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Q. Does aspartame affect bleeding if you are taking a blood thinner like Coumadin? I know that cranberry juice poses a potential problem with this drug. How can I keep up with Coumadin interactions?
A. Coumadin (warfarin) is a life-saving drug but it can be tricky to use. This medicine reduces the risk of blood clots that can lead to strokes or heart attacks. Getting the dose right, however, poses a significant challenge. Too much or too little drug can be dangerous.
Many foods and other medications can interact with Coumadin. When a person taking Coumadin drinks a lot of cranberry juice, the risk of dangerous bleeding may rise. Several cases have been reported, but scientists are still debating the clinical significance of the interaction.
Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet) is an artificial sweetener that may increase bleeding time (Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Feb. and May, 1998). Although this interaction is controversial, we would encourage anyone consuming aspartame and taking Coumadin to monitor the impact on bleeding very carefully.
Sorting out all the dangerous food and drug combinations with warfarin is complicated. Our free Guide to Coumadin Interactions is available at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
I've been taking Coumadin for about ten years. Nine months ago, the doctor put me on Salmon Oil gelcap (to raise my good cholesterol) and everything I've read since on the subject said it would thin my blood even more, but that's definitely not been my experience. I have had to increase my dose slightly to keep my INR in the 2 - 3 window. I'm taking 3 gelcaps a day
I am looking for an online resource for researching interactions between western pharmaceuticals and western/chinese herbs and neutraceuticals! (ie coumadin and DGL or Pill Curing formula?)
January of this year, I discovered i had a DVT (11 in. long) in my left leg. By the time it was found, part of it had broken off and traveled to both lungs. I was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden and Lupus Anticoagulant Inhibitor and will most likely remain on Coumadin for the rest of my life (I was 39 when this happened). I have been on Coumadin for 5 months now and it still has to be adjusted every two weeks. They want me between 2 and 3, and it NEVER is. My advice to anyone taking it (which is what I have started doing myself) is write down EVERYTHING you put into your body. Every leafy green veggie, every otc pill, every sip of alcohol... then hopefully we will be able to decipher what causes the huge level changes and finally get it regulated.
I've been on Coumadin since my valve replacement surgery almost four years ago. If you can't get your INR level to stabilize, I have a suggestion. Find the list of things that negatively affect your level (foods, etc) and stop consuming them. I don't drink alcohol (not even a beer) and I don't eat the high vitamin K veggies. My levels stabilized about 4 months after surgery and haven't changed since. If you are trying to have it both ways, that won't work. You have to sacrifice some of the foods you might love for your health. Try it.
I've been on Coumadin since my valve replacement surgery almost four years ago. If you can't get your INR level to stabilize, I have a suggestion. Find the list of things that negatively affect your level (foods, etc) and stop consuming them. I don't drink alcohol (not even a beer) and I don't eat the high vitamin K veggies. My levels stabilized about 4 months after surgery and haven't changed since. If you are trying to have it both ways, that won't work. You have to sacrifice some of the foods you might love for your health. Try it.
I have been on Coumadin since 2000. I am severely anemic, I have to have iron infusions weekly. My hemoglobin count is presently at 6.8. I am weak and tired all the time. My appetite is poor. I am having the hardest time eating. I love the greens but I know that this will put my INR/PT out of range which is 2.5-3.5. I have a history of intestinal bleeding how or why I don't know. If I am to beat this I need to understand how the drug works. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
My husband JUST started taking coumadim. He has bilateral pulmonary embolis and is currently in the hospital. I want to thank all of you for such wonderful and educational information which is helping me to understand the pros and cons of coumadin. Stay healthy everyone, and thanks.
I've had the same experience, my Dr. put me on 2 salmon oil caplets a day. At first I just took one and my INR was very low, so I had to increase my coumadin dosage. Then I began taking two salmon oil caplets and once again, my INR is low. I keep telling them that I think it's the Salmon Oil, but I don't think they believe me.
My dad had congestive heart failure 2 years ago and was put on coumadin. he bruised all the time and had blood in his urine. They NEVER got his level right. So he quit it all and began using vitamin E, and gingko biloba. It worked PERFECTLY. Our family owns a health food store, so we know a lot about this. Unfortunately, he died on July 30, 2009 of a massive heart attack, even though his cardiologist said two weeks earlier he was fine. We believe that the coumadin weakened his veins and contributed to his death. He bears some responsibility, because his diet wasn't always the best. But I, his son, believe he would be alive today if he had not taken coumadin. It ain't no miracle drug.
I have been on cumodine for three weeks due to complete knee surgery. I have Osteoarthritis pretty bad. I stopped my Calcium Mag vitamins. Can I resume them now?