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Is It Advisable To Stop Warfarin Before A Colonoscopy?
Question: I am to have a colonoscopy soon and was told to discontinue warfarin for 5 peviousdays. I have a venous graft in my leg and my vascular surgeon has recommended I not suspend warfarin. lovenox has been suggested. question - do I have to wait until inr falls below 2 or some level before starting lovenox in order to avoid interaction? I also have stage 3 kidney disease.
Brief Answer:
Who suggested Lovenox? The gastroenterologist?
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
Stopping warfarin for 5days should not be a huge concern. I understand you had a graft and being on warfarin is a good idea but it can be interrupted to do some short term procedures like the colonoscopy. I am wondering who recommended lovenox because this will still cause the blood not to be able to clot easily and defeats the purpose of stopping the warfarin for this procedure.
I am curious....Is this the recommendation of your GI doctor or a friend? Please let me know.
I await your response and would provide more insights about this when I hear from you. There is no specific interaction between these two drugs but for the fact that when they are both taken together, the tendency to bleed easily is higher.
Who suggested Lovenox? The gastroenterologist?
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
Stopping warfarin for 5days should not be a huge concern. I understand you had a graft and being on warfarin is a good idea but it can be interrupted to do some short term procedures like the colonoscopy. I am wondering who recommended lovenox because this will still cause the blood not to be able to clot easily and defeats the purpose of stopping the warfarin for this procedure.
I am curious....Is this the recommendation of your GI doctor or a friend? Please let me know.
I await your response and would provide more insights about this when I hear from you. There is no specific interaction between these two drugs but for the fact that when they are both taken together, the tendency to bleed easily is higher.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
lovenox was suggested by my primary and the gastroenterologist agreed that he had performed colonoscopies on patients who took this drug. The rational was that the clearance time for lovenox is only 12 hours, whereas that for warfarin is 3 days. thus I would be without anticoagulant for a much shorter period. the vascular surgeon who performed the graft felt it would be much safer for me to stay on anticoagulant for the extended period.
thank you for the courtesy of your previous response.
thank you for the courtesy of your previous response.
Brief Answer:
That’s correct!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If the doctor plans to discontinue Lovenox 12hours before the procedure, then that is fine and would be a better option.
Keep me updated when you get the colonoscopy done.
That’s correct!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If the doctor plans to discontinue Lovenox 12hours before the procedure, then that is fine and would be a better option.
Keep me updated when you get the colonoscopy done.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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