any specific time of day when INR is to be checked?

[GingerSue]

when a person takes warfarin, is there a specific time of day when the INR should be checked (in relation to the time of the last dose)?

does it matter if the INR is checked in the morning or in the afternoon?

My drug book doesn't indicate time of day.

[jmgrn65, RN]

it is usually done in the morning, so it has plenty of time to come back to adjust the dose. Coumadin is usually taken around supper time for the same reason.

[GingerSue]

is it necessary that it be taken in the morning (when the medication is taken around 1600)?

or is it okay to have it taken in the afternoon?

(I just asked the lady in the lab, and she said that they don't care)

[wfperseus]

If the pt's been there for a day or two (not just admitted), it probably makes sense to draw labs early (our hosp. usu. does draws at 6am) so that the MD can rewrite the order for the PM dose (it's given at around 22:00), or decide to completely hold the dose for that day.

[jmgrn65, RN]

no lab doesnt' care. But it is best to draw in the morning so that you have plenty of time to adjust the next dose. This is whether or not the patient is in or out patient.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

I have them done with am labs to be sure to have them back in time for orders before the 5pm dose.

[Lylesmom]

our hospital draws inr at 0700 and doses are given at 1400.

[GingerSue]

this is for someone who is living at home,

has been on warfarin for long time,

usually has blood taken at the lab about once every week or two

and has been going to the lab in the afternoon

should this person be going in the morning to the lab?

or is it okay/accurate to go in the afternoon?

(takes the warfarin around 1600)

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Yes, it ius accurate. Again, the PT/INR is taken in the morning to give the physician time to look at it before the next dose, which is usually given at 4 pm - 1600.

[jill48, ASN, RN]

this is for someone who is living at home,

has been on warfarin for long time,

usually has blood taken at the lab about once every week or two

and has been going to the lab in the afternoon

should this person be going in the morning to the lab?

or is it okay/accurate to go in the afternoon?

(takes the warfarin around 1600)

I don't know about everyone else, but I do it in the am only because that is when most of the labs are drawn in my facility and there is alot of time between 0700 and 1700, so I should have no problem getting the results and then getting them called in to the doc. That's the only reason we do it in the am.

[Lylesmom]

The doctor I work under in our physical rehab unit told me once that the when someone is taking coumadin that what they take today won't show the effects until approx. the second day after taking it, so when she determines what dose to give, that is what is is figuring.