Clopidogrel, a medication available under the brand Plavix, is prescribed to prevent harmful blood clots in people at an elevated risk of stroke or heart attack. Because it has anti-platelet activity and reduces the blood's clotting ability, Plavix may cause you to bleed more easily or for a longer time than usual. Certain properties of vitamin E make it inadvisable to take high doses of this nutrient while also taking Plavix. Consult your doctor before combining the two substances.
Interaction
Like Plavix, vitamin E inhibits platelet aggregation. Consumed in moderation, vitamin E doesn't pose much of a problem, but taking large does can increase your risk of bleeding. Taking anti-platelet medications such as Plavix with vitamin E further elevates the risk of bleeding. Vitamin E interacts with other blood-thinning medications, as well. Among them are warfarin and heparin. The risk is greater if you have a low vitamin K intake, as vitamin K is essential for blood clotting.
Upper-Intake Level
The Food and Nutrition Board has set a tolerable upper-intake level, or UL, for vitamin E, based on the risk of hemorrhagic effects. For adults, the safe maximum dose of the natural form of vitamin E is 1,500 IU per day. For the synthetic form, it's 1,100 IU per day. The board does not establish a safe amount of vitamin E to take when combined with anti-platelet medication. The Office of Dietary Supplements says doses over 400 IU per day are most likely to cause significant side effects.
Food Sources
In addition to supplements, some foods naturally contain high levels of vitamin E, and others are fortified with this nutrient. You'll need to take this into account when you're keeping an eye on how much vitamin E you consume. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, 300 mg of vitamin E is equal to 450 IU. One tbsp. of wheat germ oil provides 20.3 mg of vitamin E, 1 oz. of dry roasted sunflower seeds has 7.4 mg, and 1 oz. of dry roasted almonds has 6.8 mg, for example. Some fortified cereals provide up to 12.8 mg of vitamin E per ounce. Only fortified foods are required to have the vitamin E content listed on the label.
Cautionary Measures
Drugs.com advises those using Plavix to consult their health-care providers before taking vitamin E or any other nutritional supplements. If you take more than 400 IU of vitamin E per day, your doctor may want to monitor your blood coagulation ability more closely. This would require more frequent blood-coagulation tests.
Symptoms
If you take vitamin E, Plavix or both, watch for signs of unusual bleeding. This could involve prolonged bleeding from cuts, increased bruising, purple patches under the skin indicating bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding of gums while brushing your teeth, increased menstrual flow, tarry black stools, bright red blood in stools, and bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
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