If you are prescribed warfarin then this service can offer you an easy and convenient option for managing your INR level and warfarin doses.

You will need to talk to your doctor to decide if this service is right for you. If you are suitable for CPAMS then your doctor may be able to refer you to a CPAMS pharmacy in your area who you can register with.

CPAMS is quick, gentle and convenient “on the spot” testing. Results are available immediately and your next warfarin dose is given to you without having to wait,

The test involved is a “finger prick” test which only needs a very small amount of blood, one drop is usually enough. Even with such a small amount of blood the test is accurate and reliable.

The results are available within seconds. There is no need to wait for laboratory test results and you don’t have to wait for your medical centre to contact you with your warfarin dose.

The results will be e-mailed to your doctor and to your e-mail address (if you provide one). You can go online to check your warfarin dose and see past INR results as well. Automatic e-mail reminders for your next INR test can also be e-mailed to you.

Once our CPAMS pharmacist has your current INR result then your dose of warfarin can be calculated. If your warfarin dose is too high this can result in excessive bleeding. However if you don’t have enough warfarin then blood clotting can occur. This is what we want to prevent from happening.

A simple dose calendar can be printed or e-mailed to you from the pharmacy, so that you can mark off the doses as you take them. This also helps to remind you when your next test is due.

Your doctor is kept fully informed and still maintains overall responsibility for your care. With CPAMS your doctor and your pharmacist work closely together with you to manage your INR blood test and your warfarin doses. However you are always able to turn to your doctor for your warfarin management if you would prefer.

The target INR is usually between 2 and 3. Many things can change your INR including your food intake and medication, even if it has been prescribed by your doctor, such as antibiotics. Also vitamins, supplements and alcohol and affect your INR level

Blood tests can be carried our every four weeks but more often if there have been changes to your health, medication or lifestyle. If you are just starting on warfarin you may need to be tested more often. Also if your INR results are not within the required levels, then testing may need to be done more frequently.