Cranberries are Safe to Consume with Warfarin (Coumadin®)

In 2006, based solely on 12 anecdotal case reports to the United Kingdom Committee for Safety in Medicine, the FDA approved safety labeling revisions for warfarin to “avoid drinking cranberry juice or eating cranberry products.” In response, several controlled, clinical pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies have been published in scientific literature and did not show a clinically relevant interaction between cranberry juice and either warfarin metabolism or INR in subjects on warfarin. In October 2011, Bristol-Meyers Squibb submitted an updated Medication Guide to the FDA for approval with the omission of the warning to avoid cranberries and cranberry products based on the evidence that consumption of these foods with warfarin is safe. The FDA approved the update shortly after submission. Additional information and details can be accessed via the links on this page.