Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps clot your blood. It is present in foods such as green leafy vegetables, cauliflower and soybeans. The bacteria in your intestines also produce it. Although vitamin K deficiency is rare, lacking adequate amounts of vitamin K can lead to excessive bleeding. Although taking vitamin K has few side effects, it does interact with a variety of medications, potentially causing many health-related issues. Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin K supplements.
Cephalosporin Antibiotics
Cephalosporin antibiotics such as Mandol, Cefobid, Zefazone and Cefotan may reduce how much vitamin K your body absorbs. More than 10 days of cephalosporin use may kill the bacteria that produce and activate vitamin K, creating a deficiency. People deficient in vitamin K bruise or bleed easily.
Warfarin
Warfarin, or Coumadin, is a blood-thinning medication. Vitamin K may reduce warfarin's ability to thin blood, rendering your medication ineffective. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends you not take vitamin K, or eat foods with large amounts of vitamin K, while taking this medication.
Dilantin
Dilantin, or phenytoin, is a type of anticonvulsant that impedes your body's ability to use vitamin K. In addition, taking anticonvulsants during pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding may also deplete vitamin K in newborns.
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Bile acid sequestrants treat high cholesterol while reducing absorption of dietary fats. These medications may also decrease your body's absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin K. Your doctor may recommend that you take vitamin K supplements if you are taking medications such as Questran, Colestid and Welchol to ensure you are getting adequate amounts of this vitamin.
Vitamin A & E
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, excess vitamin A may interfere with your body's ability to absorb vitamin K. Also, tocopherol quinone, a type of vitamin E, may decrease the production of prothrombin, a vitamin-K dependent protein that helps your blood to clot.
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