Vitamin E Interactions
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The following are the medications and supplements that are more likely to cause a reaction with vitamin E supplements:
- Antacids
People taking antacids may need to also take a vitamin E supplement because antacids reduce the absorption of vitamin E and may cause a deficiency. - Anticoagulant (blood thinning) medications
People taking any type of anticoagulant (blood thinning) medications such as warfarin or coumadin, should not take any vitamin E supplements at the same time, as this combination can thin the blood too much and cause internal bleeding which may not be able to clot properly and may not stop bleeding. People taking these blood thinning (anticoagulant) medications should also not eat high levels of foods rich in vitamin E either. - Anticonvulsants (anti-epileptics)
People taking anticonvulsant (anti-epileptic) medications such as phenytoin and phenobarbital may have reduced absorption of vitamin E and increased excretion of vitamin E, so could possibly become deficient. People taking any type of anticonvulsant medications need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much vitamin E supplementation is required in their individual circumstance. - Aspirin (long term use)
People taking aspirin long term (as a blood thinning medication to reduce risk of heart attack or stroke) should be cautious with vitamin E supplements, as the vitamin E has the same blood thinning effects as aspirin and the combined effect of these two may cause internal bleeding if doses of both aspirin and vitamin E are high. People taking aspirin need to seek the advice of their doctor to determine how much vitamin E supplementation is required in their individual circumstance.
People taking any type of blood thinning medications should not also take vitamin E supplements
- Cholestyramine
People taking cholestyramine for reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels may may need to also take a vitamin E supplement because cholestyramine medication reduces the absorption of vitamin E and may cause a deficiency. - Colestipol
People taking colestipol for reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels may may need to also take a vitamin E supplement because colestipol medication reduces the absorption of vitamin E and may cause a deficiency. - Iron supplements
People taking iron supplements to help improve iron levels and stores in order to remedy iron-deficiency anaemia should not take high levels of vitamin E at the same time, because the vitamin E can reduce the effectiveness of the iron supplements and prolong the iron-deficiency anaemia. In addition to this effect, when iron supplements are taken by people without iron-deficiency anaemia together with vitamin E supplements, this combination can reduce the effectiveness of the vitamin E supplements. - Sucralfate
People taking sucralfate for gastrointestinal ulcers or gastritis may may need to also take a vitamin E supplement because sucralfate medication reduces the absorption of vitamin E and may cause a deficiency. - Thyroxine
People taking thyroxine for treating thyroid disorders should not take high levels of vitamin E supplements as this combination can cause in some people, increased oxidation of lipids, which means higher levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. While this result has so far only been proved in animal studies, its effect should be noted and people taking thyroxine should be cautious when taking vitamin E supplements. - Vitamin A
People taking vitamin A supplements should also take vitamin E supplements at the same time, as the vitamin E helps to effectively absorb, utilise and store vitamin A and helps to reduce any potential toxicity effects of high vitamin A supplementation. But, really high vitamin E supplements may cause a depletion of vitamin A levels, so this should be avoided.