i ve been on warfarin  for some time now the thing i would like to know is  any other ch suffers on warfarin to thin  the blood and i need a blood test every week which is a pain (due to work ect) i was going to go back on asprin has any one any advice.???  on this  thanks . ;)

Peter,

That's a tough question few of us are qualified or licensed to answer that's best addressed to your PCP or cardiologist.  Physicians have been prescribing rat poison (warfarin) to people for years to thin the blood...  and likely for good medical reasons, but they are also acutely aware of the risk-reward ratio. 

Fortunately for some rat populations that have developed a resistance to it... the risk-reward ratio of eating bait laced with warfarin is more favorable...   I don't think humans have advanced that far hence the constant need for blood tests to adjust the dosage.

There are a number of alternative and less invasive treatment strategies available today that thin the blood, lower triglyceride and total cholesterol levels while keeping HDL and LDL in the proper proportions...  there just haven't been enough studies done to prove their efficacy to the same conclusiveness as warfarin.

A number of prominent physicians are now prescribing the 81mg coated heart healthy asprin when supported by the patient's medical condition.

There's also a paucity of studies on the use of oral anticoagulants like warfarin as a preventative treatment for patients refractory to other mainstream cluster headache medications.  On top of that, from the study I read, the results were mixed and there were side effects.

Having said that there have been a number of studies on the effects of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids found in fish oil on blood pressure, and clotting factor as well as cholesterol and triglyceride levels.   These studies support their use as an alternative to other more invasive cholesterol-reducing statin class of medications.

I took part in one such NIH study taking Omega-3 Fish Oil augmented with CholestOff and diet that lowered my total cholesterol from 250 down to 170 in less than two weeks.  It also lowered my triglyceride levels back down to the normal range.

Given the risk-reward ratio and frequent blood tests required to maintain safe warfarin dosing levels, I's say the best course of action is discus the use of alternative treatment strategies with your PCP or cardiologist.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

peter 110461 wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 1:47pm:

i ve been on warfarin  for some time now the thing i would like to know is  any other ch suffers on warfarin to thin  the blood and i need a blood test every week which is a pain (due to work ect) i was going to go back on asprin has any one any advice.???  on this  thanks . ;)

If you are currently on a CH prevent med. such as Verapamil you can not take aspirin.  This is one of the 1st things my Neuro told me when I started verapamil years ago.  Check with your HA specialist or neuro before making any medication changes.