Warfarin Sodium and memory problems

I am 72 years old and in 1995 I had an artery blockage and had angioplasty.Upon my release from the hospital I was put on several prescriptions, beta blockers, cholesterol, Aspirin, Vitamins, etc. which I had been taking regularly for 13 years without any problems. In 2008 after having chest pain and going to the hospital my heart doctor advised me I had Atrial Defibrillation and put me on Warfarin and also told me to stop taking all the vitamins I was using along with my daily aspirin dose and one of my prescriptions. Since then I have had constant shoulder and muscle pain in my arm and leg. I have had several treatments by a chiropractor and several physical therapy treatments and the pain has not subsided. My memory has gotten worse also however I thought that was due to my age until I read some of the above side effects of Warfarin. I definitely have a lack of energy and also changed my diet due to the Warfarin. I have informed my heart doctor about the problems and he advised it is not due to the Warfarin. I don't agree with him after reading all the posts, but I am not a doctor. I will continue my prescribed dosage and Pt/Inr tests as schedule for a while, but if my pain etc doesn't get better I will probably do like the lady's posting and stop the warfarin on my own.

This site has helped me feel like I'm not alone. Thank you to all of the previous people who have written in about Coumadin. I am not the normal DVT/pulmonary embolism survivor. I just turned 37, am a runner, organic/healthy eating Mom of three kids. I had a PE, two weeks to the day of my plastic surgery (breast augmentation and liposcuplture). I am currently on 7.5 mg of Coumadin daily and my INR levels have been pretty consistent. I just stepped on the scale tonight after feeling "fat" and was shocked to see I've gained 12 pounds in almost 6 weeks since starting Coumadin. Yikes! I am hungry all of the time. I've also had memory problems and my hair is more coarse. I hope I don't have to be on this for too long. They say 6 months for me. Good luck to every one.

I suffered a Pulmonary Embolism December of 2005. Following, I found out that I have Factor 5 (later we found out that all my siblings have it as well as my father). I have been on Warfarin since. I have been told by a few doctors that I will be on it for life. I have also been told by other doctors that I should have had filters put in my lungs so that I don't need the Warfarin anymore. Prolonged use of Warfarin is terrible for you, they say. At the time I started taking Warfarin, I was 39 years old. After 6 months of use I began to loose my hair as well as the curls diminished. I also developed discoloration on my upper lip, face and forehead. 8 months later I was told that I was pre-menopausal...my hormones were changing....night sweats, dizziness, nausea, severe abdominal pain, digestive problems, bowel problems, severe weight gain. They then told me that I had Vertigo and that they were not sure why it began. I am now suffering severe memory problems. When watching a movie, if a commercial comes on I forget what I am watching. I can't read without nausea and dizziness. I get headaches, terrible leg and arm pain. My concentration is very poor. I can't remember what happened the previous day or who my customers are. I don't know what to do. If I stop taking it I will run the risk of another horrible embolism (20% survival rate). My children, 12 and 15, have already lost their father to cancer. They are very concerned of loosing their mother.

Kind of funny I forgot one of my main complaints of this drug, but it is the forgetfulness. My mind is not as sharp as it used to be, sometimes I feel like I am in a fog. My recall can be really bad, too. Someone can ask me a simple question and I draw a blank. My dad was on this stuff for years, he has since passed, but he had the same memory problems, although no one ever thought it was from Warfarin, but now I wonder.

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?

so glad to read these comments as most of my doctors have told me warfarin has no side effects. mine are increased sensitivity to cold, foggy brain, memory problems, persistent itchy rash on my leg, clumsiness, lightheadedness, frequent fatigue.

on 9mg, Protein S deficiency. my INR also bounces all over the place too.

I am a 39 year old and have been on warfarin, 15mg a day, for four months. I feel slugish, have dizzy spells, and just can't focus. I also have memory issues and sometimes can't even remember family cell phone numbers. I had a PE while on vacation and also an infarction in my lower right lung(due to Birth Control Pill). I will be on blood thinners until next July. It is nice to know that others suffer some of the same side effects. I also expereince indigestion since I started taking the warfarin and was told by my doctor it is the food I am eating? Wasn't like this before the PE.