Some foods and other items you consume can change the way your warfarin works. These include:
Foods with vitamin K
Some herbals and over-the-counter products
Multi-Vitamins
Nutritional shakes
Alcohol
Nutritional formulas for tube feeds
Breast milk (infants only)
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is common to many foods. It is very common in green leafy vegetables. Eating 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 vital to eat the same amounts of these foods each week. Keep a log of how many servings and how often you eat foods high in vitamin K. This will help you make sure you are eating the same amounts each week.
Foods High in Vitamin K
Kale
Spinach
Greens (turnip, mustard, beet, dandelion, collards)
Swiss chard
Parsley (okay as garnish)
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Broccoli
Watercress
Onions (spring or scallions, tops & bulb)
Lettuce (green leaf, endive, romaine)
Asparagus
Soybeans and edamame
Other vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy products, eggs, and meat contain smaller amounts of vitamin K.
Remember to Eat the same amounts of foods high in vitamin K each week.
Note: One serving of a high vitamin K food = ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw.
Herbals and Over the Counter (OTC) Products
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any of these herbals or over-the-counter products. Also talk to them before starting or stopping any of the products below.
Increases Bleeding Risks
Fenugreek
Feverfew
Garlic (capsules)
Ginkgo biloba
Chondroitin-glucosamine
Melatonin
Turmeric
Bilberry
Chamomile
Milk Thistle
Peppermint (capsules)
Cinnamon (capsules)
Ginger (capsules)
Ashwagandha
Lion’s mane
Vitamin E
Increases Clot Risk
Ginseng
St. John’s Wort
Melatonin
Flaxseed or Grape seed extract
Black cohosh
Green tea
Multi-Vitamins
Multi-Vitamins likely contain vitamin K and vitamin E. If you do take a multi-vitamin, take your dose every day. If you do not take your multi-vitamin every day, you may reduce how well your warfarin works. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping any multi-vitamins. Think about getting a multivitamin that contains no vitamin K.
Nutritional Shakes
Nutritional shakes may have high amounts of vitamin K. If you will be starting one of these products tell your warfarin manager. These drinks have vitamin K; however, this is not a complete list.
Boost®
Glucerna®
Carnation Breakfast Essentials®
Slim Fast®
Ensure®
Kellogg’s Special K Protein Shake®
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice might increase risk for bleeding. Limit your intake of cranberry juice to no more than 16 ounces or 2 cups per day.
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.
What equals 1 drink?
Light beer = 12 fluid ounces
Wine = 5 fluid ounces or ½ cup
Hard liquor = 1.5 fluid ounce or 1 shot
Who to Call
If you have questions, please contact your provider through MyChart or call your provider listed in your After Visit Summary or After Hospital Care Plan.
For a list of UW Health Clinics, please visit www.uwhealth.org/.