Vitamins and heart medication: which supplements should I avoid?

Chloe MacArthur, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the BHF, says:

It’s easy to think that vitamins and other supplements are harmless, specifically if they are billed as “natural”. But they can be very powerful and sometimes interact with prescribed medications, stopping them from working properly.

If you’re thinking of taking a vitamin or supplement, or you already take one and have been prescribed a new medication, it’s important that you discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist, so they can check that it’s safe to take alongside your medications.

Warfarin and vitamin K

Vitamin K can decrease the effects of warfarin, so even something as simple as a multivitamin needs careful consideration if you’re taking warfarin.

St John’s wort and heart medication

St John’s wort, which some people take to help with low mood, is an example of a “natural” remedy which can affect your heart medication. It interacts with many drugs used to treat heart and circulatory conditions, such as blood pressure medicines like amlodipine, some statins, and blood thinners like apixaban.

When should I take vitamin D?

A vitamin D supplement can be useful in autumn and winter, but apart from that, for most of us a healthy balanced diet should be enough to provide the vitamins and minerals we need.

• Learn more about the benefits of vitamin D

Should I be taking vitamins?

While many people take supplements that they don’t really need, some people may benefit from a supplement if their doctor recommends it. If that’s you, you should check with your doctor if you need to worry about interference with your heart medication.

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