On the positive side, patients are able to consume many foods considered safe if they are taking any anticoagulants. These are the foods that are considered safe to consume: Meat, fish, and eggs. Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Foods that affect warfarin
Foods containing a lot of vitamin K can affect how warfarin works. These include: green leafy vegetables, including broccoli, spinach and lettuce.
Bananas are high in potassium which is not good for certain medications. Try not to eat bananas or oranges if you take ACE inhibitors such as captopril, enalapril and fosinopril among others. ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and treat heart failure by opening up blood vessels, so blood flows more efficiently.
Because you are taking a blood thinner, you should try not to hurt yourself and cause bleeding. You need to be careful when you use knives, scissors, razors, or any sharp object that can make you bleed. You also need to avoid activities and sports that could cause injury. Swimming and walking are safe activities.
However, for some individuals on the medication Coumadin, eating salads can be worrisome because many lettuces and trendy greens are rich in vitamin K, which can interfere with this medication. Coumadin is prescribed to reduce the risk of forming blood clots.
Don't: Eat the Wrong Foods
So you have to be careful about the amounts of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, chard, or collard or mustard greens you eat. Green tea, cranberry juice, and alcohol can affect blood thinners, too.
Berries, including strawberries, naturally contain a significant amount of a compound called salicylates. Salicylates are natural blood thinners. For those taking prescription blood thinners, such as Warfarin, you may need to limit your intake of strawberries to avoid bruising and bleeding.
Avocado has been reported to decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. It is unclear why this interaction might occur. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly.
Menu planning for patients on warfarin can include a healthy diet including fruits and nuts without compromising the stability of their oral anticoagulation therapy.
Aside from bleeding-related issues, there are several side effects that have been linked to blood thinners, such as nausea and low counts of cells in your blood. Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Be careful mixing medications.
Paracetamol interacts with certain drugs, including warfarin and some other oral anticoagulant drugs, and can increase prothrombin time.
The reason? Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens are all rich in vitamin K, which plays an essential role in forming blood clots. Warfarin (the generic name for Coumadin) helps prevent blood clots by blocking vitamin K's actions.
All the fruits in the berry-family, including strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries are significant blood thinners. Oranges, tangerines, cherries, raisins, prunes, pineapples, and tomatoes work in the same manner.
People who are taking blood-thinners, such as warfarin, must not suddenly change their intake of blueberries or other sources of vitamin K. Vitamin K plays a key role in blood clotting, and it could affect the blood-thinning action of the drug.
Clinical trials provide several recommendations for adults with blood clots. Adults with a first provoked blood clot should take blood thinners for 3-6 months. Adults with a first unprovoked blood clot generally should take blood thinner for 6-12 months.
Blood-thinning medications: Garlic may make the actions of blood-thinning medications including warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin stronger, increasing the risk of bleeding.
People who are using blood thinners should not suddenly start eating a lot of cauliflower because the high levels of vitamin K could react adversely with the drugs.
Life with blood thinners can be overwhelming at first, but eventually, you can still live a very normal life with these medications. Blood thinners do not actually thin your blood, and they do not heal or dissolve blood clots.
Patients who use it must have blood tests every one to four weeks to determine if their dose is correct—too much can lead to bleeding, too little won't prevent clots. Taking the drug at night meant less time between getting a test result and adjusting the dose.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with CAFFEINE. Caffeine might slow blood clotting. Taking caffeine along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Taking warfarin with everyday painkillers
It's safe to take paracetamol while you're on warfarin. But take the lowest dose that controls your pain. Taking more than four, 500mg tablets over 24 hours for longer than a few days may make your blood clot more slowly.