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Q. I have been drinking a lot of cranberry juice to ward off a urinary tract infection. I have also been eating dried cranberries as a snack. Is it possible this could affect Coumadin? My blood work (INR) is now out of bounds. I haven’t changed anything else in my diet.
A. There have been several cases of cranberries increasing the blood thinning potential of Coumadin (warfarin). A fatal hemorrhage attributed to the combination of cranberry juice and warfarin was reported last year.
Scientists have investigated this possible interaction and found that susceptible people may experience a 30 percent increase in anticoagulant activity when cranberry is consumed with Coumadin (British Journal of Pharmacology, Aug. 2008). This suggests that cranberries could pose problems in combination with warfarin.
Would this mean that cranberries by themselves act as a blood thinner?
Are cranberries known blood thinners? If so, it makes me wonder why doctors don't prescribe less Coumadin (or other blood-thinning drugs) and more cranberries in the diet? Even if it would only work for some people, wouldn't such a natural solution be worth trying before prescribing a drug?
Does anyone have dizziness caused by warfarin?
I've been reviewing the articles concerning the interaction of Cranberry and Coumadin. All articles and research seem to be focused on the use of cranberry juice. What about the cranberry concentrate in capsules offered by many supplement brands? Does the dehydrated concentrated version have the same effect (if there is an effect) as the juice?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: A RECENT RESEARCH REPORT DEMONSTRATED NO INTERACTION IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD STUDY, SO FAR AS WE KNOW, OF CRANBERRY CAPSULES WITH WARFARIN.
Thank you for the Info. Very helpful.
Does anyone know of any websites for people who are interested in learning more about warfarin (Coumadin) with the hope of being able to reduce or eliminate having to use it? I've been told I'm on it for life. Grateful for any information on this!