Question:
My wife is on warfarin sodium 3 mg tablets for a stroke . She desided
to stop smoking and started using Nicoderm CQ nicotine patches 21 mg .
After 3 days , she started to have another stroke were her speach got
all mixed up . She stoped the patches and seems ok now . I can't find
any info. on this . Does anyone know were I can look . thanks (
jerr1656@aol.com )

Answer:
hi there jerr, I'm not sure that there is any information on that
particular interaction or if it was caused by Nicoderm CQ. I tried to
search for some information on it and couldn't come up with anything.
I would as your doctor to look into it. That's what they are
supposed to do if there was a suspicion of something as a bad
interaction like you describe. Very interesting post though. Let us
know how is goes or what you find out. Emi

Answer:
Hi Jerri, I just lost the message I wrote to you -- I was saying
that I had a bad reaction to Sarafem the antidepressant, and when I
read your post I thought about how one thing medications can do is
deplete B12... so if you or your wife is having tingling and numbness
or cognition problems, you might try B12... I have brain damage as a
result of my deficiency being untreated for years... If you decide
to try it, keep notes so you can look back and see what you were
experiencing, and what improvements have taken place. The basic
amount to take is 1,000 mcg of methylcobalamin, which is the most
readily useable by our bodies... but if you're looking to see if it
will be effective, I'd take 5mg and then evaluate after 6 weeks or
so...

Answer:
There is still a certain amount of Nicotine in a Nicoderm patch and I
don't believe that your wife had a stroke due to the fact that she
switched from actual cigarettes to the patch. When a person stops
smoking, it takes much longer than three days for a body to rid itself
of the Nicotine's poisons. Your wife was just unfortunate to be in the
condition where she had yet another stroke. When a person has a
stroke, it's just a matter of time before they eventually have another
one - sooner or later. I'm very sorry that you and your family are
dealing with all of this.

Answer:
Hey Anonymous, how are you doing?

To check for drug interactions, please visit
. Warfarin may interact with nicotine.

Possible cessation methods, which include physician counseling, nicotine replacement, antidepressant medications, behavioral training, group therapy, hypnosis, and quitting "cold turkey." Patients who quit smoking tend to gain weight; therefore, encourage patients to follow a low-calorie diet and exercise regimen during and after cessation.

Patients should be provided with a variety of options and advice that will allow them to escape the harmful effects of tobacco use and the highly addictive drug, nicotine. Highly nicotine-dependent smokers may require an initial therapy for 6 months or longer.

Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital

Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!

Doctor: I am, bit by bit.

-- Aha! Jokes