Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Explained: How This Blood Thinner Works
Blood clots are a natural response of the body to stop unusual bleeding post damage to blood vessels by an injury, inactivity, genetic predisposition, or certain medical conditions. They are gel-like masses of blood formed as a result of the amalgamation of red blood cells, platelets, and proteins. They can be risky to have in the blood veins or arteries as they can obstruct the blood flow or transport of oxygenated blood to different parts of the body and eventually lead to strokes and other life-threatening health issues. To prevent or reduce blood clot formation, thankfully, there are medications available called anticoagulants, such as Pradaxa (Dabigatran), which work by thinning the blood.
One of the popular brand-name effective pills for preventing and treating blood clots is Pradaxa. You can enquire about it with your healthcare provider and even learn its details in this article.
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What is Pradaxa?
Pradaxa is the brand name of a generic, direct oral anticoagulant drug, a thrombin inhibitor named Dabigatran. Its distributing and marketing authorization holder is Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of the USA.
Pradaxa is a prescription medicine containing the active ingredient dabigatran etexilate mesylate. Dabigatran etexilate mesylate is chemically designated as β-Alanine, N-[[2-[[[4-[[[(hexyloxy)carbonyl]amino]iminomethyl] phenyl]amino]methyl]-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl]carbonyl]-N-2-pyridinyl-, ethyl ester, methanesulfonate. Its generic version, sold under the name Dabigatran etexilate, is available.
Pradaxa is available in the form of capsules/pellets of strength 75 mg, 110 mg, and 150 mg for oral administration. It comes in a bottle or blister package.
What is Pradaxa used for?
The Food and Drug Administration approves Pradaxa capsules for:
- Atrial fibrillation: A heart rhythm problem that occurs when the atria (the upper heart chambers) beat rapidly or abnormally, potentially increasing the chances of blood clots and stroke. Pradaxa (Dabigatran) is prescribed to prevent blood clot formation and the risk of stroke in adults suffering from atrial fibrillation, which is not caused by a problem with the heart valve.
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism- Deep vein thrombosis is a condition where blood clots form in the leg veins. Pulmonary embolism is when the blood clots form in the lungs. Pradaxa (Dabigatran) is prescribed to treat such conditions by dissolving the blood clots after an injectable medicine has been given to treat blood clots for 5-10 days. It is even given by doctors to reduce the risk of recurrence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
How Does Pradaxa Work in the Body?
Pradaxa (Dabigatran) belongs to the pharmacological class: Thrombin inhibitors- Anticoagulants.
How does Pradaxa works? In this, Pradaxa works to lower the chances of the formation of blood clots in the body by binding to the free thrombin or thrombin bound to fibrin and inhibiting its activity. Thrombin is an enzyme, a serine protease, also referred to as coagulation factor IIa, that has a key role in the blood coagulation cascade. It is needed to convert soluble protein fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin, which forms a network to trap the blood cells and form clots. By blocking thrombin activity, Pradaxa can stop blood clot formation, thus reducing the risk of strokes.
Pradaxa Dosage: How to Take Correctly
Take Pradaxa (Dabigatran) exactly as told by the prescribing doctor. If unsure about how to take Pradaxa for treating or preventing blood clots, check with the prescribing doctor or pharmacist.
Pradaxa oral formulations are recommended to be taken with or without food and with sufficient water. Adults are prescribed capsules, while pediatric patients are prescribed pellets. Pradaxa Dosage:
| Medical Condition | Recommended Dose |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis in Adults (Prophylaxis) | 150 mg twice daily |
| Thromboembolism in Adults with Atrial Fibrillation (Prophylaxis) | 150 mg twice daily |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism Prophylaxis Following Hip Replacement Surgery | 110 mg once, 1-4 hours after surgery and thereafter twice daily for 28 to 35 days) |
| Venous thromboembolism in pediatric patients aged between 3 months to less than 12 years | 11 kg to less than 16 kg (body weight): 75 mg twice daily 16 kg to less than 26 kg: 110 mg twice daily 26 kg to less than 41 kg: 150 mg twice daily 41 kg to less than 61 kg: 185 mg twice daily 61 kg to 81 kg: 220 mg twice daily 81 kg or greater: 260 mg twice daily |
Side Effects of Pradaxa (Dabigatran)
The use of Pradaxa (Dabigatran) in normal, recommended doses by patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism caused by atrial fibrillation is generally completely safe if taken with a doctor’s prescription and as per the doctor’s directions/advice. However, side effects are still a possibility. But not every patient experiences them. Most of the unwanted effects are mild and temporary, and rarely, the effects are serious, requiring prompt medical attention.
