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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: chris on 25/01/2009 22:53:23

Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: chris on 25/01/2009 22:53:23
I was asked this recently; my brain leapt straight to the anticoagulant effects of plants and how these might affect blood clotting - there is a drug called phenindione for instance, which was an alternative to warfarin for a long time.

I guess any agent that might induce liver metabolism should be included, however, because remedies like St John's Wort, nature's pick me up, also induce a class of liver enzymes and might therefore affect the action of warfarin.

Also, anything with vitamin K might also affect warfarin action since it's through antagonism of vitamin K that warfarin achieves its anticoagulant effects, so green leafy vegetables should also be on the list.

...but can anyone think of anything I've forgotten?

Chris
Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: RD on 26/01/2009 07:08:39
Cranberries...

Quote
Cranberry juice is increasingly used for the prevention and adjunctive treatment of urinary tract infections. The United Kingdom's Committee on Safety of Medicines has alerted clinicians to a potential interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice and has advised that patients avoid their concurrent use. Review and analysis of the literature revealed that ingestion of large volumes of cranberry juice destabilize warfarin therapy. Small amounts of juice are not expected to cause such an interaction. Clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction and monitor and counsel patients accordingly.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545631


Quote
There have been conflicting reports about the effect of grapefruit juice on warfarin.
http://www.warfarinfo.com/grapefruit-juice.htm


Quote
Ginseng root
... It may possibly interact with warfarin as well. There are a number of different preparations grouped under the general term ‘ginseng’, so caution is needed when selecting products.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/01January/Pages/Menopauseherbalremedies.aspx


Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 27/01/2009 23:26:38
I'm on warfarin and was told about the vitamin K bit (among other things).

As for what plants to avoid - belladonna?
Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: Don_1 on 28/01/2009 09:42:54
I'm on warfarin and was told about the vitamin K bit (among other things).

As for what plants to avoid - belladonna?

STREWTH!!!

A rodent prescribed warfarin by his Doctor.......... This doc wouldn't be related to a chap named Shipman would he???
Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: Bored chemist on 28/01/2009 19:48:21
Chloralose and one of the D group of vitamins are used as rodenticides and drugs (though chloralose is out of fashion these days)
Title: Are there any plants that a patient taking warfarin should avoid?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 28/01/2009 20:14:17
I'm on warfarin and was told about the vitamin K bit (among other things).

As for what plants to avoid - belladonna?

STREWTH!!!

A rodent prescribed warfarin by his Doctor.......... This doc wouldn't be related to a chap named Shipman would he???

HARUMPH! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freesmileys.org%2Fsmileys%2Fsmiley-angry030.gif&hash=93bba51f01e59dc155fa081ca70ed165) (http://www.freesmileys.org)

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