin."

• MsR...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 21, 2025

Warfarin "I have an artificial mitral heart valve since 2010, resulting in a lifetime of blood thinner therapy for me. The first year was a rollercoaster ride with INR/ProTime while taking generic warfarin/Coumadin. A switch to Jantoven stabilized my INR results dramatically. I have remained on Jantoven all this time. I am quite thankful for this medication. Only the past couple of years has my insurance been covering this medication, and I am so grateful! I soon will be retired and am not sure how Medicare will handle costs of the medication. Being on SS alone, the cost could possibly be prohibitive."

• Wen...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 26, 2014

"Haven't had a problem, have been on warfarin for 10 years now."

• Tom...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2020

"Have been on warfarin for 28 years. I have a St. Jude mitral valve prosthesis. Other than bruising, I have gotten along well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 9, 2017

"13 years usage. That is a lot of lab tests. I try to not change eating habits but mess up from time to time, and then it affects my INR."

• ami...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2015

"I'm taking it for 3 years without any outstanding side effects. Thank God and my surgeon that I am still alive."