What if pt inr is high

Other changes to your nutrition, such as starting a new diet or taking new supplements, can also cause your INR level to fluctuate. Starting a new medication can be challenging and warfarin is no exception. If you have questions or concerns about taking warfarin, be sure to contact your healthcare provider. In addition, pharmacists at either your local hospital or retail pharmacy are an excellent resource.

Sometimes your doctor may refer you to a specialized clinic called an anticoagulation management service. The medical staff in these clinics will check your INR and help make adjustments to your warfarin dose if needed.

Make a donation. Twitter Facebook YouTube. Friend's Email Address. Your Name. Your Email Address. Send Email. Donate today. In some anticoagulation clinics, a nurse will take a sample of your blood with a finger stick, and give you the test result within minutes, while you are still in the exam room.

Home testing kits are available for people who have to take blood thinners for long periods and who have been trained in taking blood samples and testing them. The average time range for blood to clot is about 10 to 13 seconds. A number higher than that range means it takes blood longer than usual to clot. A number lower than that range means blood clots more quickly than normal.

This ratio — which allows for easier comparisons of test results from different laboratories — is used if you take blood-thinning medications. In healthy people an INR of 1. An INR range of 2. In certain situations, such as having a mechanical heart valve, you might need a slightly higher INR.

When the INR is higher than the recommended range, it means that your blood clots more slowly than desired, and a lower INR means your blood clots more quickly than desired. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Sections for Prothrombin time test About. Overview The prothrombin time, sometimes referred to as PT or pro time test, is a test to evaluate blood clotting.

It is one of several substances known as clotting coagulation factors. When you get a cut or other injury that causes bleeding, your clotting factors work together to form a blood clot. Clotting factor levels that are too low can cause you to bleed too much after an injury.

Levels that are too high can cause dangerous clots to form in your arteries or veins. It also checks to see if a medicine that prevents blood clots is working the way it should. A PTT test also checks for clotting problems. You may need this test if you are taking warfarin on a regular basis. The test helps make sure you are taking the right dose.

If you are not taking warfarin, you may need this test if you have symptoms of a bleeding or clotting disorder. It helps make sure your blood is clotting normally, so you won't lose too much blood during the procedure.

A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

A fingertip test may be done in a provider's office or in your home. During this test, you or your provider will:. If you are using an at-home test kit, you will need to review your results with your provider.

Your provider will let you know how he or she would like to receive the results. If you are taking warfarin, you may need to delay your daily dose until after testing.