Food-Drug Interactions: Coumadin and Warfarin Diet Interactions HF#322

Some foods and other items you take can change the way your Warfarin works including:

 

• Foods that contain Vitamin K (see table below)
• Some Herbals and Over-the-Counter products
• Multi-Vitamins
• Cranberry Juice
• Alcohol

 

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is common to many foods, especially green leafy vegetables.  Large amounts of foods high in Vitamin K can reduce the effects of Warfarin or Coumadin. 

 If you eat foods that are high in Vitamin K, it is important to eat the same amounts of these foods each week.  One way to stay consistent is to keep a log of how many servings and how often you eat food high in vitamin K

 

Foods high in Vitamin K:
Kale	Cabbage
Spinach	Broccoli
Turnip and Mustard greens	Watercress
Collards	Green leaf lettuce
Swiss chard	Endive lettuce
Parsley (okay as a garnish)	Romaine lettuce
Brussels sprouts	Soy Beans and Edamame

 

Other vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy products, eggs, and meat contain smaller amounts of Vitamin K.

 

Remember:  Eat the same amounts of Vitamin K foods each week.

Note: One serving of a high Vitamin K food=1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw.

 

Herbal and Over the Counter (OTC) Products 

The most common herbs known to interfere with the action of Warfarin or Coumadin include the following:

 

Increases Bleeding Risk	Increase Clot Risk
Fenugreek	Ginseng
Feverfew	St. John's Wort
Garlic (capsules)	Coenzyme Q10
Ginger (capsules)
Ginkgo Biloba
Green tea
Omega-3 fatty acids
Viatmin E

 

 

 

Multi-Vitamins

Multi-Vitamins usually contain Vitamin K and Vitamin E.  If you do take a multi-vitamin, take your dose every day.  If you are not consistent with taking your multi-vitamin, you may reduce the effectiveness of your Warfarin. 

 

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you do take any of these herbals or over- the- counter products and before starting or stopping any multi-vitamins, herbals, or over- the- counter products.

 

Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice might increase your risk for bleeding.  Research shows that a small amount of cranberry juice is safe.  Limit cranberry juice intake to 1 cup per day to avoid increasing your risk for bleeding.

 

Alcohol
Drinking more than 2 drinks per day every day or binge drinking can greatly increase your risk for bleeding.  Limit alcohol to no more than 1 drink per day, or no more than 1-2 drinks on a special occasion. 

 

One Drink Equivalents:
Light Beer	12 fluid ounces or 1.5 cups
Wine	5 fluid ounces or 1/2 cup
Hard Liquor	1.5 fluid ounces or 1 shot

 

 

What is the most important thing you learned from this handout?

 

 

 

What changes will you make in your diet/lieftstyle, based on what you learned today?

 

 

 

If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 01/14/2013

Copyright © 01/14/2013 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#322

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