Q: What should my Coumadin-taking husband use for pain?

My husband is on Coumadin® and will take OTC drugs (Aleve or Tylenol Arthritis or Extra Strength Tylenol) to relieve knee/ankle pain. This concerns me because these drugs could interact with Coumadin. What OTC drug could he take for this pain, if any?

Thank you for your advice.

Q: Dr. Gourmet Says...

Your husband should not take any over the counter medications without checking with his physician. There is an increased risk of bleeding when taking such medications as Aleve, Naprosyn, ibuprofen, aspirin, Advil and Nuprin.

You are right to be very concerned about this and it is critical to have him discuss the specific pain he is having with his doctor and how best to treat this.

Thanks for writing,

Dr. Gourmet
Eat well, eat healthy, enjoy life!