Take a letter from your Doctor confirming that you are on Warfarin, the reason why, and your need for weekly,fortnightly or monthly INR tests. Also take a copy of your last six months INR tests, from your hospital or pathology provider; and then produce both to the Pathology Unit at any Public Hospital. Had mine done in Coffs Harbour and Yeppoon, last year, without too many hassles, and both tests were bulk billed.
Many GP clinics will do the finger prick test - bulk billed. As we were in the Pilbara for 6 mths in 2013 and 140 k's from medical services we purchased our own testing machine and strips. We have a letter from the specialist stating the ideal level (3-4) and the reasons but have never had to produce it. Have no hassles getting more scripts when needed. We have been to private practices, community nursing out stations and hospitals without any problems.
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
I only have mine done locally by a GP, attend the attached clinic first and have the test (finger prick) by a nurse, they charge $3 for the test and then you see the GP who reviews the results. His visit is bulk billed.
My heart specialist has just changed my Warfarin (which was giving inconsistent INR readings) to another drug called Apixaban (Eliquis) one 5mg tab taken twice a day.
Apparently although Apixaban has been around for awhile it has not long been available on PBS, full cost $101.53 but $6.10 for pensioners (60 tabs).
He claims it is far superior to Warfarin, and it does not require regular blood tests like Warfarin does. However unlike Warfarin, the Apixaban needs to be taken once in the morning and once at night (twice a day) instead of only once a day like Warfarin.
Warfarin INR readings need to be 1 or less before starting the Apixaban, so at the moment I am not taking Warfarin for a couple of days as my INR readings are higher than that, and when an INR test shows the Warfarin reading to be 1 or less I can start the Apixaban. This change over needs to be under the direction of your heart specialist or doctor if they think Apixaban would be compatible with your condition.
For those on the move it is deemed suitable for it would certainly be better as you don't need the INR tests applicable to Warfarin.
Vic, my son Stephen is about to change from Warfarin to the same as you, Apixiban. Just waiting for his next doctor visit.
In the meantime he spent Tuesday at A&E with bloodclots. He knew he had two around the left ankle. When they did the scans, found those to be superficial but they found two more deep clots somewhere behind the knee.
Just waiting to see vascular surgeons at Royal Brisbane for operation to have them all removed.
Hi Cloak, I hope you speak in jest - Warfarin is a blood thinner and you definitely DON'T want to be on it as it seems your whole life is regulated by having to have the INR tests, and having to adjust dosage depending on the results. I feel lucky that I wasn't put on Warfarin after my triple bypass 12 years ago although my mother had to take it after a valve replacement. I was recently diagnosed with mild atrial fibrillation and put on a blood thinning tablet called Xarelto to lessen the chance of blood clots, and this doesn't require any monitoring or regular tests.
Cheers
Joe
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Hino Rainbow motorhome conversion towing a Daihatsu Terios
Vic, my son Stephen is about to change from Warfarin to the same as you, Apixiban. Just waiting for his next doctor visit. In the meantime he spent Tuesday at A&E with bloodclots. He knew he had two around the left ankle. When they did the scans, found those to be superficial but they found two more deep clots somewhere behind the knee. Just waiting to see vascular surgeons at Royal Brisbane for operation to have them all removed.
I hope they manage to get rid of the bloodclots Marj, my heart specialist put me on it as the Warfarin readings were all over the place and he claims it is a better thinner. No INR type tests needed, in fact it says any blood test results can be misleading and advise against them in the literature.
I have heard on the grapevine that Warfarin bleeds can be controlled by other drugs but with Apixaban you can't control any major bleeds but this is hearsay, not from a specialist or Dr.
Thanks for the feedback on Apixiban, I hope your son doesn't have to wait for too long.
PS: My heart specialist and Dr both told me to stop taking Apixiban 48 hours before any op or dental treatment, and then provided there is no signs of bleeding to resume it 48 hours after the treatment.
