Warfarin and Headaches: What Users Say

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

For Prosthetic Heart Valves, Mechanical Valves - Thrombosis Prophylaxis "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?"

• qxa...
• October 23, 2009

For Deep Vein Thrombosis, First Event "I am a male, 62 years old. I got a blood clot the entire length of my saphenous vein. I was put on generic warfarin first at 2.5 mg/day. I felt sweaty, had headaches, and felt depressed. This went on for two weeks until I read reviews about Coumadin on this site. I switched to Coumadin. My INR stabilized, the sweats went away, and the headaches went away in about 10 days. I know that Coumadin and warfarin are supposed to be chemically the same molecule. I propose that the objective differences between these two drugs can most likely be accounted for by considering that one may have more pure isomers than the other."

• Tsu...
• June 30, 2014

For Deep Vein Thrombosis, Recurrent Event "Was on Coumadin for 4 years. Walked away due to headaches daily. Got another clot. It may have been worth the couple of months of no headaches, no fussy head, no feeling stupid, losing my sight (which is old age, but still the timing), but the anxiety of knowing my body will clot along with a new clot put me back on Coumadin. Finally got the news about Xarelto. Life-changing, to say the least. No way to reverse dose, I take the risk for a better life. Besides, the half-life is only 5 to 9 hours for under 45 years old and 11 to 13 hours for older. Take it with dinner and you are sleeping that whole time."

• Pug...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 11, 2020

For Pulmonary Embolism, Recurrent Event "I've been taking Coumadin for about 20 years. I have many times gone too long without going for my blood work, but I work a lot of hours. The only occasional side effect is a bad headache. I went to one of the top hematologists in our area and was told if I tolerate it well, that I shouldn't switch. My internist has been trying for years to switch me to an 'equivalent' that doesn't need the maintenance, but if I don't have any problems with it, I am going to stick with it. It has saved my life for a long time, between having DVTs and PEs. Apparently, a congenital problem according to the experts."