Common Interactions with Warfarin

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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.


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