Because you are taking a blood thinner, you should try not to hurt yourself and cause bleeding. You need to be careful when you use knives, scissors, razors, or any sharp object that can make you bleed. You also need to avoid activities and sports that could cause injury. Swimming and walking are safe activities.
These over-the-counter painkillers—called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—include such drugs as Advil, Aleve, Bufferin, Excedrin, Motrin and Nuprin, as well as aspirin. Patients who use blood thinners such as warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto or Pradaxa should not take them, the researchers said.
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with how your body metabolizes these medications.
NSAIDs affect the way platelets work and could interfere with normal blood clotting. "That could raise the risk of bleeding, especially in the digestive tract. Taking them together with blood thinners raises the bleeding risk even more," says Dr. Bhatt.
It's safe to take paracetamol while you're on warfarin. But take the lowest dose that controls your pain. Taking more than four, 500mg tablets over 24 hours for longer than a few days may make your blood clot more slowly.
Iron , magnesium, and zinc may bind with warfarin, potentially decreasing their absorption and activity. People on warfarin therapy should take warfarin and iron/magnesium/zinc-containing products at least two hours apart.
Foods that affect warfarin
Foods containing a lot of vitamin K can affect how warfarin works. These include: green leafy vegetables, including broccoli, spinach and lettuce.
Bananas are high in potassium which is not good for certain medications. Try not to eat bananas or oranges if you take ACE inhibitors such as captopril, enalapril and fosinopril among others. ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and treat heart failure by opening up blood vessels, so blood flows more efficiently.
Avocado has been reported to decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. It is unclear why this interaction might occur. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly.
A new study published in November 2022 in Annals of Internal Medicine found apibaxan to be the safest blood thinner among DOACs, including dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban. Apibaxan was associated with the lowest risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever while taking an anticoagulant – but do not exceed the recommended daily dose!
Clinical trials provide several recommendations for adults with blood clots. Adults with a first provoked blood clot should take blood thinners for 3-6 months. Adults with a first unprovoked blood clot generally should take blood thinner for 6-12 months.
On the positive side, patients are able to consume many foods considered safe if they are taking any anticoagulants. These are the foods that are considered safe to consume: Meat, fish, and eggs. Milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Aside from bleeding-related issues, there are several side effects that have been linked to blood thinners, such as nausea and low counts of cells in your blood. Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. Be careful mixing medications.
Patients who use it must have blood tests every one to four weeks to determine if their dose is correct—too much can lead to bleeding, too little won't prevent clots. Taking the drug at night meant less time between getting a test result and adjusting the dose.
People who are taking blood-thinners, such as warfarin, must not suddenly change their intake of blueberries or other sources of vitamin K. Vitamin K plays a key role in blood clotting, and it could affect the blood-thinning action of the drug.
Pomegranate Fruit or Juice - Pomegranate is known as one of the best blood thinning foods found anywhere. Whether you choose the fruit or the juice this food is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can keep you healthy and your blood thin.
Similar to vitamin K, the compounds found in grapefruit and grapefruit juice can counteract blood thinners. Still craving a citrus beverage? Reach instead for a safer option like orange juice that won't interact with the drug.
The reason? Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens are all rich in vitamin K, which plays an essential role in forming blood clots. Warfarin (the generic name for Coumadin) helps prevent blood clots by blocking vitamin K's actions.
Don't: Eat the Wrong Foods
So you have to be careful about the amounts of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, chard, or collard or mustard greens you eat. Green tea, cranberry juice, and alcohol can affect blood thinners, too.
She suggests sleeping on your left side to improve circulation, and avoid sleeping on your back. “Elevate legs at the end of the day and get a good pair of compression stockings if you get any swelling or varicose veins,” she says.
Antibiotics: Taking magnesium supplements may reduce the absorption of quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and nitrofurantoin (Macrodandin). Magnesium should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking these medications. Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics include: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
High doses of magnesium from supplements or medications can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In addition, the magnesium in supplements can interact with some types of antibiotics and other medicines.