Dabigatran

Dabigatran, sold under the brand name Pradaxa among others, is an anticoagulant used to treat and prevent blood clots and to prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. It is commonly used to prevent blood clots following hip or knee replacement and in those with a history of prior clots. and is used as an alternative to warfarin; it does not require monitoring by blood tests. In a meta-analysis of seven different studies, there was no benefit of dabigatran over warfarin in preventing ischemic stroke; however, dabigatran was associated with a lower hazard for intracranial bleeding compared with warfarin, but also had a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. It is taken by mouth. Common side effects include bleeding and gastritis. Other side effects may include bleeding around the spine and allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. In cases of severe bleeding, it can be reversed with the antidote, idarucizumab. Use is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Compared to warfarin it has fewer interactions with other medications. It is a direct thrombin inhibitor. Dabigatran was approved for medical use in the US in 2010. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2020, it was the 306th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions. Dabigatran is available a generic medication.