Oral Alternative To Innohep

[Nodger]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. During recent treatment for cancer - chemo and radiotherapy back in April and May - I suffered atrial fibrillation and was prescribed Innohep, which I'm still taking (8,000 units a day). I'm now in good health, all things considered, the cancer seems to be in abeyance, ie all the symptoms have disappeared and I've gained weight, and my pulse is stable. I've now been told I can switch to an oral anticoagulant, rather than the daily injection, but what are the oral options? I tried a Google search, but it wasn't very helpful.

[dannyk13]

Your GP can advise you.

[andy-hughes]

I wouldn't dream of taking unqualified advice from complete strangers on a website - speak to your GP, or the hospital who are treating you and get their advice.

[murraymints]

best to speak to doc..my best wishes for a continued recovery xx

[Sqad]

a) Warfarin
b)Rivaroxaban

a) is old b) is new.

if i were in your situation i would choice b)rivaroxaban.

Why? because you would need far fewer blood tests.

I have answered your question in simple terms but surely the links will arrive and so will " see your GP."

[Sqad]

A-H....nobody is asking you to...the OP is asking himself.

[Nodger]

Thanks Sqad et al - yes - of course I will discuss it with my GP, but I was hoping for a bit of 'informed experience' or knowledge, so that I can make an informed decision. From the little I was able to glean from the internet, I'm thinking maybe the injections aren't so bad after all - warfarin seemed particularly problematic. I may be wrong.

[bednobs]

for your problem, the more usual solution is the second one rivo thingy. Warfarin is a complete pain in the bum. They wont keep you on injections - they are expensive and can cause other medical problems long-term

[Nodger]

Thanks bednobs - cost doesn't really come into it (well, not in the sense of costing the NHS, anyway) as I'm in Ireland and pay for my own GP prescribed drugs (up to a monthly limit). I'll look further into Rivaroxaban. I'm hoping it won't be for very much longer anyway.

In fairness, this is the only source of 'misery' that I've had during the treatment - I more or less sailed through the chemo and radiotherapy, for which I'm extremely grateful, and count myself very very lucky. Fingers crossed for the future.

[Peter Pedant]

// I wouldn't dream of taking unqualified advice from complete strangers on a website -//

o god I would
old stuff is warfarin -[rat poison] makes you feel tired and you need a regular blood test ( BCR - how I loved them ! but now INR - seems to be same test but I wont go into details - ionvolves rabbit brain). Vit K reverses

the new ones are the Factor Xa inhibitors ( like Rivaroxaban ) once a day - whack the patient on them and leave ( and cure someone else). These are active for around 48 h and bleeding is an issue as they are with all anticoags - but you basically have to treat without a reversal. Mortality is no greater = they are as safe as warfarin

A few of us with AF on AB have been on them for a few years ( 4 for me) and all I have had is a ffew nose bleeds ( a year )

There are a few others which sound a bit like Rivaroxaban.
I really dont think anyone is running a warfarin clinic now

[Peter Pedant]

o sqad has spoken
I would have saved my finger nails ....

Hey Sqad and Slaney - is this ' no-one knows about haematology' day today ?

here is a ref you can read

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/rivaroxaban.html

[Peter Pedant]

// and count myself very very lucky. Fingers crossed for the future.//

yeah you are - I got PCP and spent two weeks on ITU
anyway you lcuky irish boy - keep well !

[Nodger]

Thanks Peter

(P.S. I'm actually female - the user name is an obliqueish reference to my old school in the UK)

[CrapAtCryptics]

Innohep - I thought was the guy from the Mummy or was it Young Sherlock

[Peter Pedant]

Imhotep
and flocci-nauci- ban the drug they discovered by mistake...

you know in 1980 a reesh but mad american offered the professional archeologists $1m to search for the tomb of Imhotep....
short of funz as ever they showed gt interest
but he fly in the pointment was that HE ( reesh american ) would tell them where to dig. as in "Dig there!" "no today Dig there!.....
possibly guided by the stars, runes and knuckle bones
and they all turned him down"

jsut saying

[jennyjoan]

I can't give you any advice either but great news all round for you Nodger.

[LadyCG]

Rivaroxaban is your best option but the Anti-Coag Team will only facilitate the switch to oral blood thinners once your Oncologist confirms that your treatment (chemo) has finished.

Best wishes.

[jennyjoan]

Lady CG - is knowledgeable about pretty much medically.

[Nodger]

Thanks to all for your helpful advice and good wishes. I am very fortunate.

(As a sort of linked aside, when I first started the injections the only way I could remember the name was by thinking - Egypt - Pharaoh - Imhotep - Innohep - Bingo!)

[jennyjoan]

my mother was a very funny lady who couldn't remember her insulin name - many many years ago. It was called Leo Retard.

So I told her to think of herself as Retard. Oh that's a good way of remembering she said. LOL

[CrapAtCryptics]

Sorry Nodger Imhotep wasnt a Pharoah - just exercising my pedantry.