Warfarin Institute of America
DEDICATED TO YOUR HEALTH SINCE 2000
ATORVASTATIN INTERACTION WITH WARFARIN (Coumadin, Jantoven)
I have seen one patient who developed a serious problem with this combination and drinking pink grapefruit juice. The patient had alcoholic liver disease and had been taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and atorvastatin for at least several months. One day he purchased two gallons of pink grapefruit juice and drank these over two days. Two days later he developed severe muscle pain and did not feel like moving or eating. After two more days, he developed bloody diarrhea. Interestingly, he chose to call the Anticoagulation Clinic rather than his primary care physician. His INR was in the 6 to 7 range. His primary care physician was called and a single dose of vitamin K by mouth was agreed upon by the physician and anticoagulation pharmacist. On the next day (1 week after starting to drink the grapefruit juice) the bloody diarrhea resolved, he felt better and was able to return to work.
Because he had taken both warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and atorvastatin together for several months, this cannot be considered as purely an interaction between the two drugs. There are also some controlled studies which show no interaction between grapefruit juice and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). However, this case illustrates how patients do not behave like controlled studies and even things which do not appear to interact can be provoked to cause adverse events.
Editors Note: See also simvastatin (a similar drug) and grapefruit juice.
SEE A CATALOG OF PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM LODWICK CREATIONS, LLC.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN BECOME LISTED ON THE HONOR ROLL OF SUPPORTERS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS
REQUEST A MEDICATION CONSULTATION
Back to interactions list Home
© 2000 - 2006 Lodwick Creations, LLC
Contact Mr. Lodwick at: allodwick@earthlink.net
Last modified March 25, 2006