Cranberry Juice and Warfarin

Coumadin is a generic terms used for warfarin. Warfarin is an anti-coagulant drug that is prescribed by a medical practitioner for all those patients who are at a risk of countering the troubles and risk concerning blood clots. Each patient who has been administered with the drug begins with a marginal dosage, however, the dosage is elevated when the patient has started with the drug and has been continuing it. Under the close supervision of the doctor, the dosage is increased for the patient. The anti-clotting procedure continues until the patient continues with the administration of coumadin. There have been certain health problems that have been reported, however, small in number, to be quite serious, requiring immediate attention. Problems related to the cranberry juice and warfarin consumption has involved health hazards, and has also claimed a life of an individual who was following medication prescribed by his consultant practitioner.

Cranberry and Warfarin Interaction

The connection between cranberry juice and warfarin treatment has been researched with studies that clearly show that the reaction involves the detoxification enzyme family CYP2C9. This enzyme family is required to breakdown the warfarin activity so that the anti-coagulation does not exceed the normal INR, that is the International Normalized Ratio. The range is 2 to 3 INR. If the ratio or the INR maintained is higher than the prescribed ratio, the result could involve the individual being unable to stop an occurrence of bleeding. There has been a debate about this issue, even when it is now clear, that cranberry juice does not inhabit the CYP2C9 enzyme. Researchers are still debating on whether cranberry juice consumption can trigger a reaction that is harmful and hazardous to human health. In certain studies that were conducted, results were yielded that when a dose of warfarin was administered and cranberry juice was also consumed, the inhibition of CYP2C9 enzyme failed to occur. Thus, it is always advisable to consult your health care specialist before you decide to incorporate cranberry juice in your diet accompanied with the coumadin dose.

Cranberry juice has certain benefits; for instance, the consumption of cranberry juice can protect one from urinary tract infection. With the benefits of Cranberry juice abounding, it also works as an anti-inflammatory tool, strengthens the immune system, and helps in lowering the LDL cholesterol. However, before you consume cranberry juice with warfarin, consult your healthcare professional before concluding with your personalized line of treatment.

There could be signs of uncontrolled bleeding that may occur if an expert consult is not garnered. Due to the anti-coagulation activity, the troubles and risks that are undertaken by the patient are coughing up blood, blood in the stool and urine, getting bruised easily, nose and gum bleed, and there is a significant drop in blood pressure too. This mechanism occurs as cranberries consist of substances that inhibit enzymes in the liver, thereby deactivating the metabolically efficient coumadin, the result being low blood pressure. Elevated or higher INR and bleeding are problems encountered, besides which there are other side effects that can take place too. The purple toe syndrome that causes the small arteries in the feet to get blocked, gangrene (which may even lead to death), could be amongst the other side effects that one could endure.

One potential mechanism involves salicylic acid, a constituent of many fruits and vegetables, including cranberries. Diets consisting of primarily vegetarian sources, increased serum, and urinary concentrations of salicylates, are beneficial. This concentration often overlaps with concentrations measured in patients taking aspirin 75 mg/day. There are certain studies that say that cranberry juice has no side effects to offer. Coumadin is not in the position to exert any change and suppress any side effects of cranberry juice. The side effects have remained elusive. There has been no solid evidence that takes the side of either being positive or being ruled out as a negative combination. It is required that a well mechanized proforma or mechanism is released in order to understand the true effects of coumadin.

Before you think of consuming cranberry juice and warfarin, bear in mind that you must consult your medical practitioner, as this may give you any of the side effects mentioned above. It is way better to garner an expert's advice rather than being self-prescriptive in nature.