Coumadin, generic name is warfarin, is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots in patients with certain cardiovascular conditions such as heart valve disease, prosthetic heart valves, previous heart attacks and stroke, atrial fibrillation, blood clots in the legs and lungs, according to MedlinePlus. Coumadin works by preventing platelets from sticking together to form blood clots. Certain foods may reduce the effectiveness of Coumadin in preventing blood clots.
Vitamin K- Rich Foods
Patients taking Coumadin to prevent blood clots should avoid certain foods rich in vitamin K, according to the Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality. Vitamin K causes blood clotting and, therefore, interferes with Coumadin's therapeutic effect of thinning blood. Examples of foods high in vitamin K include liver, green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, green onions, lettuce, mustard greens, collard greens, endive lettuce, and vegetable oils such as soybean oil and canola oil.
Cranberries and Cranberry Products
In order to prevent blood clots, patients on Coumadin therapy should avoid eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry herbal products, according to the Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality. Cranberries increase the effects of Coumadin leading to increased chances of internal bleeding. Patients who must ingest cranberry products should have their blood regularly checked to monitor levels of Coumadin in the blood.
Alcoholic Beverages
Patients taking Coumadin should avoid alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine, according to the Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality. Alcohol increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking Coumadin. Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding include vomits that look like coffee grounds, dark stool, coughing blood, abdominal tenderness, weakness and dizziness.
Member Comments