hi there all,
The sister at my anticoag clinic had a chat with me about cranberry juice this morning and has asked me to limit or stop drinking it all together for the moment. There is some scare on about it and it is under investigation she is speaking with the hematologist this week about it and said to phone next week with my self test INR results and we will discuss the cranberry juice again then.
I have been having a glass of cranberry juice every morning for the last 3 years on the advice of the MS nurse to keep bladder infections and cystitis at bay. Here is the article I think my anticoag nurse was referring to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3120206.stm
[Cranberry juice clot drug warning
Patients taking the anti-clotting drug warfarin have been warned to limit or avoid cranberry juice consumption.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines is concerned that mixing the two increases the risk of haemorrhage.
It has received five reports which suggest that cranberry juice acts to increase the potency of the drug.
One man died after his blood clotting levels changed dramatically six weeks after starting to drink the juice.
In a statement, the committee said: "Until this possible interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin has been investigated further, it would be prudent for patients taking warfarin to be advised to limit or avoid drinking it."
Cranberry juice has boomed in popularity in recent years and is often used by women to prevent cystitis.
However, it contains chemicals called flavonoids, which are known to inhibit the action of subtances which the body uses to break down warfarin.
Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.
It is often prescribed for patients with certain types of irregular heartbeat and after a heart attack or heart valve replacement surgery.
However, it is known to interact with many other drugs, which either increase or reduce its potency.
Modern anti-depressants, for example, can enhance the anticoagulant effect, while the herbal remedy St John's Wort diminishes it].
It's quite scary - Its up to yourself to discuss the issue of whether or not to drink cranbery juice with your own doctor and/or anticoag clinic.
Hope the information off the BBC health site helps you make up your own mind.
xxxxxhazel
The sister at my anticoag clinic had a chat with me about cranberry juice this morning and has asked me to limit or stop drinking it all together for the moment. There is some scare on about it and it is under investigation she is speaking with the hematologist this week about it and said to phone next week with my self test INR results and we will discuss the cranberry juice again then.
I have been having a glass of cranberry juice every morning for the last 3 years on the advice of the MS nurse to keep bladder infections and cystitis at bay. Here is the article I think my anticoag nurse was referring to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3120206.stm
[Cranberry juice clot drug warning
Patients taking the anti-clotting drug warfarin have been warned to limit or avoid cranberry juice consumption.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines is concerned that mixing the two increases the risk of haemorrhage.
It has received five reports which suggest that cranberry juice acts to increase the potency of the drug.
One man died after his blood clotting levels changed dramatically six weeks after starting to drink the juice.
In a statement, the committee said: "Until this possible interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin has been investigated further, it would be prudent for patients taking warfarin to be advised to limit or avoid drinking it."
Cranberry juice has boomed in popularity in recent years and is often used by women to prevent cystitis.
However, it contains chemicals called flavonoids, which are known to inhibit the action of subtances which the body uses to break down warfarin.
Warfarin is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.
It is often prescribed for patients with certain types of irregular heartbeat and after a heart attack or heart valve replacement surgery.
However, it is known to interact with many other drugs, which either increase or reduce its potency.
Modern anti-depressants, for example, can enhance the anticoagulant effect, while the herbal remedy St John's Wort diminishes it].
It's quite scary - Its up to yourself to discuss the issue of whether or not to drink cranbery juice with your own doctor and/or anticoag clinic.
Hope the information off the BBC health site helps you make up your own mind.
xxxxxhazel
