While they both treat serious heart conditions, hawthorn is an alternative treatment and Coumadin is a prescribed medication. Hawthorn is sometimes sold for other purposes, such as indigestion or high blood pressure, but it is an active supplement with potential side effects, so talk to your health care provider before taking it for any reason.
Hawthorn
The hawthorn is a thorny shrub or tree that grows in temperate climates all over the world. Hawthorn extract, which is made from the flowers, leaves and fruits of the plant, contains antioxidant flavonoids. A review of scientific studies published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in January 2008 concluded that hawthorn demonstrates significant symptom improvement when used together with conventional medications to treat chronic heart failure. Hawthorn supplements can cause side effects, including nausea, sweating and fatigue. If you're taking it and experience an irregular heartbeat or low blood pressure, seek medical attention immediately. Hawthorn may interact with other medications and cause serious bleeding problems.
Coumadin
Coumadin, the brand name for warfarin, is a blood thinner used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger. It's prescribed for people who are diagnosed with irregular heartbeats, who have suffered a heart attack or who have a mechanical heart valve. It may cause side effects such as gas, tiredness, loss of hair or feeling cold. It may also change the way things taste. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience allergic responses such as itching, hives, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, throat or tongue. Also call your doctor if you develop a fever, nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right stomach, flu-like symptoms, joint or muscle pain, numbness, tingling or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Hawthorn and Coumadin
You should not take hawthorn and Coumadin at the same time unless it's under the guidance of your physician. Hawthorn may change enzymes, called UGT substrates, that the body needs to metabolize Coumadin, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering. This may affect your body's ability to use, detoxify or excrete Coumadin.
Warnings
Do not take hawthorn if you also take digoxin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers or phenylephrine. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take hawthorn or Coumadin. Other botanical or herbal supplements may interact with Coumadin, including coenzyme Q10, danshen, dong quai, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng or St. John's wort.
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