Skip to Main Content Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely Internet Citation: Blood Thinner Pills: Your Guide to Using Them Safely. Content last reviewed September 2015. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. This is because, under normal circumstances, the body’s clotting proteins are already occupied by vitamin K1. As such, no amount of vitamin K2 – or K1, for that matter – from food or supplements appreciably affects blood clotting. The one exception to this rule is for people on warfarin (Coumadin). Warfarin works by creating a vitamin K deficiency in the body so vitamin K1 or K2 from any source will counteract the action of the drug and restore the clotting capacity to (or closer to) the normal, un-medicated clotting. It depends on which blood thinner you are taking. Vitamin K (K1 and K2) interacts with warfarin (Coumadin). It will counteract the action of this drug, which will result in an adjustment (raising) of the dose required to achieve a therapeutic INR.
While evidence suggests that small, consistent daily doses of vitamin K1 or K2 will prevent INR fluctuations, this can be achieved through diet (like by eating the exact same amount of broccoli or brie cheese everyday). You ultimately can’t get the benefits of vitamin K2 supplements while taking warfarin, so don’t bother. Vitamin K (K1 or K2) does not interact with other blood thinners such as clopidogrel (Plavix), dabagitran (Pradaxa), prasugrel (Effient), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), aspirin or fish oil. These drugs thin the blood by mechanisms unrelated to vitamin K. This is a FAQ since as we understand K2 helps reduce arterial plaque it is easy to imagine it being chipped away or breaking off in chunks. That is not the way K2 shrinks plaque and K2 supplementation has never been associated with a cardiovascular event. In fact, vitamin K2-dependent proteins make plaque more stable and less prone to rupture. Recent clinical trials for reducing plaque in a group known to be at high risk for calcifications used MK-7 in does of around 360 mcg per day with no significant adverse effects (a few participants experienced stomach upset at this dose).
The most recent clinical trials use 180 mcg per day for bone health and 360 mcg daily for arterial calcifications. There isn’t an established ratio of the fat-soluble nutrients. The rule of thumb I go by is equal amounts of A and D with 100 mcg K2 (as MK-7) per 1,000 IU A/D. Doing the math you will notice that beyond 5,000 IU D/A this gets pricey and we don’t know if increasing the dose of D necessitates an ever-increasing dose of K2 or if the demand and benefit caps out at some point. So, since vitamin A has K2-sparing effect, I suspect that it is OK to stick at 500 mcg MK-7 (or 5,000 MK-4) even while increasing the other fat-soluble vitamins.Warfarin is the main oral anticoagulant used in the UK. Oral means it's taken by mouth. An anticoagulant is a medicine that stops blood clotting. Clotting (thickening) is a complex process involving a number of substances called clotting factors. Clotting factors are produced by the liver and help control bleeding. They work with cells that trigger the clotting process (platelets) to ensure blood clots effectively.
To produce some of the clotting factors, the liver needs a good supply of vitamin K. Warfarin blocks one of the enzymes (proteins) that uses vitamin K to produce clotting factors. This disrupts the clotting process, making it take longer for the blood to clot. Anticoagulant medicines, such as warfarin, are often prescribed for people who've had a condition caused by a blood clot, such as: Warfarin may also be prescribed for people at an increased risk of developing harmful blood clots, such as those with: It's very important that you take warfarin exactly as directed. Don't increase your prescribed dose unless the doctor in charge of your care advises you to. Warfarin is taken once a day, usually in the evening. It's important to take your dose at the same time each day, before, during or after a meal. The aim of warfarin therapy is to decrease the blood's tendency to clot, but not stop it clotting completely. This means the dose of warfarin you're taking must be carefully monitored and, if necessary, adjusted.
You'll have regular blood tests at your GP surgery or local anticoagulant clinic to make sure your dose is correct. The international normalised ratio (INR) is a measure of how long it takes your blood to clot. The longer it takes your blood to clot, the higher your INR. Your INR will be used to determine the dose of warfarin you need to take. Although there are now three new anticoagulants that don't require regular monitoring – rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran – most people who need an anticoagulant will be prescribed warfarin. When you start taking warfarin, you may be given a yellow booklet about anticoagulants, which explains your treatment. How long you'll need to take warfarin for will depend on the condition for which it's been prescribed. Ask the healthcare professional responsible for your care if you're not sure. If you usually take warfarin in the morning and forget to take it at your normal time, take it as soon as you remember and continue as normal.
However, if it's time to take your next dose, don't take a double dose to catch up, unless your GP has specifically advised you to. If you forget to take your dose of warfarin in the evening but remember before midnight on the same day, take the missed dose. If midnight has passed, leave that dose and take your normal dose the next day at the usual time. Ask your GP or staff at your local anticoagulant clinic if you're not sure what to do about a missed dose of warfarin. You can also call NHS 111 for advice. The following people shouldn't take warfarin: Bleeding is the main side effect associated with warfarin, as it slows down the blood's normal clotting ability. You're at greatest risk of bleeding in the first few weeks of starting treatment with warfarin and when you're unwell. You should therefore seek medical attention if you: Take extra care to avoid cutting yourself while taking anticoagulant medication because of the risk of excessive bleeding.
Seek urgent medical attention if you're taking warfarin and you: Skin rashes and hair loss are also common side effects of warfarin. Contact your GP or the healthcare specialist responsible for your care if you experience any persistent side effects while taking warfarin. Warfarin can interact with many other medicines. The patient information leaflet that comes with a medicine should tell you if it's safe to take with warfarin. Ask your GP or pharmacist if you're unsure. Herbal medicines and supplements can also interact with warfarin. You should therefore avoid taking them without first checking with your GP, pharmacist, or staff at your local anticoagulant clinic. Some food and drink can interfere with the effect of warfarin if consumed in large amounts, including foods that are rich in vitamin K. Foods containing large amounts of vitamin K include: Small amounts of vitamin K can also be found in meat and dairy foods. When your first dose of warfarin is prescribed, it doesn't matter how much vitamin K you're eating because the dosage will be based on your current blood clotting levels.
However, if you make significant changes to your diet, such as increasing your vitamin K intake or cutting out foods that contain vitamin K, it could interfere with how warfarin works. Consult the healthcare professional responsible for your care before making any significant changes to your diet while taking warfarin. They'll also be able to give you more information about foods to avoid or limit. Getting drunk or binge drinking is dangerous while taking warfarin. It may increase the effect of the drug, increasing the risk of bleeding. The latest guidelines on drinking alcohol state that regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week (for both men and women) risks damaging your health. Fourteen units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine. Read more about units of alcohol. Heavy drinkers or people with liver disease who are taking warfarin shouldn't drink alcohol. Because of the risk of bleeding, your dose of warfarin may need to be lowered or stopped a few days before having an operation or dental work.
Tell the surgeon or dentist that you're taking warfarin. You should also tell anyone else involved with your care, such as an anticoagulant nurse, if you need an operation so they can make arrangements. You can have vaccinations while taking warfarin. If the vaccine is normally given by injection into the muscle, then providing you're up to date with your INR testing (see above), and that the results are within the correct range, you can have the injection as normal into muscle. This is known as an intramuscular (IM) injection. Alternatively, the injection can be given into the layer of fat underneath your skin. This is known as a subcutaneous injection. Firm pressure applied to the site for 10 minutes after the vaccination may reduce potential bruising. You can play sports while taking warfarin, but because of the risk of bleeding: You can continue to take part in non-contact sports, such as running, athletics, cycling and racquet sports. However, make sure you wear protective clothing, such as a cycle helmet.