Does Fasting Affect The Effectiveness Of Coumadin?

Posted on Sun, 20 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 Answered on

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : If a person taking Coumadin, eats very little (almost no food for a day) does that affect the body's reaction? My husband and bleeding today - coughed up from nose and throat. He took regular dose of Coumadin yesterday and ate almost nothing yesterday. I think he should take half the dose tonight because he has eaten a couple of small meals. Please advise.
My husband has an LVAD internal heart mate heart pump controlled by external batteries. That is why he take Coumadin and it is monitored .

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Consideration

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for the query.

One day of not eating regular meals should not significantly affect the Coumadin level if a normal diet is resumed the next day.

Since he is having bleeding then I would recommend you notify his physician who may request that an INR be checked right away to see if his Coumadin level is elevated.

I would not adjust his Coumadin dose without discussing this with his doctor.

Thabks again for sending the query.

Sincerely,

Dr Galamaga

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng