Brits who take a common medication have been issued an urgent warning to “avoid” a specific drink. Combining this drug and fruit juice could increase your risk of bleeding and bruising.

According to Ian Budd, prescribing pharmacist at online pharmacy Chemist4U, you should not mix warfarin with cranberry juice. Warfarin is an anticoagulant - a type of medication used to prevent blood clots.

It works by interrupting the process involved in the formation of blood clots. However, when you’re on the medication it can make you bleed more easily.

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This can be exacerbated by cranberry juice. Ian explained: “Cranberry juice is often seen as a healthy choice, but it can be a problem if you’re taking warfarin.

“Cranberries contain natural compounds that can affect how your body breaks down warfarin, which may make the drug stronger than intended. That means your blood could become thinner, increasing the risk of bruising or bleeding.”

He advised seeking advice from a medical professional if you take warfarin. “It’s not an issue for everyone, and an occasional glass is unlikely to cause harm, but drinking cranberry juice regularly or taking cranberry supplements can be risky if you’re on warfarin,” Ian continued.

“It’s always best to check with your pharmacist before making it part of your daily routine.” His advice is supported by the NHS.

On its website, the health body warned: “Do not drink cranberry juice or grapefruit juice while you're taking warfarin. They can increase the blood-thinning effect of warfarin.”

The NHS said that it's “important” to have a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of fruit and vegetables if you're taking anticoagulants. “But you should avoid making frequent changes to the amount of green vegetables you eat if you're taking warfarin,” it said.

“Foods with a lot of vitamin K, such as leafy green vegetables, chickpeas and liver, can interfere with how warfarin works. You can still include these in your diet while taking warfarin, as the clinic will adjust your dose accordingly, but it's important to be consistent in the amount you eat.”

You should therefore also seek advice before taking supplements containing vitamin K. On top of this, you need to take care when drinking alcohol if you take warfarin.

The NHS added: “The effect of warfarin is also affected by alcohol. If you're taking warfarin, do not drink more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day and never binge drink.”

If you have any concerns about your medication and what you can and can’t eat or drink with it, speak to your GP.