No grapefruit for Vince
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381753)
Rockingham, Australia
June 4, 2024 2:39am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the text except that Vince’s operation has bowed him over like the wind has done to this tree.
My husband has had heart surgery and is now taking Warfarin which is a blood thinner. He was on a different blood thinner before his operation. I’m not sure why Warfarin is preferred at the moment. It seems a fussy drug and comes with a number of guidelines.
It should be taken at the same time each day. Regular blood tests are needed to monitor the amount needed. You mustn’t change the brand. Vitamin K affects the performance of the drug so you mustn’t suddenly start taking more Vitamin K than you’ve been used to.
The other thing that is mentioned in the notes we were given is that large amounts of cranberry juice should be avoided. The doctor was reading this and added that grapefruit juice should be avoided too. Apparently, grapefruit has an enzyme which affects the performance of several other drugs too.
This was all news to me. I had no idea that grapefruit could have an adverse effect on some drugs. Did you know this? Luckily we don't like them.
17 people like this
13 responses
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
4 Jun 24
This photo is awesome, incredible how the tree bowed totally down because of the wind.
I remember that my doctor told me never to drink grapefruit juice to take medications.
If he must be careful with Vitamin K, I suppose he also have to avoid kale, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and lettuce. Poor Vince.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381753)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jun 24
They said to continue his food regime as normal but not to suddenly increase his intake of leafy green vegetables. I'm encouraging him to eat cashew nuts now as they a re a good source of magnesium and just might help with his cramps.
2 people like this
But I've discovered I can add salt to them so I'll do that tomorrow.
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
5 Jun 24
I really hope Vince is doing well.
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@JudyEv (381753)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 24
Thanks but at the moment he is getting severe cramps in his neck and shoulders. He was getting this from time to time before the operation but they're are really painful now and quite frequent. He has an appointment for Friday so we'll see what happens then.
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Jun 24
Different foods can cause different reactions. It can be very confusing at times
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@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Jun 24
@JudyEv It can be. Dad was on cumidin ( spelling maybe). They checked his blood regularly and adjusted the dosage as needed. There was many things he wasn't supposed to eat
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@JudyEv (381753)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 24
@wolfgirl569 That's what they're doing with Vince. Checking his blood and adjusting the dosage. Once it settles, the testing will be less often.
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@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
3 Jul 24
I did know that, luckily we don't take any medication. I did notice though that it's getting harder and harder to find any, and when they are available they are usually the sweeter, pink variety. A shame as I love grapefruit - and obviously can't make up for it by growing my own!
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@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
5 Jun 24
I knew about the grapefruit juice and the blood thinner protocol; but not about the cranberry juice. I just bought another 12 pack of cranberry juice. Need to check with my doctor on this. I hope Vince is progressing with his healing and feels better.
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@JudyEv (381753)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 24
@LindaOHio Good idea to contact him. It will probably be okay but best to know.
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@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
5 Jun 24
@JudyEv I just left a message for my doctor. I drink a lot of cranberry juice and have just been put on antibiotics. I don't want the juice to affect those!
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@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 Jun 24
I knew grapefruit and grapefruit juice potentiates many heart and blood pressure meds. I did not know about cranberry juice. Warfarin is the oldest, least expensive, and actually safest oral blood thinner I am told. It has a different method of action than the newer, high dollar ones. Bob has had both, but he bleeds so easily he is not on anything other than one 81 mg. aspirin a day. I was told that an overdose of the new ones has no antidote, but if you were to get too much warfarin it can be corrected.
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@JudyEv (381753)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 24
It seems that warfarin needs to be constantly monitored in some people but others can stay on it for years with no problems.
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
4 Jun 24
I knew that about grapefruit but not cranberries.
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@allknowing (153544)
• India
5 Jun 24
It is always good to take precautions Good anyway you guys do not like grapefrui8t (lol)
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@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Jun 24
That was news to me, You have to be so careful, I hope you can keep it all figured out and Vince progresses in his recovery,
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@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
4 Jun 24
Yes. I am on birth control and can't have grapefruit. Although I did try it once because I never had any before. I don't like it.
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@MarieCoyle (59106)
•
5 Jun 24
Yes, I did know this about grapefruit, a family member had heat surgery a few years back and he told me he gave up his morning grapefruit.He loved grapefruit, so he wasn’t happy to give it up.
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
4 Jun 24
My nephew has taken Warfarin before. I didn't hear that he could not eat grapefruit. He didn't like it anyway.
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