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Is It Safe To Take Vitamins Along With Warfarin?
Question: I had massive blood clots in January 2004 in lungs, through my heart from veins to arteries and then a saddle embolism blocking both arteries in my legs. I was flown to the SD Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls from Avera hospital in Aberdeen SD. Both groin arteries were opened to flush out the clots and restore circulation. I am fully recovered and my doctor has prescribed Warfarin to be taken the rest of my life. I take 5 mg and alternate with 2.5 mg every other day. I am 71 years old. My question is this. How do I know what vitamins or supplements are safe to take with Warfarin? I also take 1 81 mg aspirin daily and 25 mg of Omeprazole daily.
Brief Answer:
All vitamins are safe, even vitamin K
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although "my" opinion might be in contrary of what many doctors may advise, I guarantee that this is based on evidence from clinical trials. There was a tendency to avoid certain food (like green salads for example) or vitamin supplementation in the past.
Today it seems that it is more important to have a stable diet than to avoid food and to adjust warfarin dosage according to your diet.
Actually fluctuations in prothrombin time can sometimes be reduced by vitamin K supplementation.
So if you're taking supplements every day and your INR is stable you shouldn't worry. If you want to start a new supplement you should be cautious and measure the INR (or prothrombin time) sooner than usual. The same applies if you want to stop the supplements.
Supplements that could cause significant changes in INR include all supplements which contain vitamin K or sources of vitamin K. You can ask the pharmacist about the ingredients (if they contain vitamin K) if you're not sure.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like further clarifications, please use your follow-up questions.
Kind Regards!
All vitamins are safe, even vitamin K
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although "my" opinion might be in contrary of what many doctors may advise, I guarantee that this is based on evidence from clinical trials. There was a tendency to avoid certain food (like green salads for example) or vitamin supplementation in the past.
Today it seems that it is more important to have a stable diet than to avoid food and to adjust warfarin dosage according to your diet.
Actually fluctuations in prothrombin time can sometimes be reduced by vitamin K supplementation.
So if you're taking supplements every day and your INR is stable you shouldn't worry. If you want to start a new supplement you should be cautious and measure the INR (or prothrombin time) sooner than usual. The same applies if you want to stop the supplements.
Supplements that could cause significant changes in INR include all supplements which contain vitamin K or sources of vitamin K. You can ask the pharmacist about the ingredients (if they contain vitamin K) if you're not sure.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like further clarifications, please use your follow-up questions.
Kind Regards!
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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