What kind of medicine is pradaxa

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Pradaxa. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:. Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Pradaxa.

Older adults may have more side effects from Pradaxa than younger people. This group may bruise more easily than usual or have nosebleeds or bleeding gums. As you get older, the risk of bleeding or stroke occurring while taking Pradaxa increases. However, even with the additional risk of bleeding or stroke, sometimes this medication is the best choice for you. They may switch you to a different medication or decrease the dose.

Pradaxa may increase your risk for bleeding. This is because the drug works by preventing your body from making clots. Pradaxa was compared with warfarin Coumadin in studies. People took either drug to treat a blood clot in their legs called a deep vein thrombosis DVT or a blood clot in their lungs known as a pulmonary embolism PE.

About 1. Bleeding was considered a major bleeding event if it resulted in death, occurred in an organ, caused symptoms such as dizziness, or caused a decrease in the level of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells.

Bleeding that was fatal occurred in 0. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:. If left untreated, serious bleeding can be fatal. So if you have any of the above symptoms while taking Pradaxa, see your doctor right away.

Heartburn is a side effect that may occur with Pradaxa. Heartburn can cause you to feel pain or burning in your chest. This is due to acid from your stomach moving into your esophagus , a tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach.

In four studies , 7. This was compared with 5. They may be able to recommend some ways to reduce the acid buildup and help ease your symptoms. Pradaxa is a type of drug called an anticoagulant. Stopping the use of an anticoagulant such as Pradaxa sooner than advised may increase your risk for a blood clot.

Pradaxa has a boxed warning for this risk. A boxed warning is the most serious warning that the FDA requires. Pradaxa works by stopping blood clots from forming. This helps prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks , strokes , and death. This type of blood clot is possible only with spinal procedures such as spinal taps or if medication is injected into the spine column. Symptoms of a spinal or epidural blood clot may include back pain, tingling, weakness, and incontinence loss of control of your bladder or bowels.

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. The dose of Pradaxa to decrease the risk of stroke or a blood clot in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation A-fib is usually mg twice a day.

However, your doctor may give you a different dose depending on factors such as whether you have kidney disease. If you have any questions about what dose is right for you, talk with your doctor. The dose of Pradaxa for adults to treat a current deep vein thrombosis DVT or pulmonary embolism PE is also mg twice a day. A DVT is a blood clot that typically develops in your leg, and a PE is a blood clot that occurs in your lung.

To prevent a deep vein thrombosis DVT or pulmonary embolism PE from occurring again in adults, the dose of Pradaxa is mg twice a day. Then the dose would increase to mg once a day. Your dose may need to be adjusted or you may need to stop taking Pradaxa for a few days before you have surgery. Talk with your doctor about any surgeries that you plan to have and how to prevent bleeding.

For these uses, Pradaxa should be taken twice daily. Pradaxa dosages for children are based on body weight in kilograms kg , as follows:. This includes how many capsules the child will need to take to reach their full dose. For children with kidney disease, doctors may prescribe a different dosage than those listed above. If you have any questions about what dosage is right for your child, talk with your doctor.

If you miss your scheduled dose of Pradaxa, be sure to take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 6 hours away, skip the missed dose and continue on your schedule with the next dose. If you have any questions about when to take your next dose after missing a dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A medication timer may be useful, too. Usually, Pradaxa is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. However, in some cases, such as after a hip replacement, you may take Pradaxa for only a short period of time.

Talk with your doctor about how long you should be using Pradaxa. Some bleeds, such as stomach bleeds, may become serious. However, there is a medication called idarucizumab Praxbind that you may take if you develop a bleed.

Idarucizumab is a reversal agent. This means it reverses the action of Pradaxa and helps your blood to clot normally again. Because Pradaxa stops your blood from clotting easily, you may be at an increased risk of bleeding if you have surgery while taking the medication. Usually, your doctor will consider stopping your Pradaxa treatment 1 to 5 days before you have a major surgery. The amount of time that you stop taking Pradaxa before a surgery depends on the procedure and your kidney function.

However, sometimes emergency surgery is necessary. Other drugs are available that can treat or help prevent a blood clot. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Other medications that may be used to decrease your risk of blood clots, prevent blood clots occurring again, or prevent clotting after surgery include:.

You may wonder how Pradaxa compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Pradaxa and Eliquis are alike and different.

The active drug ingredient in Pradaxa is called dabigatran. The active drug ingredient in Eliquis is apixaban. Eliquis comes as a tablet that you swallow. The tablet can also be crushed and dissolved in water, water and dextrose sugar , or apple juice; or mixed with applesauce. In addition, the tablet can be dissolved in water and given through a nasogastric tube. Pradaxa and Eliquis both contain anticoagulant blood thinning medications. Therefore, these medications can cause some similar side effects, but they can also cause some different ones.

Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of mild side effects that can occur with Pradaxa, with Eliquis, or with both drugs when taken individually. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Pradaxa and Eliquis when taken individually :. These drugs have been compared in a retrospective study on non-valvular A-fib.

In this case, a retrospective study is one that looks back in time to compare data from people with A-fib who took either Pradaxa or Eliquis. This study showed that the people who took Pradaxa had a 1. In the Pradaxa group, there was a 0. Pradaxa and Eliquis are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. According to estimates on GoodRx. Like Eliquis above , the drug warfarin Coumadin has uses similar to those of Pradaxa.

Warfarin, on the other hand, can be used in people with heart valve replacements. Warfarin comes as a tablet that you swallow. Your doctor may adjust your dosage based on blood tests. A small change in your warfarin dosage can greatly change how thin your blood is. Pradaxa and warfarin both contain drugs that help prevent blood clots.

These lists contain examples of mild side effects that can occur with Pradaxa, with warfarin, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Pradaxa, with warfarin, or with both drugs when taken individually. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

Warfarin is also approved to reduce the risk of blood clots in people with A-fib and heart valve replacements. The use of Pradaxa and warfarin in treating nonvalvular A-fib has been directly compared in a clinical study. In the study, the rate of death from any cause was 3. In these studies , people took either warfarin or Pradaxa after being treated for 5 to 10 days with an anticoagulant in injection form. Pradaxa is a brand-name medication. Warfarin is a generic medication called warfarin.

Pradaxa is a type of drug called an anticoagulant, which is often referred to as a blood thinner. Pradaxa belongs to a class of medications called direct-acting oral anticoagulants, or DOACs. A medication class is a group of drugs that work in a similar way.

DOACs are anticoagulants, and they work by blocking thrombin. This is an enzyme in your blood that helps blood clot. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. Drinking heavily, especially binge drinking lots of alcohol in one go, is dangerous while taking dabigatran. The alcohol can increase dabigatran's effect and make you more likely to bleed. Because of the risk of bleeding, your dose of dabigatran may need to be lowered or stopped a few days before you have an operation.

But tell your dentist if you're taking dabigatran before you have any treatment. Most people do not need to change their dabigatran dose, but your dentist may contact your doctor for advice before starting the dental treatment. You should tell the person giving you the vaccine that you take dabigatran and show them your anticoagulant alert card in case there's any bleeding at the injection site. Dabigatran does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking dabigatran will reduce fertility in either men or women. But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. You can continue to take part in non-contact sports, such as running, athletics, cycling, tennis and badminton. But be sure to use the right protective clothing or equipment, like wearing a helmet when riding your bike.

This is because these types of sports could lead to an injury, which would further increase the risk of bleeding. But if taking dabigatran makes you feel dizzy or lightheaded, do not drive or ride a bike until it goes away. Having a body piercing or tattoo is not recommended while you're taking dabigatran. If you still want to go ahead, talk to your doctor about your specific risks in case you need antibiotics. And let the tattooist or piercer know beforehand that you're taking a blood-thinning medicine.

It's not clear how recreational drugs like cocaine and heroin affect dabigatran. They could be potentially dangerous. Tell your doctor if you think you may take recreational drugs while you're on dabigatran.

You can reduce your risk of having a blood clot by making changes to your lifestyle, such as:. Page last reviewed: 3 April Next review due: 3 April Dabigatran On this page About dabigatran Key facts Who can and cannot take dabigatran How and when to take it Bleeding and what to do about it Other side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About dabigatran Dabigatran is a type of medicine known as an anticoagulant, or blood thinner. It's used to treat people who have had a health problem caused by a blood clot, such as: a stroke a heart attack a blood clot in the leg deep vein thrombosis, or DVT a blood clot in the lungs pulmonary embolism It's also used to prevent blood clots if you're at high risk of having them in the future.

People who are at high risk include those who have: an abnormal heartbeat atrial fibrillation recently had surgery to replace a hip or knee joint Dabigatran is only available on prescription.

It comes as capsules. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It's usual to take dabigatran twice a day. You can take dabigatran with or without food. The most common side effect of dabigatran is bleeding more easily than normal, such as having nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bruising. It tends to happen in the first few weeks of treatment or if you're unwell. Always carry your anticoagulant alert card with you.

Show it to your doctor or dentist before you have surgery or dental treatment. It's important they know you're taking dabigatran, as it may put you at risk of bleeding. Dabigatran is also called by the brand name Pradaxa.

