Warfarin Interactions Warfarin is subject to many different types of interactions. Drug - drug Drug – disease Drug – food This guide is intended as a quick reference to highlight significant interactions between warfarin and commonly prescribed medicines or complimentary medicines and a list of the vitamin K content of some foods. It is not intended to be exhaustive or give detailed information. Always tell your anticoagulant clinic of any changes in medication whether prescribed or over the counter, as it may be necessary to alter your dose of warfarin, particularly when starting or stopping medication. Always tell you pharmacist that you are on anticoagulation therapy before buying over the counter medicines. Tel your clinic about significant changes in diet, If you are self-testing or self-managing the frequency of testing may need to be increased when starting or stopping medication. If in doubt consult your anticoagulation clinic. Changes in your condition, regardless of whether you need to take extra medication, can also affect your INR levels. For example conditions such as heart failure, trauma, infection, sickness and diarrhoea will affect warfarin control. So as much attention needs to be paid to illness as is paid to new medicines. A healthy diet is vital for all of us, whether on warfarin or not. It is important that you are aware of foods containing vitamin K but this does not mean that you should avoid them altogether. A balanced, healthy and consistent diet, with no dramatic changes, is the best one for you. Name Potential problem Alcohol
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increase or reduction in anticoagulant effect
Anabolic Steroids (e.g. danazol, stanozolol)
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May reduce the anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Generally no reaction. Check INR if prescribed Propranolol
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May reduce anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increased risk of bleeding, even though INRs
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin by
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin reported
Increase anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Can increase and decrease effect of warfarin. High
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Mild bleeding sometimes occur even though INRs
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Reports of marked increases anticoagulant effect of
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May increase risk of bruising and bleeding
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Cases of bleeding reported with concomitant use.
Flutamide Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin Flu vacine
Case reports of increased anticoagulant effect of
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Isolated reports of increased risk of bleeding
Reports of spontaneous bleeding in patients using
Large doses (>50mg over 2 days) increase
Inhibits meatabolism of warfarin and may increase
May decrease the effect of warfarin Vitamin K
Reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Indomethacin inhibits platelet aggregation and so
Usually safe & uneventful, but small numbers of
Case report of increased anticoagulant effect of
Case reports of increased anticoagulant effect of
Serious risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding
Known to increase effect warfarin therapy
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Miconazole (Daktarin) including oral gel
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs irritate stomach lining and reduce platelet aggregation Ofloxacin
Unpredictable, requires careful monitoring
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Unpredictable, manufacturer recommends close
Reduces effect of warfarin avoid in thromboembolic
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin when
large doses are used over a prolonged time.
Increases and decreases in the anticoagulant effect
Reduces effect of warfarin. Can require 60% dose
Can increase or reduce anticoagulant effect of
Piroxicam A non steroidal anti-inflamatory drug NSAID
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May reduce or enhance effects – high doses
Markedly reduces anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May increase INR check within 7 days of starting
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Markedly increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
May increase effects of warfarin therapy
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increases anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Increase anticoagulant effect of warfarin
Anticoagulant effects of warfarin are reduced or
CAUTION Some multi vitamins contain vitamin K
Minimizing Your Risk Keep your health professional
up to date about the medications and natural health
products you use, including vitamins, minerals and
Taking warfarin, • take the prescribed dose of warfarin at the same time each day • have your blood tested regularly for its clotting time • talk to your health care professional if you are going to start taking any new prescribed drug or over the counter medicine and/or natural health products, because your dose of warfarin may have to be adjusted • if you are already taking a drug and/or natural health products and warfarin, do not change your routine unless you have discussed it with your health care professional • ask your health care professional about foods that may change the effects of warfarin or have a direct effect on blood clotting • if you eat or drink food products that can change the effects of warfarin, be sure to keep your intake levels consistent from day to day • if you have any unusual bruising or bleeding, contact your health care professional for advice right away. • This leaflet does not replace advice given by your doctor or nurse. If in doubt about anything ask your health care professional. Foods and warfarin Vitamin k will be found in foods such as liver, broccoli, brussel sprouts and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, chard, coriander, watercress and cabbage. Beef liver and pork liver are also high in vitamin K. Foods that are low in vitamin K include cauliflower, green beans, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, pumpkin, tomato, corn, peppers, apples, blueberries, lemons, oranges, melons, peaches, grapefruit, mackerel, shrimp and tuna. Fats and oils that are low in vitamin K include peanut oil, corn oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. Olive oil and margarine contain medium levels of vitamin K.
No alternative to closure for complementary medicine centre After trying for nearly 7 years to combine alternative and con-ventional methods of health care, Vancouver’s Tzu Chi Insti-tute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine was to closeMar. 31. “It’s a terrible shame,” said executive director Barbara Findlay. “Just when the institute’s research was showing the tremendousimp
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