This is not a political post, so go elsewhere if you are looking for that. This is also not medical advice. This is an educational post from a clinical pharmacist. So presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was recently diagnosed with pneumonia and placed on a common antibiotic levofloxacin (Levaquin). There are lots of reasons why you would choose levofloxacin and lots of reasons why you might not choose levofloxacin. I’m not going to get into that. Warfarin has drug interactions with numerous antibiotics. There is a drug interaction between levofloxacin and warfarin, which she has been reported as taking.
First, let’s talk about warfarin. From reports, Senator Clinton has had a history of blood clot(s) and is receiving warfarin (Coumadin). Warfarin is a blood thinning medication used to prevent clots. The risk of not using warfarin is more blood clots. The risk of using warfarin is that the medication makes the blood more like water and increases the chance of a significant bleed. We often advise patients to keep an eye out for blood in the stool, nose bleeds, bruising, and bleeding gums.
To monitor for this risk as well as make sure patients are receiving an adequate dose to prevent clots, patients on warfarin will receive regular labwork. That lab is called an INR. An INR is typically drawn monthly and more frequently if the INR is out of range. The most common goal range for an INR is 2-3.
Let’s get to the stuff I love.
So what does protein, vitamin K, and drug metabolism have to do with anything?
There are 3 proposed mechanisms that the levofloxacin warfarin drug interaction occurs by.
- Warfarin is bound to protein in the blood. When it is bound to protein, it cannot cause the blood thinning effect. There is the potential that levofloxacin can “kick” warfarin off of these protein sites, leaving more warfarin freely available to go into action, thin the blood and subsequently raise the INR.
- Levofloxacin kills bacteria. Some of those bacteria in the gut produce vitamin K for the body. Vitamin K opposes (and is the antidote) the action of warfarin. Less vitamin K can increase warfarin’s effects and raise the INR.
- The last proposed mechanism for this drug interaction is that levofloxacin blocks the liver from breaking down warfarin. More warfarin in the system can lead to more blood thinning effects and a raise in INR.
So, how concerned should we be about this interaction? When not closely or appropriately monitored, I have seen this interaction cause significant bleeding. On a scale of mild/moderate/severe, I would put it at a moderate. She should be monitored for an increased risk of bleeding. I would suspect that her healthcare team will check an INR every 2 or 3 days once levofloxacin is started. If it is above the normal target, they will likely have to reduce the dose of warfarin and continue to monitor the INR closely. If the INR is elevated and the dose of warfarin is reduced, it is important to remember that when levofloxacin is discontinued, Senator Clinton may run the risk of having her INR go below the target range.
Will Senator Clinton’s poll numbers go up or down because of this? I have no idea, but if I had to wager on her INR going up or down, I’d put my money on the high side.
Eric Christianson, PharmD, BCPS, CGP
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