Multi Vitamin with "K" question

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Everyone,

Those of us on Coumadin all know the rule that we should try and be consistent with our diets. This will assist keeping our INR more stable.

I am puzzled by many of the response on here when it comes to Multivitamins containing vitamin "K". If someone takes a multivitamin containing some vitamin "K" on a daily basis, and as such, their Coumadin is adjusted accordingly, what is the danger? It would appear to me that taking your daily vitamin is about as consistent as you can get.

I have been taking Centrum for 6 years now since my surgery, and have rarely had any issues with my INR.

Is there another issue with this that I am not seeing?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Karlynn]

The danger isn't in taking the vitamin with K in it because your dose will be adjusted accordingly. The danger is in not taking it after your Coumadin dose has been adjusted to reflect your INR while on K. Some of it depends on how much K is in the multi. I've seen some with 30% of the RDA of K in it. This will make a big difference in your INR. About 5 years ago I was taking a multi with 10% of the RDA of K. They changed the formulation AND the price. I weaned myself off of it and adjusted the dose along with it.

 

[BDMc]

Take one without it!

Take one without it!

I take one without it. Seems easier than trying to adjust if I miss a vitamin pill. Brian

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Karlynn,

Thanks for the reply.

I take my multivitamin daily along with all my other heart medication. It's loaded into my pill box right along with all the prescription meds, and I consider myself extremely consistent with managing my meds.

You do raise a great point in that the manufacturer of the multivitamin can make changes to the quantity of the various vitamin content within their pills.
Fortunately, I have stayed with the same brand for all these years. BUT.. from now on, I am going to check to insure that the vitamin "K" content on the label has not changed, and if it does, I will monitor my INR closely until the adjusts made to my Coumadin level are stable.

I don't see this as any different than trying to stick to a regular schedule of eating salad on a regular basis, and corrective action that would be taken if you began eating extra salads, or started having salads with more spinach or broccoli than before. You would adjust your medication to account for your change of diet.

I home test on a weekly basis, and fortunately will be able to take corrective actions to any swings in my INR if necessary prior to any change in vit "K" becoming a major issue.

Thanks for the tip,
Rob

 

[Karlynn]

I agree with you Rob. I also put my vitamins in my weekly pill organizer. And...I check the label of my vitamins when I get them (I have them on auto-ship). I'm a firm believer in taking a good multi. Since I've been doing that I've had a big decrease in the amount of full-blown colds and flu.

 

[Blanche]

Rob:
I think the issue is one of consistency. People think nothing of skipping a vitamin here and a vitamin there. Sometimes, if they run out of vitamins, they might put off getting more for a while. These were some of the things that Al Lodwick had mentioned in past.

I can see no problem with taking vitamins with K included, if you do it with the same consistency as the anticoagulant. Even the makers of Coumadin have stated that people need vitamin K and should not eliminate it totally.
And that's my take on it.
Blanche

 

[Guest]

I agree with Blanche.

 

[Cris N]

I was having great difficulty getting stabilized. My Vit K diet was not as consistent as I would have liked it - I seem to be sensitive to change in diet. I now take a multivitamin with 80 mcg Vit K (RDA) and have adjusted my warfarin to that level. I load my pill container every week with my various meds and the vitamin. So far so good and my diet variations don't have nearly the effect that they used to.

Cris

 

[Guest]

Cris,
Thanks for the personal experience report. I'm glad to know that it works for you.

 

[Mama2Rylan]

Does anyone know the brands of vitamins that do not contain Vit. K? I was thinking of starting a daily vitamin as well, I am always getting sick, so maybe that would help If I do start, should I tell my doc that is managing my INR before I start taking them, or should I just wait until I get my INR checked? Also, after talking to my cardio about multi-vitamins, she told me to stay away from ones that contain alot of vitamin E. I guess for some reason vitamin E isn't good for people with heart conditions?? I can't remember the EXACT reason I was given, just to stay away. Has anyone else received this warning. Just wondering

 

[Georgia]

"One-a-Day for Women" and similar store brands don't have Vit K (I use the Walgreens brand).

 

[McCln]

To the last question, One A Day is one that has no vitamin K. I use Osco's generic with no problem. The main thing is on this is reading labels, that is very important in all the processed things we take in daily. Good luck.