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Anticoagulation
Cranberry Juice Poses Risks for Warfarin Users
Drug experts warned recently about the health risks posed by cranberry juice consumption among patients who take the drug warfarin. Those who use the anti blood-clotting drug should limit cranberry juice consumption because the juice appears to interfere with warfarin and reduce its potency.
The British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reported five cases that suggest a food-drug interaction between cranberry juice and warfarin that could cause internal hemorrhage. One of these cases involved a man who suffered a fatal internal hemorrhage. His blood clotting levels increased dramatically six weeks after starting to drink cranberry juice. The flavonoids in the fruit are known to inhibit cytochrome P450 activity, the enzymes used to break down warfarin. They have previously been found to interact with many other drugs too.
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In another case, blood clotting levels increased less dramatically but returned to the normal range after cranberry juice was discontinued. Many women drink cranberry juice to prevent bladder infections. And cystitis.
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