Why is pradaxa used

If you're taking dabigatran, tell your doctor before starting to take these medicines:. You can take paracetamol while you're taking dabigatran. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen while you're taking dabigatran unless a doctor has said it's OK to. They increase the chance of bleeding.

Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're taking dabigatran. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Blood clotting thickening is a complicated process involving substances called clotting factors.

They work with blood cells called platelets that trigger the clotting process to make sure your blood clots properly. Dabigatran works by stopping a clotting factor called thrombin from working. There do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking it for many months and years.

If you stop taking dabigatran, the rate at which your blood clots will return to what it was before you started taking it, usually within a day or two of stopping. This means that you may be at increased risk of serious problems like strokes , heart attacks , DVT or pulmonary embolism. Dabigatran does not seem to be harmful for bones or cause any problems for people with conditions like brittle bones osteoporosis. They include apixaban , edoxaban , rivaroxaban and warfarin.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out why you have been recommended a particular medicine. You can drink alcohol while taking dabigatran, as long as you stick to the national guidelines of no more than 14 units a week for men and women. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. 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.

Pradaxa capsules should be swallowed whole with water. Do not break, chew, or empty the pellets from the capsule. The following dosing is recommended:. If you are taking Pradaxa after surgery to prevent blood clots For patients who have had surgery treatment starts with one mg capsule one to four hours after the operation.

Treatment continues with two mg capsules taken once a day for 28 to 35 days after hip replacement and for 10 days after knee replacement. Treatment is delayed in patients who are still bleeding from the site of surgery. A lower dose is used in patients with moderate kidney problems.

If you are taking Pradaxa to prevent strokes due to an abnormal heart beat One mg capsule is taken twice a day long term.

A lower dose one mg twice a day is used in patients over 80 years of age or with moderate kidney problems, or who are at high risk of bleeding.

It is important to take Pradaxa regularly to prevent strokes and blood clots. There is no requirement for regular blood tests but patients should still look out for any signs of bleeding such as: exceptional weakness, tiredness, paleness, dizziness, headache, unexplained bruising or unexplained swelling.

If you are taking Pradaxa after surgery to prevent blood clots Your doctor may reduce the dose you take if you:. If you are taking Pradaxa to prevent strokes due to an abnormal heart beat Your doctor may reduce the dose you take if you are:. Your doctor will weigh your risk of bleeding against your risk of having a blood clot before deciding if the reduced dose is right for you. All medicines have risks as well as benefits. FDA has not changed its recommendations regarding use of Pradaxa in the population for which it is approved.

The safety and efficacy of Pradaxa dabigatran were evaluated in the European RE-ALIGN trial, 1 in which patients with bileaflet mechanical prosthetic heart valves recently implanted or implanted more than 3 months prior to enrollment were randomized either to dose-adjusted warfarin or to Pradaxa , , or mg twice a day.

Initial dosing of Pradaxa was determined by renal function. In the warfarin group, the target international normalized ratio INR was 2 to 3 or 2. RE-ALIGN was terminated early because the Pradaxa treatment arm had significantly more thromboembolic events valve thrombosis, stroke, and myocardial infarction and major bleeding predominantly postoperative pericardial effusions requiring intervention for hemodynamic compromise than did the warfarin treatment arm.

They can help you determine when to take your last dose of Pradaxa and your first dose of the new medication. There are no interactions between Tylenol and Pradaxa. These medications are usually used to ease swelling and pain, and taking them with Pradaxa may increase your risk for bleeding.

If you have a fever, pain, or swelling while taking Pradaxa, ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a treatment. Not usually. This may help prevent you from bleeding too much during and afterward.

Your dentist and doctor will discuss a safe length of time for you to stop taking Pradaxa. Storing Pradaxa in your pill box may expose the medication to moisture. This can cause it to not work properly and be dangerous to you. So you should keep Pradaxa in its original bottle or blister package so the drug stays dry.

This makes Pradaxa much more convenient to take. There are no major interactions between alcohol and Pradaxa. However, Pradaxa helps prevent blood clots, and alcohol can also prevent clotting from occurring. Pradaxa can interact with several other medications.

It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects.

For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Pradaxa. Before taking Pradaxa, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This is because primidone can decrease the level of Pradaxa in your body, which puts you at an increased risk for getting a blood clot.

They may suggest different medications. Clopidogrel Plavix is a medication that works by preventing the platelets in your blood from clotting. This is because it may increase your risk for bleeding. NSAIDs are medications that are usually used to ease fever, swelling, and pain.

The drug dronedarone Multaq can increase the level of Pradaxa in your body if you have kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease. This can be dangerous, because if you have more Pradaxa in your body, you may have more severe side effects and an increased risk for bleeding.

If you have kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease, you may need to avoid taking certain oral medications that treat fungal infections while using Pradaxa. Oral medications are drugs in pill, capsule, or liquid form that you swallow.

Taking an antifungal medication with Pradaxa may increase the level of Pradaxa in your body if you have kidney problems. And this rise in the Pradaxa level may increase the risk of bleeding or side effects. Examples of antifungal medications that people with kidney problems should avoid while taking Pradaxa include:.

They may advise you to use an antifungal cream instead. Rifampin can decrease the level of Pradaxa in your body. The effects of Pradaxa and other anticoagulants will combine and may increase the risk for side effects and bleeding. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Pradaxa. Using more than the recommended dosage of Pradaxa can lead to serious side effects.

Because this medication makes it harder for your blood to clot, taking too much can make you bleed and be very serious. This helps decrease your risk of having serious side effects from Pradaxa. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

As with all medications, the cost of Pradaxa can vary. To find current prices for Pradaxa in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before approving coverage for Pradaxa. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Pradaxa.

If you need financial support to pay for Pradaxa, help is available. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. You should take Pradaxa at the same time each day. No, you should swallow Pradaxa capsules whole. Never break, crush, chew, or open them. Your body will absorb the medication too quickly if you open or chew the capsules.

A-fib is a condition in which your heartbeat is irregular. People with A-fib may have heart palpitations feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats , a fast heart rate, or feel tired or short of breath. Pradaxa can also be used to treat blood clots. Certain situations may increase your risk for a blood clot.

These include:. Pradaxa can also be used to help prevent blood clots in people having a hip replacement or in people who have had a deep vein thrombosis DVT or pulmonary embolism PE in the past. A DVT is a blood clot in a large vein in your body, usually in your lower legs, and a PE is a blood clot in the lungs. Pradaxa works by decreasing the risk of a blood clot forming. The drug blocks an enzyme in your blood called thrombin.

Thrombin is responsible for clotting in your blood. By blocking thrombin, Pradaxa helps prevent your body from forming blood clots. Pradaxa starts working to help prevent or treat blood clots within hours after taking the medication. However, you need to take it once or twice a day, every day, to make sure that you always have enough medication in your body to help prevent or treat a blood clot.

During labor, Pradaxa may increase the risk of blood clots in certain women. The drug may also increase the risk of bleeding in the baby.

Pradaxa may also make it less likely for a fertilized egg to be implanted in the uterus. In an animal study , pregnant animals who were given Pradaxa had increased bleeding in their vagina and uterus. They were also less able to have a fertilized egg implanted in their uterus.

The offspring had an increased risk of delayed or irregular bone formation and death. They can help you determine the best treatment plan. In an animal study , the medication and its metabolites were found in breast milk. When Pradaxa breaks down in your body, it turns into substances called metabolites.

They can discuss your treatment options and the best way to feed your child. This drug has boxed warnings. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Before taking Pradaxa, talk with your doctor about your health history. Pradaxa may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. When you get Pradaxa from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle or blister package. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication.