Have you ever taken probiotics?

[thomas_tz]

Hi,

I am considering taking probiotics, like actimel or something similar. I am on Warfarin, as I was diagnosed with APS about three years ago. My question relates to INR interaction. Has anyone seen any issue with their INR?

Thank you!

[MaryF Administrator]

I am probably not the one to answer - however I take a very strong probiotic daily and have done for years, due to antibiotics and infections... I rarely react to a stomach bug, my children the same, they are on the maximum junior dose. However I think they are one of those debated things with warfarin use, I hope you get more detail off somebody else. However I am only twice daily aspirin, Mary F x

[jessielou]

Hi Thomas

I haven't taken probiotics as I tend to avoid non prescribed meds, certainly worth speaking to med team and see what their opinion is.

I have had a bit of a nose around and there may be interaction with warfarin and probiotics so better to be safe n check it out!

Take care gentle hugs love Sheena xxxx

[tassie]

I take IBS support which is a probiotic and I don't think it affects my INR but then my INR is all over the place anyway. If you take the same dose daily and your medical team is aware that you are taking it they should be able to adjust your warfarin does if need be if it does have an effect. Just make sure that your medical team knows everything you take whether it be prescribed or over the counter.

Sudden changes in diet or medications are the issue with INR

[CountryGirl in reply to tassie]

Same here, ibs, probiotic, inr pretty much all over the place but that was the case before probiotics. If anything, I would say in my case my inr has steadied slightly since taking the probiotics, but that is probably a coincidence.

[Elisabeth]

Please do our own investigation and DO NOT rely on what I say but I am on warfarin and have been taking a very strong pro biotic from a company calls Optibac and I have found no affect on my INR. I self test and self regulate my warfarin and ordinarily do not take any non script meds but after a couple of courses of antibiotics in quick succession for chest infections felt the need to take these and found them excellent. Optibac told me that the amount of probiotics in an Actimel or similar product is only just about enough to justify put the name on the label and there is about as much sugar in them as a can of coca cola so I avoid these type of things out of respect from my teeth and my waistline!! But in my opinion high strength probiotics are very helpful for most people. Obviously you need to discuss with your health care professionals, I am just relaying my experience.

Take care Liz xx

[Manofmendip]

Hi Thomas

I take a Flora Pro-Active drink each morning, as part of my cholesterol management and also organic live yogurt and I didn't find a problem when I was on Warfarin. However, I did self test and self manage my INR, so I could balance things myself. I'm now on Fragmin shots instead of Warfarin and this is not affected by food or drink.

Best wishes.

Dave

[Jade]

When I was first put on lansoprazole I was advised by somebody on the the APLSUK that it may mean catching more stomach bugs, so a prebiotic prebiotic would be advisable. I took a tablet form from Boots for all the years I took lansoprazole. All those years they did not effect my INR.

[Helene]

Hello, there is no reason why probiotics should affect your INR, but we are all different so just do a weekly test for a while after starting it and you should soon find out. If you want to use probiotics that actually do something, besides taste nice, you should consider buying high strength live bacteria, as those you buy in the supermarket really don’t do much for you – although they don’t harm you either, just your wallet. I have IBS and I get VSL#3 on prescription, I take 1 or 2 sachets per day and I have done so for almost 3 years. It didn’t affect my INR when I used to be on Warfarin, I am using Fragmin injections now.

Please note that there is a difference between PRObiotics and PREbiotics. Probiotics are bacteria in yogurt, other dairy products and in tablets and powders. Prebiotics are specialised plant fibres that beneficially nourish the good bacteria you already have in the large bowel or colon. These plant fibres are not digested by the body itself but rather act as a fertilizer to promote the growth of many of the good bacteria in the gut. If you don’t have enough good bacteria it won’t help much to add prebiotics.

It won’t harm you to add probiotics, even if you don’t need it, but you might want to have a chat with your GP about it because if you have a medical reason for using it you might get it on prescription and they do cost a lot if you want to use the high strength type.

Good luck, take care.

Helene.

[thomas_tz]

Hi all, thank you very much for the replies! I will check with my doctor and will let you know how it goes. I am planning to take a pill, not a yoghurt drink (too much sugar or Aspartame for my liking) - thanks for the suggestion Helene.

By the way, I read the "Gut and Psychology Syndrome" book recently. I picked it up as a friend's son who has an autistic disorder and has been helped immensely by the book, and I wanted to read it for one of my little cousins who was recently diagnosed. The premise of the book is that all auto-immune diseases have to do with the gut, what we eat and how our diet damages the gut flora. It is well written, if you want to have a look at it.

Thank you again,

Thomas

[MaryF Administrator in reply to thomas_tz]

When you do select which one you want... keep it in the fridge! This keeps them stable, for travelling you need the ones in a cardboard packets with individually foil wrapped pills as once in the air they lose their potency! Mary F x

[Gadgets]

Yes I take Yackult (when I remember) find it works well for me. (a few bottles each week)