In this short article, we will answer the question “Can you eat green leafy vegetables while taking Eliquis?”. We will also explain what it is used for and compare Eliquis to Warfarin, another anticoagulant used for the same issues.
Can you eat green leafy vegetables while taking Eliquis?
Yes, you can eat green leafy vegetables while taking Eliquis.
Eliquis does not need Vitamin K to function. As a result, while taking Eliquis, you can continue to consume salads, green, leafy vegetables, and other foods and beverages that contain vitamin K.
There is no stringent diet or dietary restriction for those who use Eliquis because they don’t interact significantly with food. This is a significant benefit Eliquis have over Warfarin a different drug that has the same function as Eliquis.
What is Eliquis used for?
Eliquis is a medication used in adult patients who have had arthroplasty (surgery for the placement of a prosthesis) of the hip or knee to prevent the development of abnormal blood clots inside the blood vessels located in the legs (venous thrombosis).
The blood clots can travel within the blood vessels and reach the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or other organs.
In addition, Eliquis is suggested to lower the risk of mortality and stroke in adult patients with heart arrhythmias who also have additional blood clots forming in their bodies (systemic embolism) (non-valvular atrial fibrillation).
Eliquis lessens the risk of bleeding, particularly cerebral haemorrhage, in comparison to warfarin.
Can you eat green leafy vegetables while taking Warfarin?
It depends. It varies because the dosage of the drug is always modified with a coagulogram exam using the Prothrombin Time (PT) parameter and its international index (INR).
An anticoagulation patient’s INR should ideally range from 2 to 3. (sometimes between 2.5 and 3.5 depending on the type of disease). The higher this index, and hence the higher the risk of bleeding, the more anticoagulated the patient is.
Blood is less anticoagulated when the INR is low, which increases the risk of clotting and thrombosis. The patient on warfarin needs to be examined frequently, sometimes even once per week, to adjust the dosage of the drug!
The dosage will be increased if you consume meals high in vitamin K on a daily basis because warfarin will need to inhibit more of the vitamin.
It’s also not an issue if you never eat foods containing vitamin K or only consume little amounts of them; the medication is changed to be less potent.
The main issue with diet fluctuation is that if your INR is low the week of your blood test and you consume a lot of spinach and broccoli, your doctor will increase the medication.
If you decide to stop eating salads the next week, your intake of vitamin K will drop, causing the dosage of the medication to be excessively high and potentially leading to bleeding.
Additionally, significant bleeding can occur, such as hemorrhagic stroke (stroke), vomiting, bloody stools, and internal bleeding, all of which can result in death if not promptly treated.
So here’s the advice: if you take warfarin, you’ll have to decide between eating vitamin K-rich foods daily or never eating any.
Because it’s simpler to manage the medication, many doctors choose to outlaw these foods. This is OK if the patient will take the prescription for three to six months, but it is more difficult when the medication will be used for the rest of the patient’s life.
Are there any dietary restrictions when you take Eliquis?
No. The therapeutic use of Eliquis does not require dietary restrictions as it is a direct anticoagulant. If you have any discomfort, bleeding or unusual symptoms, look for a specialist for further clarification.
Are there any dietary restrictions when you take Warfarin?
Yes, see below the dietary advice:
- Avoid eating a lot of green vegetables;
- Utilize oils and fats as an additive to food preparation as little as feasible;
- Avoid consuming commercially produced items made with oils, parsley, or herbs (such as pre-made sauces, boxed soups, and seasoning tablets);
- Consume items preserved in brine rather than oil (such as tuna in cans);
- Fruit and vegetable peels should be avoided since they contain more vitamin K than the pulp;
- Instead of butter and margarine, use cheeses or jellies in small meals and snacks;
- avoiding substituting snacks and snacks for meals like lunch and dinner;
- Since the foods that are sources of this vitamin are especially crucial for the management of metabolic disorders including dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) and osteoporosis.
- It is best to maintain a consistent daily intake of vitamin K and avoid excessive changes.
Conclusion:
In this short article, we have answered the question “Can you eat green leafy vegetables while taking Eliquis?”. We have also explained what it is used for and compared Eliquis to Warfarin, another anticoagulant used for the same issues.
References:
https://www.goodrx.com/eliquis/what-is
https://www.guthrie.org/blog/dont-eat-these-foods-if-you-take-blood-thinners-or-statins
