If you, your aging parents, or anyone you know takes the blood thinner Pradaxa, you will want to pay careful attention to the information in today's post. While Pradaxa and other blood thinners can be an important part of our medical care, there are also risks involved in taking these medications.
From time to time, I allow guest posts on this blog when I believe the topic is something that will be of importance to my Baby Boomer readers. The following guest post was written specifically for this blog by Alanna Ritchie from the website DrugWatch.com:
Baby Boomers and Pradaxa
"Doctors prescribe blood thinners to millions of people to
prevent blood clots that can cause health problems like stroke, heart attack or
pulmonary embolism. People also take blood thinners to inhibit clots from
forming in the legs after knee or hip replacement surgery; and to manage atrial
fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
Pradaxa, which is a blood thinner, was approved by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 and quickly became a popular choice, used
by more than 3.7 million patients so far.
Baby boomers taking Pradaxa or another blood thinner need to
learn about their medication and take precautionary measures to avoid
complications and bleeding emergencies.
Here are some guidelines to consider if your doctor
prescribes Pradaxa.
1. Evaluate Data on Pradaxa
Health safety organizations and university-sponsored studies
have found evidence that Pradaxacan increase the risk of bleeding incidents and heart problems.
Because blood thinners stop the body's healing mechanism
whereby clots form to slow bleeding, even minor injuries can turn into a
bleeding emergency. There is no antidote for Pradaxa bleeding, which
contributed to 542 deaths in 2011.
Studies by the Cleveland Clinic and the American College of Cardiology
compared Pradaxa with warfarin – an older blood thinner -- and discovered that
there was an increased risk of heart problems with Pradaxa. These heart
problems include heart attack and symptoms of heart disease such as dizziness,
chest pain, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.
2. Decrease Risk of Bleeding
Blood thinner patients can reduce the risk of bleeding by
taking precautionary measures inside and outside the house — all designed to guard
against accidents that could escalate quickly.
Safety Indoors
·
Use knives and scissors slowly and in good
lighting
·
Use electric razors, which do not have exposed
blades
·
Wear shoes or non-skid slippers
·
Use care when trimming toenails
·
Use toothbrushes with soft bristles
Safety Outdoors
·
Wear close-toed shoes, instead of sandals
·
Use gloves when working with sharp tools
·
Wear protective gear when playing intense sports
·
Use handrails when walking down stairs
3. Consider Alternatives
Patients who have been prescribed Pradaxa can ask their
doctor about alternative blood thinner options, like warfarin, Xarelto and
Eliquis. Warfarin is an effective and cheaper option for many patients. It does
require that patients undergo regular blood tests and monitor their intake of
select vegetables. Warfarin's greatest advantage is that it has an antidote --
vitamin K – that can stop bleeding in emergency situations.
Xarelto and Eliquis were both developed within the last two
years and do not have antidotes. As they are new competitors in the blood
thinner category, it remains to be seen whether they prove to be a better
choice as far as safety and efficacy.
Alanna Ritchie is a
content writer for Drugwatch.com, which reports news about prescription drugs and medical devices."
You may also be interested in reading these other blog posts:
Aging and Tips to Prevent Hip Injuries (another helpful guest post from DrugWatch.com)
You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
Article and photo provided courtesy of DrugWatch.com
Article and photo provided courtesy of DrugWatch.com
Excellent post. Thank you for your input and for exposing us to Alanna Ritchie's helpful article.
ReplyDeleteYour articles don’t beat around the bushes exact t to the point. a knockout post
ReplyDelete