Warfarin Sodium and hair loss

I am a 48 year old female with a-fib. I am not overweight...just started falling apart since now I am menopausal. I've been on Warfarin for 6 weeks. My INR has hardly moved. I'm now on 8 mg and have my INR test on Monday. I started at a 0.9. Now I'm at 1.20 and have been there for three weeks in spite of upping the warfarin. I've not changed my diet except to exclude greens and green tea when I began the therapy. Everything else is consistent.
I just started exercising again a week ago. Something I haven't done in five years since I lost my sister. I bought a Total Gym and enjoy it. It has helped me get some energy back, has helped alleviate some of the mental fog, and has lowered the incidence of anxiety attacks. (I've been getting anxiety lately...since the mental fog and memory lapses...that bothers me since I love to read and write and the mental fog seems to be taking the joy out of it now.) The reason I decided to start strength training again is because of the joint pain I have been experiencing lately. I didn't have it before warfarin. I do now. Only one joint, though. The strength training does help, but every once in awhile, that sharp pain comes back to visit. It's just a little less now.
I plan to tell the doctor that I have begun strength training again. Not just because it's good for me and my heart, but it seems to help with the side effects of menopause and warfarin...without adding another drug like an antidepressant.
Warfarin...I believe is a life saving drug. BUT, I have to do my part too.

BTW, if I didn't have triple thick hair, I would complain about hair loss. Right now, it's a non issue for me. Just saves money at the hair dresser.

Had a mitral valve replacement with pigs valve in September 2008. Told I needed it and would feel much better. Two weeks later had Atrial Fibrilation and was put on warfarin together with bisoprolol (beta blocker). Was cardioverted in December but am still on Warfarin 7-8mg to keep my INR at between 2-3. I experience such awful side effects, that seeing thig site proved that it was not all in my head.
Symptoms, hair loss, bleeding gums, painful legs, weight gain, fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, tender skin, depression etc. etc.
I feel depressed and wish I hadn't bothered with the operation, as I feel worse that before!

I'm 48 and had a PE 4/2/09. I entered this site looking to see if hair loss was a common side effect to the Warfarin I've been taking and, lo and behold, not only do I now have an explanation for my thinning hair but the acne, the joint pain, WEIGHT GAIN (UGH!) and gas / bloating. The powers that be have decided that the cause of the PE was my Yasmin birth control pills (a huge law suit going on for Bayer now - the producers of Yasmin, Yaz and one other one) and put me on the Warfarin for 6 months to life - we'll see about the 'to life' part on 10/02/09. I think regardless, I'm going with 'Tannabo' and trying the Nattokinase once I'm done with the Warfarin. Thank you for this 'enlightening' website and everyone's input!

I am a 40 year old female. I found out 3 years ago that I have factor V. I've been hospitalized for 17 PE's. I was being treated with coumadin, plavix, lovenox. My INR will not stabilize. The doctor has now put me on 30mg. of warfarin a day. and my INR still sets at 1.2. My side effects are awful. I feel tired, week, cold, weight gain, but most of all the terrible headaches. The doctor says it has nothing to do with the warfarin. I stay depressed and now losing hair. I've taken my doctors advice and I'm going back to the cancer center where they are more experienced. I feel like I'm dying everyday and its not in my head. I do believe its side effects. And if its not moving my INR than to me it seems useless to take such a high dosage. Its a catch 22.

I am 26 years old. I've been on warfarin for almost eight years. I wish I had seen a site like this eight years ago when I started on warfarin (after DVT and P.E) I may have had some insight into the hellish two years that were to follow: hair-loss, depression, weight-gain. But I attributed all this to stress (it was pre-med varsity and I was under a lot of pressure academically).
Anyway, now my life is more settled, I eat right, exercise furiously 5 times a week...but I have digestive problems. Bloating, gas, overall discomfort in my stomach almost every night. I've cut out milk, wheat, coffee...nothing.
But tonight I started thinking...could it be the warfarin?
Does anyone experience or know about possible side-effects of warfarin on the digestive system, and does anyone have some useful advice????

I am a 53 yr. old woman who had aortic Valve replacement surgery in April 2007. I had a St. Jude valve put in and have been on Warfarin ever since. I usually go for a couple months with a steady INR and then, for no apparent reason, it goes out of whack and I have to adjust the level (with repeated doctor visits) to smooth things out. I have gained 20 lbs since my surgery, and cannot lose it, no matter what I do! I ride an exercise bike an hour a day, or walk a 3 mile route. NOTHING helps. I have recently said that if I had it to do all over again, I would choose a Bovine valve (even with the knowledge that surgery would probably have to be repeated later in life) just to be able to avoid the side effects of Warfarin. I have also experienced light-headedness, left sided chest pain, fatigue, coarse thinning hair, but by far, the worst is the weight gain!!