Some of the commonly reported side effects of Pradaxa (Dabigatran) include:
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Bleeding
- Heavy menstrual flow
- Upset stomach, indigestion, or burning
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Some of the serious side effects of taking Pradaxa (Dabigatran) that require prompt medical help include:
- Bruising or bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Pink, red, or brown urination
- Unexpected pain, aching, or swollen joints
- Bloody or tarry stools
- Vomiting or a cough with blood
- Headache, dizziness, weakness, or passed-out-like feeling
- Signs of a blood clot in the spine
- Signs of an allergic reaction.
Pradaxa (Dabigatran) can have more possible side effects. Talk to a doctor to get more details and even medical advice about side effects.
To avoid serious side effects of Pradaxa, the patient should take the following precautions:
- Take the medicine as directed by a doctor.
- If you miss a dose, do not go beyond the daily recommended dosage to make up for it.
- Do not take the drug if pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing a child.
- Ensure that Pradaxa is safe for use by informing the doctor about allergies, current intake of medications or supplements, and illnesses (if any).
- Avoid alcohol consumption when on the course of Pradaxa.
- Avoid any activities that increase the risk of injury or bleeding. Be careful while shaving or brushing your teeth.
- If you have kidney disease, avoid grapefruit intake with Pradaxa.
- Have a healthy diet, as normal, unless the doctor advises any dietary changes.
- Reduce the risk of blood clots with healthy lifestyle tips, including no smoking, having a balanced diet, regularly exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Cost of Pradaxa (Dabigatran)
The Pradaxa price is variable, influenced by factors like:
- The treatment plan- the quantity of supply
- The chosen pharmacy
- The availability of a financial assistance/savings program
In general, Pradaxa is expensive as it is a brand-name prescription medication that goes through price fixing by drug manufacturers, suppliers, and pharmacists. Drug research and development, and advertising all add up to the final cost. To know the exact Pradaxa cost for your purchase, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or/ insurance provider.
At online pharmacies, Pradaxa is available for purchase at the best, most competitive prices. If searching for a pharmacy offering reasonably priced Pradaxa, visit Canada Pharmacy Pro for details on Pradaxa cost, and Buy Pradaxa Online. With an online or mail-order pharmacy, you can have long-term savings on the purchase of Pradaxa and get the medicine delivered to your home. Some Medicare plans may even cover the price of online-ordered medications like Pradaxa.
FAQ
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How long do I need to take Pradaxa?
The course of Pradaxa is decided by the doctor based on the purpose it serves. Pradaxa is usually taken for 10 days after a knee replacement and for 4-5 weeks after a hip replacement to avoid blood clots. Depending on what causes blood clots, Pradaxa is taken at a therapeutic dose, at least 3 months. To lower the risk of blood clots or stroke in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, Pradaxa needs to be taken for a long time, maybe for the rest of your life. For details on Pradaxa cost, consult Canada Pharmacy Pro today!
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What if I miss a dose of Pradaxa?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember or skip the next dose if the time to take the next dose is less than 6 hours. Avoid doubling the doses at a time.
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Does Pradaxa interact with any other medications?
Yes, Pradaxa is known to interact with other drugs that prevent blood clots, NSAIDs, ketoconazole, dronedarone, and rifampin. There are many more potential drug interactions. To avoid this, make sure to inform the doctor about the current intake of medications and supplements beforehand.
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Can I stop taking Pradaxa if I feel fine?
Avoid discontinuing the intake of Pradaxa without talking to the doctor who prescribed it, as there is a health risk.
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Can I drink alcohol while taking Pradaxa?
Although there is no listed specific interaction of Pradaxa with alcohol, it’s still advised to cut down or avoid alcohol consumption as it might increase the risk of bleeding, which is a potential side effect of the medicine.
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How long does it take to start work?
After taking the first dose of Pradaxa, the blood clotting gets reduced within a few hours.
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Can I take Pradaxa during pregnancy?
No. Pregnancy is one of the contraindications for Pradaxa due to potential harm to the foetus.
References:
https://www.drugs.com/pradaxa.html
https://patient.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/pradaxa/
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/022512s007lbl.pdf