You need to contact your dr. that prescribes your warfarin. Even if it is to just call in and not go the route of a full blown office visit if your dr. will allow for that. You shouldn't chance it and take the advice of someone over the net' however well intentioned it might be when mixing drugs especially with blood thinners.

My drs. practically shot their eyebrows off their foreheads when I even suggested taking anything OTC with any of my medications and I'm on warfarin for life....

I'm not meaning to sound snarky and mere typed words over the 'net have a tendency to come off sounding so but please know that am being totally sincere and concerned for your well being. CALL YOUR DR.... don't chance harming yourself.. and it is so good that you are able to be active...but not so good that you are so achy afterwards... I feel for you on that... and am a bit wistful and jealous *sigh*... I wish I could be there with you and alongside.. I would so love to be helping you out ! Best wishes and I hope you get the news you are needing soon !

My doctor prescribed muscle relaxants for me while I was on warfarin. I wound up only taking them a couple times because they made me dizzy, and the warfarin was already making me dizzy, so not the best combination. I used a lot of Ice and heat, and topical pain-killers like icy hot. I found one that worked really well and didn't smell, but I can't seem to remember the name of it right now... I want to say Celexane, but I'm not sure that's right. I'll let you know when I figure out what it was.

I just saw you're in Tacoma.... still not sure what the name of it was, but it came in a little jar from Costco. They were handing out sample packets one day so I tried it, then went back and bought more!

If you are talking topicals.. it might be BIOFREEZE.. and that stuff works wonders... I use it on my DH... he loves it... we get it from our chiropractor....

I agree that you may want to check with your doc. That, and your pharmacist. Pharmacists are a great resource for interactions, and are generally more up on this than docs, since that's their line of work is medication. I ask my Pharmacists about both prescribed and over the counter meds.

Thanks for all the replies! Maybe there isn't a simply solution. Checking with my doctor is probably the best place to start. I don't think a topical remedy will do it, as I'm sore all over.

Again, thanks everyone for your input. Next time I'm at Costco I'll look for that stuff.

I have learned that who ever manages your warfarin is the one to talk to about what you can and can not take. My previous doctor never gave me all the information I should have head. My current doctor is much better but even she was not fully aware of what is safe. I started going to the coumadin clinic to have my INR checked. Then I get to talk to the pharmacist and we discuss my numbers, diet, illnesses, and any meds I any have needed to take. They are really good at what they do. For me and this may differ for others I can now take Alieve (with a Zantac to prevent stomach upset) in addition to Tylenol which I never knew I needed to limit.

Any way I have learned to love a heated mattress pad, an electric blanket and a heated throw. Does wonder for my almost daily aches and pains. Oh and I found a moist neck wrap I put in microwave too. I also love that my car has heated seats as well.

When I was in the hospital and after I was out, the Dr. had prescribed pain meds for me to be taken as needed, so I'm pretty sure your Dr. could prescribe pain meds for you. Despite Drs. supposing to accept that pain is "what the patient says it is," there are Drs that refuse to or are highly reticent to prescribe pain meds. I had one of those in the past and don't know why they are in the field of medicine to begin with.
As others have posted, best to see your Dr and tell him you are in pain and need something.

I've been on Coumadin for almost 6 months now. During that time, I had one bout of an arthritis flare up and, at first, was only taking Tylenols, which was like take a placebo.

Finally, I called my pharmacist and he said I could take one or two of the Tylenol 3s I still had from a previous flare-up. It was all about being reasonable about it.

Then, I mentioned it to my internist and she said I could take the occasional Advil.

My regular doctor and my internist both said that the pharmacist was the best person to talk to on this issue, as he knows all the interactions. I will consult him before taking any OTC as well.

The one thing they all agree on is to avoid vitamins and any other natural medecines as there is more interaction than with most OTC.

And, they all agree that "toughing it out" is the worst approach where pain is concerned. Not only is it hard to live with, it is really hard on your heart as well.

Yeah, I have to say the Pharmacist is probably more knowledgeable than a doc regarding interactions. But if you need a RX your going to talk to your doc anyway but just ask the pharmacist about any interactions when you get a prescription just so you know what to expect. Then you can work with your warfarin manager or doc to test sooner or more often if it's something that has a potential to impact your INR or interact with your warfarin

I disagree that we should avoid vitamins. While most multi vitamins have vitamin K, if you take them every day, then they can adjust your warfarin to compensate, if it affects your INR. If you've always been taking them prior to starting warfarin, there's no reason to stop taking them.

I take a calcium /zinc/magnesium supplement, vitamin D , and folic acid and have no issues. But yeah with natural supplements, I am more careful with those.

I stand corrected rmb :)

Yes, by all means, if it is something you take on daily basis, then, by all means, do not discontinue. It's like not avoiding all greens because they contain Vit. K.

What my pharmacist and doctors all said, is to avoid natural remedies for an occasional thing, such as when I had a very sore throat in early December: the pharmacist told me I could take regular Halls, but to avoid the newer ones which contain natural ingredients.

I think that where those are concerned, the same goes as for prescription meds, OTC products: check with your doctor and, if your doctor is not sure, with the pharmacist for possible interactions.

So far I find that everyone is very careful to provide the most relief possible with the least interactions. And, I think, the important is that whoever is managing your INR is aware and can, if need be, suggest more frequent monitoring. In the end that's what it all boils down to: ensuring that we remain in therapeutic range.

Sorry Danielle, I didn't mean to make it sound like I was correcting you. Just chiming in with what I understand to be true. I agree that just throwing natural supplements at stuff isn't a good idea. I kind of feel that way in general though, warfarin or not.