Vitamins - VYE-ta-mins are compounds that you must have for growth and health. They are needed in only small amounts and usually are available in the foods that you eat. Vitamin K is necessary for normal clotting of the blood.
Vitamin K is found in various foods including green leafy vegetables, meat, and dairy products. If you eat a balanced diet containing these foods, you must be getting all the vitamin K you need. Little vitamin K is lost from foods with ordinary cooking.
If you are taking anticoagulant drug - blood thinners, the amount of vitamin K in your diet may effect how well these medication work. Your family doctor or health care professional may recommend changes in your diet to help these medication work better.
Lack of vitamin K is rare but may lead to problems with blood clotting and increased bleeding. Your family doctor may treat this by prescribing vitamin K for you.
Vitamin K is routinely given to newborn infants to prevent bleeding problems.
This drug is available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
For quick reference, the following medication are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.
Other commonly using names are: phylloquinone , phytomenadione , vitamin K 1 , and vitamin K 4 .
† Not commercially available in Canada.