I had a several small PEs in my right lung 2 weeks after cosmetic surgery. I just turned 37, run every day and in great shape. I was put on both lovenox shots for 5 days and Coumadin for 6 months. After 6 weeks the side effects with Coumadin were so severe (weight gain 14 pounds in 6 weeks, joint pain, tiredness, hair loss) that I took myself off cold turkey and started on NATTOKINASE. I am doing great! I would recommend searching the natural approach like Nattokinase, vitamin E, cayenne pepper, etc. I have stopped gaining the weight and it's starting to come off. All of my other side effects went away too. I've been off 4 weeks now. All of the doctors were mad and scared me when I went off of Coumadin. I had to do my own research and listen to my body.

I had open heart surgery August 23rd 2006 for a conginital heart defeat (Aortic Valve replaced with mechanical St Jude valve). I wanted a bio valve but Drs insisted I should have the mechanical valve because of my age (45 at the time).

Prior to my heart surgery I was a performer, singer/songwriter/actress/comedianne and I loved what I did. It was my life. Now, after 2+ years post-op and on Warfarin (7.5 mg daily for life) I feel like life has ended and I'm just a walking dead person. The effects I feel daily are as follows...

Dizziness
Severe Headaches
Blurred vision
Memory Loss
Fatigue
Weight Gain
Trouble concentating
Fluttering effect in my head/ears- Hard to explain
Hair loss
Unexplained pains in chest & left side of my body
Unable to sleep well
Tiredness- even when I've done nothing to be tired for
Nausea
Gas & Diarrhea off and on
teeth pain- Like I've drank something very cold
feeling in my head similar to a brain freeze- like you ate ice cream too fast
Night bleeds in my month- wake up with a mouth full of blood daily
What do think, is that enough??

I'm going in tomorrow for a cat scan because the headaches have been so bad they feel I need to be checked for brain tumor and/or internal bleeding. When I tell the Drs I think this is due to Wafarin they pratically laugh in my face as if to say, "Silly silly woman, don't be foolish! We know whats best for you. Remember, we saved your life!" Really? Did you?!

I want nothing more than to get off this rat poison and regain my life, but to do so could mean a stroke or heart attack. I would go under the knife again to have the mechanical valve removed and replaced with a biological valve, but do you think my insurance company (Kieser) would pay for a "silly" thing like that? Right!

Welcome to the greatest country in the world!

I'm going to start a website to help people like us. I want your stories, please send me your info, together we might make a change, what can it hurt to try? Email me ******

B.

i been on warfarin since august 08 - its now end of feb 09, i have not noticed any serious side effects apart from blood in nose when wake up and snotter for the first time each day (excuse that term) .
i have been sitting under newly installed lighjt at work and find it to be very hot on my head... everyone else says its not, but i cant stay there after ten minutes... its mildly uncomfortable.. and it got to thinking that maybe warfarin can effect the sun and the taking of the tablets, im on 6mg a day and i have heart problems, heart failure and cardiomyopathy, i would like to here from any one that has problems with sun...... and after how long hair loss and teeth problems came after taking it - im only 24 but worry about it thank you for your time i also get fatigue

I experienced a DVT 6 months ago, out of the blue. Did the Lovenox injections for a month, twice daily. Have been taking warfarin sodium since August. My hair was always very thick and healthy. I noticed in November that there was lots of hair in the bathtub whenever I shampooed. My hairdresser has also noticed the change. My hair is getting very thin and it is also getting brittle. Is there something that can be done to correct the hair loss...other than stopping the WS which I apparently be on for the rest of my life.

24 yr female diagnosed with PE and DVT. I have been on Warfarin since may of 08 and it has turned my world upside down. Weight gain (20lbs in 3 months), major hair loss, very bad acne, and memory loss. Not to mention i can't shave my legs or anything else for that matter with out getting major in grown hairs. I NEVER had any of these problems before. I am loosing muscle mass and feel as if I am a 70 year old woman. I don't know what to do but cry. The doctors keep telling me its not the medicine but I feel it is, my body is telling me it is. things are not easy, and it is affecting me I feel for the rest of my life.

I have been on Warfarin for 12 years and I am only 18 years of age. I was born with a congenital heart defect and have had many operations in the first 6 years of my life, including 3 open heart surgeries.
When I was 6 years old I had my last open heart surgery where they put in a St Judes mechanical valve. I don't know what my dosage was when I first starting taking Warfarin, but I am now on 7.5mg with an INR between 3.2-3.5

Sometimes I feel like I have a little bit of memory loss. I would forget the most basic words.. but I'd slightly remember what it looks like. I'd have to sit and think for a while until it would pop into my mind again. I really do hope that I don't get other side effects such as hair loss :(

i started on warfarin 10 weeks ago for a single medium P.E. on my left lung (this could be because i have had difficulty in moving around for the past three years following spinal surgery). However, at first i felt fine on warfarin, but in the past four weeks i have noticed changes. Sometimes i get fluttering in my chest but only last for about 2-3 seconds then goes away, Doctors told me this is how my body reacts to the clot. I also have some aches in my limbs and back (put this down to the new job). Furthermore, i have noticed hair loss and damaged, fragile hair.
When this P.E. occurred i was walking with a stick due to the spinal surgery. But once i started taking warfarin my back has recovered so much so that i have returned to work after 3 long years. The job i perform now is doing removals and H.G.V. driving.
I am only 34 years of age and i am taking 9 mg of warfarin a day (with a INR of 2.6) and 30mg of Lansoprazole a day for my stomach (you can feel a bit bloated sometimes).

Information For The Recently Diagnosed
Possible Side Effects of Coumadin®

I found the following on a website dedicated to Factor V Leiden patients who need the warfarin/coumadin due to the genetic issues:
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Here are some of the side effects reported by members of our mailing list who are on Coumadin®:

Hair thinning-hair loss
fatigue or being tired more often
taking longer to recover from cuts or bruises
sun burn or sensitivity to light
depression.
You may experience some of these effects or none of them.

Also reported: Uneven INR's with generic coumadin®. I refuse to take generic coumadin® (warfarin). My INR will not stay stable on it. But some folks like it. It's a personal choice.

Possible side effects of LMWH:

Bleeding is the main adverse effect, either major (internal) or minor (injection site bruises, easy bruising, etc).
osteoporosis may be an issue with long-term use
very rarely an allergy develops, called HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia)
liver tests (enzyme levels) may become temporarily elevated, but usually return to normal and rarely lead to the need to stop LMWH
last but not least: empty wallet syndrome (very expensive drugs)

link

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I was on Coumadin for a blood cloth I had last year(I originally started on 2.5mg and kept getting bumped up higher and higer as my PT/INR tests kept coming back).

I had most of the symptoms described here. The three worst being fatigue, memory loss and hair loss.

I remember constantly being tired on this medication. I had to go back to work after a few months and I remember not being able to lift much of anything and being extremely tired.

When I would take showers I remember running my hands through my fingers and literally pulling out clumps of hair. Each and every time. I thought I was going nuts.

The worst was the memory loss. I had severe short term memory loss like you wouldn't believe. I would be fine one minute and then space out and I literally could not remember what I had done the day before.

I am 24 years old and I had a pulmonary embolism last month. I was on the birth control YAZ for only 3 months, and that's what doctors seem to think caused it. My insurance only paid for me to be in the hospital for three daysand I was sent home with lovenox shots and Coumadin pills.

One month later, my INR is still unstable, fluctuating so much that they are checking it twice per week. My dosage is constantly changing. I have a red, painful rash on my buttocks - it hurts of sit for more than a few minutes. I am losing clumps of hair. I have lost my libido. I am very irritable and snap at my husband several times per day. I have a headache almost daily and frequent nausea.

I hate these side effects!

I'm 46, female.. developed blood clots on my lungs for apparently no reason, found them when going to ER and complaining of bad headache, nausea and left shoulder and back pain. I haven't had a recent surgery, nor was on birth control.

I'm dealing with anxiety, depression, unusual headache, horrible back and upper shoulder pain, itching of head, hair falling out during shampooing, , tightness in chest, trouble swallowing, really bad pain in hips, legs and feel like feet swell. I don't sleep well, even on Ambien.. doesn't keep me asleep. I awake in the mornings around 4:30 with diarrhea, nausea, headache and feel awful. Never get a good nights sleep. My hips hurt as well as dealing with parathesias down right arm and into hand.. feels like needles sticking in my hand. Most days I feel wiped out in the afternoon.. as I try and drag myself out of bed to get some excersise.

