Health and Well Being
Blood thinning drugs and supplement use - About Health | Blog
We have always written on the bottles of Res-V and Lester’s Oil a warning; don’t use if on strong blood thinners. We have had huge numbers of customers concerned about this and asking us if that was a ‘hard and fast’ rule or whether there are exceptions.
Our approach with our labels and fact sheets has been to err on the side of caution, but in this case there is a long version… so here’s the low down… Firstly, strong blood thinners in this case are Coumadin (warfarin) and a new drug called Pradaxa. Our products are safe to use with low dose daily aspirin (Cartia), unless you have a history of excessive bleeding or some other reason to be cautious. There are many supplements that have a blood thinning (anti coagulant) effect. These include St Johns Wart, Co-Enzyme Q10, feverfew, dong quai, garlic, curcumin (from Turmeric) and vitamin E. In all likelihood, this is just a tiny selection of supplements and foods that can have this effect. This mild blood thinning effect may well be part of the reason that certain supplements have beneficial effects for human health, such as fish oil’s benefits for heart health.
Our Advice – Long Version
If you are on strong blood thinners prescribed by your doctor, then our advice is now to inform your doctor of supplements you want to take before using them. Over the years I have had several clients call us and state that their doctor has said that using our products or supplements in general is fine, despite being on strong blood thinning medications, but this should not be construed as general advice for everyone.
If you have a history of excessive bleeding, regardless of whether you are on strong blood thinners then you need to tread carefully with supplement use as well. Our advice again is to consult with your GP. It is important to note that there are some doctors that don’t necessarily believe in supplements, and their advice will likely be clouded by their particular bias. It’s your choice where you go for medical advice, but it is always good to get a second opinion. To be fair, I have not encountered many doctors who know much about supplements – but there are some. If you are on strong blood thinners, you should be getting regular checks to see how well the medication is working.
So long as you are monitored then your GP will know whether there are factors in your lifestyle that need to be adjusted, such as supplement use or the dosages of your blood thinners. There are many benefits to the supplements we sell, and I believe that the benefits should be balanced against the very slight risks that may exist within certain groups.
This risk can be easily mitigated by regular monitoring by your GP. As always, this is a general guide and our advice is to listen to what you doctor says, but make sure you have a doctor with an open mind, and tell them about the supplements you take!
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