What is the therapeutic INR?

Therapeutic INR indicates the correct state of blood clotting. INR means an international normalized ratio, a test that is carried out on the blood to measure as "fat" or "thin" or how easy it is to knock down. This is an important measure in humans taking anticoagulants or blood thing drugs, such as those with prosthetic valves or a history of stroke or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), also referred to as a clot. For this reason, anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, prescribed, often long -term to prevent such repetition. However, dosing of warfarin can be difficult because different people respond differently to anticoagulant drugs. The therapeutic dose for one person may vary completely from the dose required to achieve the therapeutic INR in another.

Normal INR, a person who does not need anticoagulants, is usually around 1. In people requiring anticoagulation, therapeutic INR is usually between 2 and 3. This may vary, depending on why anticoagulation is needed.It may result in bleeding or bleeding and too low inr can increase the risk of clotting or stroke.

At the first start of anticoagulant treatment, the prescribing physician will monitor the INR every few days and adjust the dose accordingly until the therapeutic INR is achieved. Regular INR will be performed during treatment to ensure that the therapeutic INR is maintained, usually two weeks and then monthly as soon as the therapeutic INR is obtained. INR is a simple blood test performed by a laboratory requiring a small amount of blood. Results are usually obtained on the same day.

Many factors can affect INR that requires this regular monitoring. These include other medicines, clinical conditions, both acute and chronic and some foods. Many medicines such as non -steroidal drugs such as aspirin, cough and cold products and some antibiotics can affect warfarin. It is very important that a person on warfarin discusses other medicines with a doctor before starting, stopping or changing the dose. This includes over -the -counter, homeopathic and complementary medicines.

food can also affect warfarin and therefore affect INR. These include dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, avocado pears and ice cream. Alcohol can also affect INR. At the beginning of anticoagulant therapy, possible interactions of food with a physician should be discussed to ensure that the therapeutic INR is maintained.