Does anyone deal with parathesia's down their arms or hands.. what feels like nerve pain?

Has anyone ever tried Aggrenox, also known as Dipyridamole instead?

Or actually tried the real Coumadin, instead of the generic Warfarin?

Has any other woman out there been told not to use a tampon when on her cycle, as this will cause more menstrual bleeding?

I'm so tired of Dr.'s not having personal experience of their own with this drug.. and telling the patient that they are crazy and need to be on anxiety meds or anti-depressants. I just found out that Warfarin is the main ingredient in RAT POISON..

Has anyone EVER gone the totally nutrition route, juiced and gone radical, telling their Dr.'s that they were getting off of all meds?

Does anyone suffer from feeling like their ears are full, or hearing loss?

I'm so tired of feeling afraid.. and tossed around by Dr.'s who really don't want to do the research, nor listen to their patients.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has some insight..on any or all of the questions..

Interesting find, I put in Warfarin, hair loss, because my hair is thinning out quite rapidly. It has changed texture (unruly and thin), and it has virtually stopped growing. I am experiencing migraine like headaches which I have not had for 20+ years. I have constant stomach trouble, cold chills in the evening where I cannot warm up (my nose goes freezing cold). I am very fatigued. I do believe my short term memory has also been affected which dramatically. The drug scares me to death (?).

I have been on Warfarin since the end of Aug. 2007 when I had my mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve. I will be on it for the rest of my life. My doctor.'s all assured me there were no side effects other than the bleeding risks. I now know this is not true. The side effects I am dealing with make me sometimes wish I had chosen a tissue (pig) valve, even though I would be guaranteed another heart surgery within ten years. I am 39 years old and a mother of two young kids. Since being on Warfarin I have experienced various body aches that come on suddenly but don't stay long; extreme hot and cold; itchy hands and feet; dry hair and hair loss; seeing "spots" usually followed by a headache; very thirsty; ongoing bowel troubles, possibly developed colitis; but the worst side effect for me is the fatigue and depression. I feel like I traded in my old self for my mechanical valve. Like I said, I'd have to have a tissue valve replaced eventually, and as bad as heart surgery is, I'd rather have 10 happy years w/out Warfarin than this struggle I deal with almost everyday. My brother is a surgeon and even he buys into the "no side effects" b.s. I work out as much as I can, which used to make me feel great, now I feel like it helps me get by but not the positive effect it used to have on me mentally.

Been on 5mg Warfarin for past 2 months. Developed severe headaches, resulted in MRI brain scan. Thank God all clear. Severe hair loss and dry coarse hair, sour smelling stools, weight gain.Fatigue. But Doctors and specialists reassure you, none are from the Warfarin!!! DON'T THINK SO!

I have been on Warfarin since Sept 2004 when I had multiple blood clots in both lungs. Since then I have had two more PE's (one with a therapeutic INR) and a blood clot in my left arm (INR was also therapeutic). Genetic tests show nothing.

Since starting Warfarin I have had
- dizziness issues,
- eternal extreme fatigue
- hair loss
- short term memory and cognitive issues,
- joint pain and
- head aches all the time. I think the headaches are the worse since I can't take any NSAID's for them.

I have lost weight and push myself to exercise because it is supposed to make you feel better, right? Well not yet. I keep waiting.

I have not been able to return to work and worry about the long term implications of this.

Many times I have wondered about my sanity and if I was imagining all of this, so finding this forum at least lets me know that there is a possibility that it is not all in my mind.

I have been seeing a psychiatrist to help me work through the almost dying 3 times thing, but it is hard to accept since no one knows why I throw the clots. My INR is not stable in spite of close monitoring of Vit K and other drugs, and my INR must be taken twice a week.

The hair loss is the worse thing. I have also noticed a change in my skin in additional to extremely soft toe nails. At this time I am off Warfarin - (developed mysterious blood clots) so was recommended to take it for six months. The hair loss occurred after 3 months of treatment. However, I have a friend who has taken it for years with no side effects. As long as I stayed the course with my dosage (10mg) my INR was on mark. Not sure what to expect now that I am off of it but I will say I am extremely paranoid about every feeling I have in my legs.

