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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >> Flaherty sees that this problem is one that is going to continue to increase. "We are seeing more of these patients. And we need better treatments once the bleeding has happened," he said.
For patients taking warfarin, Flaherty cautioned that it is important that they have their International Normalized Ratio (INR) monitored regularly. INR is a blood test that determines the ability of the blood to clot. If the INR is too high (above three), there is greater danger of bleeding.
Warfarin affects the INR directly and can also change the INR, depending on what other medications the patient is taking, Flaherty noted.
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In addition, keeping blood pressure low is important, he added. "High blood pressure is a risk factor for bleeding, especially if you are on warfarin. So for patients on warfarin, it is doubly important that they keep their blood pressure under control."
In addition, Flaherty thinks that there needs to be more research to find safer drugs than warfarin. "Right now, warfarin is the best medication we have for preventing ischemic strokes in patients who have atrial fibrillation. There are other drugs being worked on, but, right now, none of them are available," he said.
One expert thinks that doctors need to evaluate a patient's risk of stroke versus their risk of bleeding before prescribing warfarin.
"This study demonstrates that we need to be careful when we use these therapies," said Dr. Michael B. Rothberg, an associate professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Not all patients with atrial fibrillation will benefit from warfarin, Rothberg added. "Not all patients with atrial fibrillation should be getting warfarin," he said. "Patients at the highest risk for stroke will benefit the most, and patients at the highest risk for bleeding will benefit the least," he said.
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