New Anticoagulant

Pradaxa (chemical name dabigatran) is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent formation of clots that may potentially lead to strokes and embolisms. Pradaxa works by inhibiting factors that lead to potential clot formations. Pradaxa is currently most commonly used to prevent strokes and other potential clots in patients diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. Pradaxa is available in strengths of 75mg, 110mg, and 150mg.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial Fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) that involves the upper 2 chambers (atria) of the heart. Its names comes from the chambers of the heart fibrillating (quivering). Atrial fibrillation results in abnormal electrical impulses being conducted by the heart. Atrial fibrillation often presents no symptoms and is not in itself generally life-threatening, but it may result in palpitations, fainting, chest pain, congestive heart failure, and the development of clots.

Pradaxa vs. Warfarin? Advantages and Disadvantages

For more than 50 years now, patients have had no other anticoagulant(blood thinner) alternative beyond Warfarin to prevent clots. Pradaxa now presents an important alternative. The main advantage with Pradaxa is that is does not require monitoring of INR (INR is a measurement of the blood coagulation, i.e blood clotting).
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