Some people say they can tell when their INR is high or low by how they feel. I'm slightly skeptical about that but who knows, but I wouldn't rely on how you feel to determine if your INR is high or low. The obvious signs for a high INR would be blood in your urine, in your stool, etc. I've had an INR over 6 once, and I didn't have a clue until I had my INR checked.

Any chance you're paranoid about the meds affecting your INR and so you're starting to over analyze how you're feeling/ I mean I think that's very plausible, but obviously I'm not a doctor. My advice is that if you're really concerned about it, talk to your doc or get your INR tested to see if there's any impact.

By the way, I take a few medications daily for another condition that have reported interactions with warfarin and taking them hasn't impacted my INR at all. Not everyone experiences interactions. Not saying it can't happen, just that it may not happen.

My advice would be to call your doctor and ask for another INR test sooner than later, just to put your mind at ease and to make sure you're on top of this.

RMB's right that not everyone has side effects from mixing other meds with warfarin. I've had some, but it seem like antibiotics usually do the worst to my INR. The last one I took was supposed to knock it up, but it only went up maybe .3 or so, which isn't much.

I've also never been able to figure out if my INR is high or not. I've been up to 4.8 and felt the same as I did at any other number. This week, in fact, I tested my blood and thought it was probably high, based on how fast it came out of my finger. But, no, it was 1.7. I've really pretty much given up at trying to "guess" where it is.

I mean, keep an eye on whether your gums are bleeding or whether you're getting blood when you blow your nose (assuming of course, that those things aren't normal for you). There's not really any glaring signs that your INR is too high.

Thanks RMB. My next scheduled is for 4/17...I am going to keep with this schedule unless I see some signs of bleeding. Already this morning the symptoms have stopped occurring. Maybe I was just slightly dehydrated...

Actually any medication can affect your PT/INR so the best thing to do is take the medication for a week and do a re-check on your INR to see what it is. If it hasn't changed in that week's time then more than likely it isn't going to. I take lots and lots of meds and right now the doctor has me on a weekly INR testing routine but only because they are trying to establish my new levels. I was at 2.5-3.5 now they have me on a strict 2-2.4. Anyway some people can feel when their INR is to high. I know I used to get what I called my Coumadin headache when my INR was well above 3.5, but it had to have been there for a couple of days before I got the headache.
Hugs Ferr

Thank you all for the advice and wisdom. I am so glad to have found this site and I truly feel my stress levels go down when I read these responses. This group has been a big help to me so far in my recovery-

Just remember: Friends remind us we are part of something greater than ourselves, a larger world and the right friends keep us on track. I have so many amazing friends here on DS and yes they do keep me on track.
Hugs
Ferr

my INR was 6.6 when i was released from the hospital. it caused my blood pressure to sky rocket and made me feel like spaghetti with a heavy head and a headache. and woozzie. but once it leveled out, I have not had any other effects. slight variations you probably don't notice too-much. i notice if i take it on an empty stomach though i feel a little nauseous. other medications you are on may be causing the hot flashes, like blood pressure meds.

When I had my first PE I was on a drug at the time that interacted with coumadin. The pharmacist flagged it. So they do have checks in place if you are on a drug that will have a major impact.

I had an INR of 5.8-ish, which was caused by drinking some green tea. I drank the tea, which drove the INR down so the coumadin was increased, and when the tea wore off the INR sky-rocketed. I had no symptoms, so it does vary from person to person about whether or not they notice it.

Mike

I could definately tell when my INR was high. My doctor thought I was crazy, but every time I told her I felt high or low it was. I folt more normal when it was low, and super-dizzy when it was high. I would guess some of the side effects you are experiencing are from the Zoloft, not necessarily a change in INR. Most SSRIs will give you some really odd and unpleasent start-up side effects that go away after a while. When I was started on Prozac, my INR actually dropped a bit.