ALL ROUTES ARE NOT EQUAL FOR GIVING VITAMIN K

A recent meta-analysis of theuse of vitamin K revealed that allroutes of administration do notyield equal results. The investigatorsconcluded that intravenousand oral routes were equivalentand were more effective for excessiveanticoagulation than withholdingwarfarin. Administering thevitamin by the subcutaneousroute, however, was no better thanadministering placebo.

This conclusion was drawn fromdata published in 21 studies. Onlyone of these studies examinedadverse events, so the risk ofbleeding could not be assessed.

Dr. Garrett is a clinical pharmacist practitionerat Cornerstone Health Care in HighPoint, NC.