Warfarin and alcohol. Dr. Hayes
The Doctors
My elderly female relative (75 years old) has been an
alcoholic for over
30 years. She has been
recently put on warfarin (3-5 mg/day) to control a large blood
clot which
formed in her lungs as a result of severe emphysema) and a
powerful
diuretic to help her control her bladder. She is mobile and
continues to ingest alcohol at an alarming rate(at least one
bottle of
wine a day and at least 5-10 oz.
hard liquor/day) without the knowledge of her doctor, who
approves of
modest consumption of one or two glasses of wine/day. Will this affect
the
efficacy of the warfarin. Thanks for your assistance.
Answer by Edmund M. Hayes, Pharm.D.
There is an interaction between alcohol and warfarin. The
literature show
that in some people the effects of warfarin can be increased and
in other
decreased. No matter what both situations can be very
dangerous. She
needs to get help with her alcohol abuse problem. You need to
talk to her
physician about it.
=========
DISCLAIMER: The material contained here should not be
considered a substitute for your physician. These are only
general guidelines to help you think about the medical
possibilities. You are encouraged to consult your own health
care provider with any questions or concerns you may have
regarding your condition. To find other suggested answers to
your question, refer to the Ask the Doctors Web site which
includes a complete index of questions and answers at http://www.flora.org/ask-doctor/.
---------------------