Foods & Medications To Avoid While On Coumadin

Coumadin is the brand name for warfarin, an anticoagulant medication most commonly recognized as a prescription blood-thinner. Initially marketed as a pesticide, Coumadin helps prevent the formation of clots in heart attack and stroke patients, treats existing clots and is prescribed as a preventative for those at risk of developing a blood clot. An excess of warfarin can thin your blood too much and cause excessive bleeding, while too little will not thin your blood sufficiently to prevent clotting.

Green Leafy Vegetables and Cranberries

Foods high in vitamin K may minimize the effects of Coumadin. And, because it is important to maintain a constant level of vitamin K in your body, you should moderate your daily intake of foods high or moderately high in vitamin K. While you should limit fresh boiled kale, spinach and turnip greens to one serving each day, you can have up to three servings of raw spinach, raw broccoli, raw endive and Romaine lettuce. If you eat cranberries to prevent gout or ward off urinary tract infections, talk to your physician, as cranberry juice alters the effect of warfarin in the body and may increase blood thinning.

Medications to Avoid

Dietary supplements, prescription medications, NSAIDS and alcohol can interact with Coumadin. Although many doctors advise total abstinence from alcohol, others may allow you a limited amount each day. More than three drinks daily will most likely impact the effect of Coumadin in the body. One drink of alcohol equates to 1 ½ oz. of liquor, 12 oz. of beer or 5 oz. of wine.

Herbs

Ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort and the herb dong quai are can cause serious side effects when taken with Coumadin, according to Drugs.com. Even if there are no reported instances of drug interactions with herbal remedies, approach herbal medications with the same caution as Western prescription medications. If you are chronically ill, elderly or have a compromised immune system, you may be particularly vulnerable to drug and herbal interactions.

Considerations

Fever, nausea or flu-like symptoms, severe bleeding from an internal or external source, and pain or tingling in your body are potential side effects of Coumadin that can have serious health consequences. Contact your primary care physician immediately if you notice any unusual side effects such as sudden pain or a change in the color or temperature in any part of your body. It is a good idea to carry an identification card or bracelet that states you are taking Coumadin and provides the name and number of the doctor and pharmacist who oversee your prescription.