The only one you list that I've heard about its reaction with warfarin is the CoQ10. I've heard it can raise INR.

How do you know you need these things? Just asking. Because at your young age, and if you're otherwise healthy, maybe just a daily vitamin would be enough, know what I mean?

I don't have any info on this stuff, but I have the same question as RMB... what makes you think you need them? I do take B12 (doctors orders) because I tend to get very low for whatever reason. That is actually what they think led to all the nerve damage I have.

I understand why you want to take something to help for the hair loss, but curious about the rest individually rather than a daily vitamin, or are you worried about the vitamin K in those?

FWIW, I took Biotin a while ago, since I read it helps with hair growth, and I saw no change at all. :)

Jean...I am curious about your B12 deficiency. How did they find it? I've been taking Metformin and it can lead to a B12 deficiency, which has been linked to poor circulatory health. I'm curious what symptoms you had, if you had any.

Well, here is what happened. Going on about 4 years ago, I started getting sharp pains first in my feet, along with a tingling sensation. The pains ranged from elecrtic shock type pains to an ache. I remember asking my partner to set me up with a foot bath, thinking the pain stemmed from my having flat feet. Anyway, I put my feet in it and asked her why she gave me cold water! As it turns out, the water was hot, but I could not feel the temperature difference. So that was the first sign. Not long after, I started with tingling in my finger tips. Within months, from my toes almost all the way up my
legs, as well as my hands, had lost a significant amount of feeling.

I then went thru all the tests, went to a neurologist, had brain and spine MRI's, blood tests... you name it I had it. The only thing ever to show up was a B12 and Folic Acid deficiency. All of which was attributed to what they thought was Chron's disease, but was not. So possibly just an IBS of some sort. I still have no idea really. In the end, I had a significant amount of nerve damage that may or may not go away. Still waiting!

I wonder often if this had something to do with my clotting event, but no one seems to be able to answer that for sure.

My potassium also dropped to a dangerously low level at one point and I ended up int the hospital for that too.

I would say though that the pain was my first real sign, or at least, the one I noticed as being very unusual. I am sure I had fatigue and such at first, but it didn't stand out quite so much.

Definitely something to be aware of though! I had no idea the damageit could do!

I take Calcium with Vit D daily (just because I'm female), potassium and magnesium (to offset my orthostatic hypotension), and Vit C (to help me ward off colds).

I also just started with Q10 about a week and a half ago to go with my Lipitor., which I also just started. My doc said it shouldn't affect my INR. Guess we'll see! I was at 3.0 yesterday and trending upward, but I've also started antibiotics in the last couple weeks. I'm one big chemistry set.

With all of these, I'd call your pharmacist and ask about interactions. Their databases do include supplements now. My feeling is that taking Calcium is probably good for everyone, esp women. I'm not sure about the other two, especially the iron, which can be hard on the stomach and on the system.

If you add stuff, add it one at a time, let your doc know what you are doing, and consider checking your INR about five days after starting.

Best wishes!

P.S. The Q10 is crazy expensive (like $45 bucks a bottle) so I wouldn't add that in unless you have a real reason to do so.

I take supplements of calcium due to my age, doctor recommended it. I take vitamin D because I've had pretty severe deficiencies in the past. I take omega3s and folic acid due to my ulceractive colitis, doctor recommended. And then I take a multi vitamin. My ulcerative colitis causes me absorption problems so that's why I take the multi vitamin and that may be why I have vitamin D deficiency issues. But really, if you're eating a well balanced diet and generally healthy, to me there's no reason to take a bunch of extra stuff.

The supplement business is just that, a business, and so they make a lot of claims and make a lot of money doing it. I don't object to supplements either. I just find it hard to believe most of us actually need as many as we take. Just my 2 cents of course.

Yeah, with the multivitamin I am concerned about the vitamin K, as well as the vitamin E because I already get lots of Vitamin E with my Wheat Germ and my doctor told me not to incorporate even more. :(

The iron supplement was recommended by my doctor because of the concern of becoming anemic since my periods have gotten excessively heavy. I only take it while on my period because it is so harsh on your stomach (I learned that the hard way yesterday and then did some research).

The Biotin is to help avoid any hair and skin issues that might get worse on the Warfarin. I was actually taking this (along with other supplements) prior to being on Warfarin.

The calcium is to help prevent osteoporosis because I have read that taking Warfarin promotes bone weakening.

The Coenzyme Q10 is to help with my heart because my echocardiogram showed a little damage to it from my hypertension.

Some health stores carry multi vitamins without vitamin K, if that's a concern. I take a multi vitamin that has no vitamin k. Also, children's multi vitamins rarely list vitamin k as an ingredient.

I personally don't take iron supplements and in fact, my multi vitamin is iron free, because it can be really hard on the gut.

My personal take is that I always try to get my nutrients and vitamins through food first.

I'm not trying to dissuade you but for me, think why take more pills than needed

I totally agree, rmb! Do you have any recommendations for calcium rich foods for lactose intolerant people? I drink OJ that has added calcium, but it isn't much.

I think a lot of greens actually have calcium, which I know people try to watch while on warfarin. But I think you can find calcium fortified cereals, like Total or Raisin brand for instance that are pretty high in calcium. There's also calcium fortified soy milk.

I found this chart on line that shows mgs per serving, and the daily value %.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium

I get it; it's hard to ensure we're eating enough of anything. But I think it all kind of works out.

I have been on warafin for 2 yrs..I have lupus anticoagulant syndrome and factor v blood disorder...my last child I had by c section and got a blood clot in my incision and had to get stuffed everyday till it healed..my OB never checked my inr when this happened..a month later I was rushed to the hospital with a blood clot in my lung...now I will be on warfarin for life...within the past year I've been having hair loss...my hair is thinning and I'm only 36 and don't want to be bald by the time I'm 40...my hair use to be so thick not anymore...not bald yet and would like to stop the hairloss soon before I am

RMB does the Foic acid upset your stomach at all? I ask because I was on it for a while (deficiency for a while, for pretty much the same reason as you, minus the diagnosis). I had the hardest time with it!

Me, me!! I'm taking 3,000 mgs. of Biotin daily which my pulmonologist approved. Actually, I think that he approved my taking 6000 mgs. daily, but I was so overwhelmed at the last appointment that I'm now unsure and will ask him again next Thurs. I was having a problem with thinning hair prior to recently having a PE and my dermatologist advised that I take 5,000 mgs. of Biotin daily (the capsules I have are 3,000 mgs. each). Black Currant oil is also suppose to be helpful with hair problems and my pulmonologist did approve it, but I haven't taken any yet because he was calling it an omega 3 fatty acid and I take fish oil and need to check with him again and see if I can take it along with the amount of fish oil that I'm already taking.