I'm a 42 year old woman, been on Coumadin on and off for almost 8 yrs due to 2 DVT's after childbirth in February, 2000. The scar tissue has completely blocked the main vain in my left leg and am on Coumadin to prevent new clots from forming. Symptoms from the beginning have been: memory problems, concentration problems, fatigue, low libido, every muscle in my body hurts to the touch, my skin looks like I have smoker's skin (I don't smoke), anxiety, rash around my ankles, I have almost no patience on most days and continual hair loss. They changed my dosage 5 months ago to 10mg one day & 7.5mg the next 2 days. Since, then symptoms have gotten almost unbearable at times. My current Dr. claims the Coumadin isn't causing any of it and won't listen. 5 yrs. ago, during my second pregnancy, I was on heparin shots twice a day instead of theoumadin and I felt incredible. Why is it that when there are so many people that have problems with this medicine, nobody will listen and come up with a solution C?

i am a 33 year old male and i have been taking warfarin for the past nine years. i have had most of the side effects that i have read about here. before i began taking the drug i asked my doctor about side effects and i was told that there were only two; bleeding and bruising.
i have since learned that the research had not been done. that is why they don't know about the side effects.
here are just some of the effects that i have had in my nine years on this drug. memory loss, hair loss, itchy feet, blurred vision, headache, brittle/crumbling teeth, stomach pain, non healing wounds.
i have began to do more research on my own lately, since it has been almost 10 years since i first began taking warfarin. the only new side effect that i have learned about is calcification of cartilage. i have been lucky not to have had this problem yet.
i have had no trouble yet with bleeding, although i do get some pretty bad bruises. i usually have three or four bad ones on my legs or arms at all times.
i am sure i will develop more side effects as the years go by. i am 33 years old now and will be taking warfarin for the rest of my life.

p.s. i have a titanium st.jude mitral valve

I've been on Warfarin since Feb/04. I had 2 blood clots form in my leg and traveled in my lung and was dignosed with APS. At first I was on 12mg a day for about a year, now I am regulated at 10mg a day. For the last 2 months my INR count has been high (blood too thin) and was on 5 mg for 2 days in July/07 and then back to 10mg. This month Aug/07 my dr took me off my meds for 2 days, then back on reg 10mg. I will go back and check my INR in a few weeks.
I haven't experienced hair loss, but I have experienced migraines, weight gain (a lot!), blurred vision, black out with vision, and slight memory loss. And I am only 40 yrs old. Just wondering if you or anyone else has experienced any of these side effects.

I have been on Warfarin since December 2003 for peripheral vascular disease. I was on the same dosage, 7.5 mg, up until I started seeing a different DR. last year and he upped me to 9.5 mg a day. I noticed I started losing a tremendous amount of hair. Dr put me on prenatal vitamins with no improvement. Hair is very dry and brittle. Have had alot of lightheadedness to the point where I feel I want to pass out but don't, now it affects my driving and work. My head feels like it wants to explode sometimes and have lots of migraines. Anyone else????

I've been on Warfarin since June, 2004 after having a Pulmonary Embolism. At first no side effects. It took 2 years to regulate INR. I take 6mg per day. In the last year though, severe hair loss, bleeding in my lower legs (skin) when my legs swell. I am not able to store iron according to dermatologist that I saw for hair loss. I've just been diagnosed with APS, anti-phospholipid syndrome.

I´ve been taking Warfarin for about 6 years now after being diagnosed with TVP (venose profound trombosis) and TEP (pulmonary trombosis). Side effects include: lethargy, difficulty concentrating, sudden extreme headaches, memory loss, oily face, red toes, hair loss, dry eyes, yellow hands, it completely changed my hair.. I had wonderful hair , shiny and straight, and now I have it curled up, dry, and broken. The worse thing is that I have to take warfarin for my entire life.

Headache, hair loss, and dizzy feeling.

I really do not have any side effects from Warafarin. I have experienced hair loss with Depo Provara, which is why I developed DVT and have to take warafarin in the first place. My problem is I might be pregnant. Any one know what affects this can have on a zygote, embryo, or fetus?

I've experienced extensive hair loss but this may be due to the high dosage I am on (15mg). The quality of my skin, hair, nails etc has also changed considerably since I started taking warfarin back in February. Does anyone else find it difficult to reach their target INR and stick to it? I can manage it for a period of about two weeks and then it suddenly dramatically falls

So far I'm only a bit tired, but when I read this page I got very scared. Hair loss? That'sterrible, my doctors didn't say anything about side effects really... I've only been on warfarin sodium for 2 weeks. Should I expect all these terrible side effects?

Could Warfarin effect memory or the ability to think clearly?

hair loss

I HAVE BEEN ON WARFARIN FOR 5 MONTHS AND I AM EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS, SORES IN MOUTH AND SWELLING OF MY JOINTS ESP MY HANDS.