Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
I am a nurse in a large medical clinic (family practice) and we had drug reps promoting pradaxa in the office this week. It is an alternative to warfarin for some of us. It is approved for non-valvular A fib only. It is not for anyone with poor kidney function, or history of ulcers, or GI bleed. It has a higher incidence of GI prblems including GI bleed than warfarin. But is does have a lower incidence of stroke than warfarin. And it does not require blood tests to monitor. So far, at least where I live, many insurances are not covering it, or they will cover it at a non-formulary high co-pay. My insurance does not cover it unless I have failed on the formulary drug (warfarin). The cost is about $6 per pill and you take it twice a day. So cost will put it out of reach for many, at least at first. I suspect that within the next year or 2 it will be added to many insurance fromularies and have less expensive co-pays. Insurances have to pay for all the labwork now so it seems like total cost would be comparable. It's exciting that there is another option, especially for some who cannot take warfarin.
I posted it to give INFORMATION, not promote it. Sorry if you were offended.
Jack
With that said, I had to stop taking Pradaxa before my AFIB ablation next week because it is not studied for use before and after ablation as yet and they are worried about bleeding complications. I now take Coumadin, and by comparison, it is a pain (in the finger tip) to have to go back all the time for adjustments to my dosage.
So in summary, the Pradaxa is fantastic, except for the bleeding risk in the event you are injured (don't slip on the snow!). The Company that manufactures it provides financial support for the prescription for the first year. Just ask your doctor--not sure whether its just his office or not, but I doubt it. You don't need regular checks of your INR levels on Pradaxa, and there is a cost to visiting the doctor for those visits that you don't need to pay if you are on Pradaxa.
Hope this helps.
My dr also suggested pradaxa, but I felt the additional cost and the strict timing of the meds did not see worth it.
I have just read in the papers that pattern for plavix just expired and generics are in the works, or ready to be released. I wonder if this will be an option?
I know that warfarin thins the blood, pradaxa makes the platelets not sticky, how does plavix work. I do know that it does not require blood tests. Just wondering. Joan