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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Vitamins Effect on Coumadin and Long Term Hope
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Vitamins Effect on Coumadin and Long Term Hope
by terk, Oct 18, 2002 12:00AM
I just read that certain vitamins such as K and C have a negative effect on Coumadin - does this mean that daily multi-vitamins which contain these vitamins should be stopped? Or would the normal recommended dosages of these vitamins in the multi-vitamins are ok?
Does afib ever go away on it's own? It seems like the few times I tried decreasing my medication - the palpatitions increase in intensity if not in freqency. Are we stuck with medication for the rest of our lives?
Does afib ever go away on it's own? It seems like the few times I tried decreasing my medication - the palpatitions increase in intensity if not in freqency. Are we stuck with medication for the rest of our lives?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-KE, Oct 18, 2002 12:00AM
Dear terk,
Vitamin K counteracts the effects of coumadin. You should not take any multi-vitamin which may contain vitamin K while you are on coumadin. Vitamin C is not known to interact with coumadin as severely as vitamin K.
If are continuing to experience severe symptoms associated with your atrial fibrillation, I would recommend seeing a specialist in electrophysiology. This is a doctor who specializes in rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation. You may be candidate for more aggressive medical therapy or for an atrial fibrillation ablation. I would recommend contacting the Cleveland Clinic's web site (www.ccf.org) for more information or calling to schedule an appointment at 1-800-CCF-CARE.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
Vitamin K counteracts the effects of coumadin. You should not take any multi-vitamin which may contain vitamin K while you are on coumadin. Vitamin C is not known to interact with coumadin as severely as vitamin K.
If are continuing to experience severe symptoms associated with your atrial fibrillation, I would recommend seeing a specialist in electrophysiology. This is a doctor who specializes in rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation. You may be candidate for more aggressive medical therapy or for an atrial fibrillation ablation. I would recommend contacting the Cleveland Clinic's web site (www.ccf.org) for more information or calling to schedule an appointment at 1-800-CCF-CARE.
Thanks for your question,
CCF-MD-KE
to juggle Vit K intake to maintain a proper INR.
A drawback of Coumadin is that it creates a deficiency
of Vit K in order to anticoagulate.
There is research coming in on the effects of Vitamin
K deficiency and increased osteoporosis. Although the anticoagulation
needs take priority here, is there any hopes that the new
oral anticoagulant, EXANTA (Ximelagatron) may, in the
future, be a reasonable substitute for coumadin for those
under treatment for osteoporosis? Might it too have a
side effect worse than Coumadin? Liver?
I realize that this is early on,but looking down the
road to a possible bone fractures that may be
exacerbated by low Vit K, causes me concern.
Thank you,
Global