Fish oil supplements and warfarin both increase blood's clotting time. Warfarin is a prescription medication commonly sold as Coumadin. Fish oil is a heart-healthy supplement taken by many Americans to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. MedlinePlus urges people to take caution when combining warfarin and fish oil to avoid episodes of excess bleeding. It is important to seek approval from your medical doctor concerning the addition of any herbs or nutritional supplements to your diet, including fish oil, when taking warfarin.
Benefits
Warfarin decreases the formation of blood clots related to strokes and heart attacks as well as clot formation in the veins and arteries, advises Drugs.com. Fish oil contains high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. According to MedlinePlus, fish oil decreases triglycerides in the blood, a fatty substance closely related to high cholesterol levels and heart disease. Fish oil also decreases blood clots in your circulatory system and thins blood. Taking fish oil may decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke, hardening of the arteries and plaque buildup. Your medical professional may approve taking both fish oil and warfarin together due to the extra heart-health benefits fish oil supplements give. It is critical to take the correct dosage of both fish oil and warfarin, as directed by your medical doctor.
Risks
Taking both fish oil and warfarin together poses some risks of external and internal bleeding. Your blood will take longer to form clots. Your skin may quickly bruise. Bleeding of the gums after brushing teeth, blood-tinged urine or even bloody stools are possible. Nosebleeds or coughing up blood are additional signs of excess bleeding. If you suffer from any abnormal bleeding symptoms, it is critical to seek immediate medical assistance. In rare circumstances, you may even suffer from a hemorrhagic stroke, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. This medical emergency is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain and internal bleeding.
Management
Managing both warfarin and fish oil together is key to receiving maximum benefits from the medication and supplement. Drugs.com advises people to have blood testing involving clotting times when starting, stopping or adjusting their fish oil dosage. Known as the Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio, or PT/INR tests, a sample of blood is taken to measure how quickly your blood forms a clot and how effective the medication and supplement are working.
Additional Guidelines
When taking warfarin, it is critical to take your medication daily as directed. Do not skip a dose. Additional herbs and supplements that interact with warfarin include chamomile, ginkgo, willow, ginger, grapefruit extract and more. Do not drink abnormally large amounts of cranberry or grapefruit juice when taking the medication. Though you should seek medical approval before taking any dose of fish oil with warfarin, taking 3 g or more of the supplement is generally considered unsafe and places you at a higher risk of bleeding, advises MedlinePlus.
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