Blood thinners are meds that enable prevention of blood clots. Key ingredients in blood thinning drugs are known to extend blood coagulation time. If left untreated, blood clots may block smooth flow of blood and thus trigger fatal outcomes like thrombosis. It is conditions like clots that may also cause strokes as well as nerve damages. Intake of medications is one of the commonly used treatment options. Warfarin remains one of commonly prescribed blood thinning drugs. But, what are the best foods to eat while taking warfarin? It is essential to have needful inputs on this front.
Formation of clots in blood may lead to a disturbed blood flow. Even smaller clots are capable of denying blood flow to organs such as heart or brain. Meds are available to treat clots. Substances in blood thinners help to keep blood cells from coming closing or bonding with one another. There are a few genres of blood thinning meds that delay clots from forming.
Most widely prescribed blood thinning meds include warfarin, enoxaparin and heparin. However, recent research has led to the launch of several new drugs. These pose much lower risks of problems such as internal bleed or bruises. Some of the new generation meds are dabigatran, apixaban and rivaroxaban.
In this milieu, what is warfarin?
This is a blood thinner, taken to decrease the chances of formation of clots in your blood. This med is also capable of treating clots which have already shaped up. Intake of warfarin can help avoid conditions such as cardiac arrests, onset of strokes, etc. The main function of this thinner is to prevent blood from clotting. You can procure this as an oral form as well. However, raking it through self-medication or as an over the counter drug is considered unsafe.
What are the best foods to eat while taking warfarin?
You are advised to eat foods that are low in vitamin K. Such foods include carrots (cooked form), raw forms of celery, green bell peppers (cooked and served), tomato, baked form of potatoes, etc. You may also consider eating eggplant (steamed), pumpkin (cooked form), select forms of mushrooms, etc.
In sum, the best foods to eat while taking warfarin are carrots, celery, potato, cucumber, zucchini, etc. It is a safe thing to take three servings of the above listed vegetables each day. You may opt for ½ cup of cooked veggies and another ½ portion in uncooked form. In order to obtain more details about what are the best foods to eat while taking warfarin, you are advised to talk to a dietitian.
Precautions needed while taking warfarin or other such blood thinning meds
In general, blood thinning meds such as warfarin form part of standard medication plans to treat blood clots. But, people living with lesser platelet count should stay away from using blood thinners. Also, warfarin may work adversely and trigger counterproductive outcomes if taken with antiplatelet drugs and other blood thinning meds such as enoxaparin. Hence, it is essential to speak with your physician of medications you are presently taking.
Moreover, those with known allergies to blood thinners like warfarin should not use such drugs. If you sense allergic reactions such as inflammation of lips or tip of your tongue, skin conditions such as hives, breathing difficulties, etc. you are advised to discontinue warfarin and talk to the caregiving team without much delay.
On witnessing any of the aforesaid adverse effects caused by warfarin, it is safe thing to dial 911 if you live in US. You may contact the helpdesk of the US-based drug clearing body – the food and drug administration (FDA). If you are a resident of a Canadian province, reach out to a poison management unit working closer to your home. Canadian residents can also call Health Canada on an emergency mode.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Florida. Experience: 5 years as a pharmacist and medical writer, creating content on medication management and pharmaceutical news for healthcare blogs and patient education sites.