Coumadin and Cranberry Juice

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi everyone,

I have read recently that the UK is recommending people who are taking Coumadin not to drink cranberry juice. The believe is that a product in cranberry juice interacts with one of your bodies enzyme and prevents your body from breaking down coumadin, raising the blood levels and PT values to dangerous levels. I have not found any research proofing this theory though, and the FDA has been quiet about it. I was wondering if you other nurses have heard about this, and I am curious if any institutions have instituted like a "no-cranberry juice policy". I am also very curious to hear form our UK nurses and get some more info.

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Specializes in MedSurg, LTC.

I used to mix up a pitcher of cranberry and apple juice for med pass until we totally quit with juices (money). One guy's legs would swell up (CHF) when docusate calcium was given with it but not with plain old water. It's not like we pursued it, I just gave him water after that. Too wierd.

I forgot to add he was on coumadin also like 2mg/d or something. INR always good.

So it was something like apple/cranberry juice (50/50) + docusate calcium + coumadin = lower extremity edema (slight). He wasn't getting any other meds and was post cva and atrial fib or chf or both or something.

I'm not sure if it was the 100% REAL cranberry juice either

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Patients on coumadin should not drink grapejuice either. It does cause their PT and INR to increase. There are actually quite a few drugs that don't ~mix~ well with grapejuice so I tell pt's that it's best to not drink it at all.

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Patients on coumadin should not drink grapejuice either. It does cause their PT and INR to increase. There are actually quite a few drugs that don't ~mix~ well with grapejuice so I tell pt's that it's best to not drink it at all.

Live and learn, this BB is great. I can't remember which one of my meds says no grapefruit juice on the label. My husband's tequin said no MVI within a few hours of taking the antibiotic.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

B -- Please see Page 8 of the report below.

Possible interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice

http://www.mca.gov.uk/ourwork/monitorsafequalmed/currentproblems/cpsept2003.pdf

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I read about it a month ago in Dnursing 03. I think it was in the December issue (maybe november). On resident we had given cranberry juice to because it was her favorite had critical Protimes. ?coincidence?

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I've heard that patients on Coumadin shouldn't drink grapefruit juice either because it interferes with absorbtion of the drug. Also, the antibiotic Biaxin will also cause the same problems because it binds to the proteins blocking the Coumadin and the patient has an increased INR as a result.

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Grapefruit juice is also a big no no when taking norvasc. Sounds like the mechanism of action of the cranberry juice is similar so I would wonder if cranberry juice should be avoided as well?

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I could be wrong but I believe it has something to do with the Potassium

Vit K

People on coumadin should not have bananas either

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Lipitor, Mevacor, and Zocor should also not be taken with grapefruit juice. It increases the risk of toxicity.

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The more people add to this thread, the happier I am to keep my house. I have one IV reminder, Dilantin, don't forget to flush the tubing before and after with saline.

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I am a nurse and I take coumadin. As long as I keep my diet basically the same, nothing seems to mess with my INR. I do drink cranberry at times but not by the gallons, and I do eat a fair amount of bananas. I check my INR every three weeks and it stays right where I need it to.

cathlabrn

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