People's Pharmacy

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Can Coffee Raise Cholesterol?

Posting Date: 01/26/2004

My doctor told me to stay away from green leafy vegetables while on Coumadin and my pharmacist mentioned something about a problem with cranberry juice. She also warned me against drinking grapefruit juice because of Zocor. This is all very confusing. Can you send any literature on foods that affect these drugs?

A. The issue of Coumadin and its interactions with food is complicated indeed. Many foods, including green vegetables, contain vitamin K. This vitamin reduces the effectiveness of the anticoagulant.

You might be able to keep eating healthful vegetables by getting about the same amount of vitamin K each day. The dose of Coumadin can be adjusted for your diet

The warning on cranberry juice is new. British drug authorities report that this interaction is linked to several serious interactions, including a few deaths from bleeding. You should avoid cranberry juice while on the blood thinner.

Grapefruit may raise blood levels of Zocor. This could increase the risk of side effects.

We are sending you our Guides to Food, Grapefruit and Coumadin Interactions for more details on how foods and beverages affect medicine. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (60 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. FJD-196, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).