antibiotics and INR

[William]

Hi Folks, I've been on Coumadin for a month after my valve replacement on Dec 8. At my last INR check the nurse and I were talking about things that can mess it up. Of course green vegs came up with other things but then antibiotics were mentioned. I questioned her, does this mean a course of pills, like when you get sick, or just a dose to be premedicated when you go to the dentist. She didn't seem to have a clear answer. Does anybody have any info about being premedicated and INR? Did it mess up your balance? Cheers, William

 

[Ross]

Certain antibiotics will cause your INR to rise quickly. Mostly the broad spectrum class of antibiotics and some sulfas. Penicillin based seems to have no effect, so the Amoxicillin you get before a dental appointment doesn't cause a rise.

I wish they'd lay off of scaring folks about greens. Eat all you want of them, just be consistent and dose the diet, do not diet the dose.

See Al Lodwicks Site for some of them that do, Biaxin and others will.

http://www.warfarinfo.com/brands.htm

 

[Nancy]

Here are a few other things that can mess you up.

Boost
Ensure
V-8 juice
Power Bars, Luna bars and others
Carnation Instant Breakfast
Vitamins with vitamin K
Any other dietary supplement drink, powder or bars can have large amounts of Vitamin K. They should list them on the label, but with V-8 juice, it is not listed, although it contains a good amount of vitamin K.

Green tea has caused some members lots of trouble, although there is great debate as to how much vitamin K brewed tea contains. But it has messed up some people's INRs.

There are also some new "health" type drinks which contain such things as alfalfa sprouts, wheat grass and other greenies. I'm not sure how much vitamin K they contain, but if there is something green sounding in the ingredients, be cautious with how much you consume.

As Ross mentioned, eating greens is not forbidden. On the contrary, we all need them for health. Just try to be as consistent as possible. Your dosage is adjusted to you, not the other way around.

Go to Al Lodwick's site for excellent information on this subject.

warfarinfo.com

 

[William]

Hi Ross, I take Clindamycin (4 pills/150mgs) to premedicate myself. Do you know if this one effects the INR? Will

 

[Ross]

Mycins will cause a rise, but only 4 shouldn't be all that bad. i don't think I'd worry about a dose adjustment unless your on a 5 or 10 day treatment with it.

 

[tommy]

William,

Good question about antibiotics. My Coumadin Clinic suggests avoiding taking a blood test within 3 days after a dental appointment. No need to trick the test. It may not matter, but why bounce your Coumadin dose over a temporary anitibiotic.

Nancy,

Some of the energy bars and gels are okay. Also, many also have jolts of caffeine. It varies by brand and by flavor. Most have either Vitamin K and/or Caffeine. I've been real careful to read the labels.

Didn't know about V-8 juice. Any idea about V-8 Splash?


Piling on the green vegetable discussion........... After years of being told to eat our vegetables, we get the opposite advice.

GREANS ARE GOOD FOR YOU! ​

 

[William]

About energy bars, I eat at least one a day from a number of different types. I have been checking labels and web info for vitamin K content. From what I've checked this is the result - some have none, some have a bit and one has a lot. The standard Power Bar has 0 vitamin K RDA, Clif Bars have 25% VK RDA, Luna Bars have 100% VK RDA, Pria Bars have 19% VK RDA, etc. I'm still waiting for some Email on bars I couldn't find info both on the label and web. The VK amount can cause a problem depending on how they fit into your diet. Amounts may differ with flavors. Everything I double checked on the web was on the label. Will