Dabigatran can be taken by adults aged 18 and over. Tell your doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to dabigatran or any other medicines in the past are trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant — dabigatran can be harmful to your baby have liver problems are taking any other medicines that affect blood clotting, such as warfarin have any injuries that are currently bleeding a lot such as a wound have a stomach ulcer have had a recent spinal injury or surgery have ever had surgery to replace a heart valve are taking the herbal remedy St John's wort often taken for depression have antiphospholipid syndrome , a condition that affects the immune system and makes you more likely to get blood clots.

It's very important to take dabigatran as your doctor advises. If you have trouble swallowing pills, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Dosage Your dose of dabigatran depends on why you're taking it. This includes if you: are aged 75 years or older take verapamil a medicine for high blood pressure have problems with your kidneys, stomach or throat If you're unsure what dose you need to take, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

What if I forget to take it? What you need to do depends on why you're taking dabigatran. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

What if I take too much? How long will I take it for? If you're taking it for: a knee joint replacement — you'll probably take dabigatran for 10 days a hip joint replacement — it's usual to take dabigatran for 4 to 5 weeks a blood clot — depending on what caused the blood clot, you'll normally take dabigatran for at least 3 months atrial fibrillation — you might need to take dabigatran long term or even for the rest of your life Anticoagulant alert card Your doctor or pharmacist will give you an anticoagulant alert card.

Switching from warfarin to dabigatran If you need to switch from warfarin to dabigatran, your doctor will advise you when to stop taking warfarin. This will probably be a few days before you start dabigatran. This is to help decide exactly when you should start taking dabigatran. Switching from dabigatran to warfarin If you need to switch from dabigatran to warfarin, you may need to take both medicines together for a few days.

This is to help decide exactly when you should stop taking dabigatran. Less serious bleeding It's usual to bleed more easily than normal while you're taking dabigatran. The kind of bleeding you might have includes: periods that are heavier and last longer than normal bleeding for a little longer than usual if you cut yourself occasional nosebleeds that last for less than 10 minutes bleeding from your gums when you brush your teeth bruises that come up more easily and take longer to fade than usual This type of bleeding is not dangerous and should stop by itself.

Things you can do to help yourself Cuts — press on the cut for 10 minutes with a clean cloth. Nosebleeds — find out how to stop a nosebleed or watch this video on stopping nosebleeds. Bleeding gums — if your gums are bleeding, try using a soft toothbrush and waxed dental floss to clean your teeth. Bruises — these are harmless, but can be unsightly. It might help to make them fade more quickly if you put an ice pack wrapped in a towel over the bruise for 10 minutes at a time several times a day.

What you can do to prevent bleeding While you're taking dabigatran, be careful when you do activities that might cause an injury or a cut or bruising. It can help to: avoid playing contact sports or other activities than can cause an injury, such as football, rugby, hockey and horse riding wear gloves when you use sharp objects like scissors, knives and gardening tools stop wet shaving or removing hair with wax - use an electric razor or hair-removing cream instead take dentures false teeth or retainers out for a few hours a day, if you wear them, to give your gums a rest — do not wear dentures or retainers that do not fit properly tell your doctor, dentist or nurse that you take dabigatran before you have any medical or dental procedures or surgery — this includes vaccinations and routine appointments with the dental hygienist Serious bleeding Occasionally, you can have serious bleeding from taking dabigatran.

Since this medicine is used as a fixed dose for all patients Medsafe saw no reason to impose prescribing restrictions. In addition other anticoagulants have similar risks and are not restricted. Pradaxa dabigatran consumer medicine information CMI. The company who makes Pradaxa is continuing to investigate the safety of this medicine in clinical studies. Should these show any new safety issues, Medsafe will take appropriate action.

Healthcare professionals and consumers can report to CARM. If you think you have experienced an adverse effect after taking Pradaxa, please report this to CARM. More information on safety monitoring of medicines. None of the reports received by CARM to date have identified any cases of fatal bleeding or death caused by dabigatran. In a number of reports of bleeding, the patient was taking other blood-thinning medicines. In other reports, the patient was taking other medicines or had an ongoing medical problem that may also have caused the reported events.

The number of reports received so far by CARM is not unexpected for a new medicine. This is a recognised phenomenon and is described in the literature as the Weber effect. If you are concerned you are experiencing side effects to dabigatran, you should discuss these with your doctor. Your doctor is in the best position to review your medication and decide if changes need to be made.

CARM have received a number of reports of suspected adverse reactions to Pradaxa. As of 15 September , this included four reports where the patients had died. It is very important that patients should not stop taking any blood thinning medicine, unless on the advice of their doctor, due to the risk of experiencing a blood clot or stroke.

Before Pradaxa was approved in New Zealand the company conducted clinical trials in more than 26, patients worldwide, including:. The clinical trial data generated before Pradaxa was approved for use in New Zealand has also been reviewed by a number of other countries and Pradaxa is approved in the Australia, the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The full dataset for clinical trials conducted by the company was reviewed by Medsafe.