Pradaxa is Now Generic
What is Pradaxa (dabigatran)?
Pradaxa is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to prevent stroke and harmful blood clots. It is also used to treat blood clots in the veins of your legs or lungs and to reduce the risk of them occurring again.
How did Pradaxa go generic?
Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are relatively recent drugs. Direct inhibitors of factor Xa and direct thrombin (factor IIa) are the 2 types of NOACs. The four drugs in this class are:
- Dabigatran (brand: Pradaxa)
- Edoxaban (Savaysa)
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Apixaban (Eliquis)
Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor. It was the first NOAC to be FDA approved in 2010. Rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban are all factor Xa inhibitors..
Pradaxa became generic in the second quarter of 2022, which should assist in lowering the cost of these medications. Until the next NOAC becomes generic, approximately another 2 years will pass, which is Xarelto, and it goes generic sometime in December of 2024.
The FDA has authorized generic prescription medications as being of the same high caliber and potency as brand-name medications. The same high requirements for quality must be met by generic drug manufacturing and distribution facilities as they are for brand medications.
How do NOACs work?
NOACs stand for novel oral anticoagulants and “novel” stands for “non-vitamin k.”
This drug class is commonly used to prevent a portion of the intricate process that causes blood clots to develop. This slows down the blood's clotting process and lowers the chance of an atrial fibrillation-related stroke.
Is there a difference between NOACs and Warfarin?
Although NOACs are equally effective as warfarin (a vitamin K antagonist) for preventing strokes, the key distinction is that NOACs are less affected by dietary factors and other drugs. NOACs contain a quick onset/offset of action, limited medication interactions, and predictable pharmacokinetics.
An issue people experience while using warfarin is that they are required to have their INR checked frequently because warfarin has a limited therapeutic window that can be influenced by things like food.
Additionally, the treatment recommendations for atrial fibrillation were modified in January 2019, and NOACs are now recognized as the optimal warfarin substitute for lowering the risk of stroke.
What is Pradaxa (dabigatran) used for?
Atrial fibrillation (fast and erratic heartbeat often results in inadequate blood flow) is treated and prevented with dabigatran to reduce the likelihood of developing a stroke brought on by a blood clot. When a heart valve issue is not the source of the atrial fibrillation dabigatran is administered.
In addition, dabigatran is taken following hip replacement surgery to avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a form of a blood clot that can result in various blood clots in your lungs, also referred to as a pulmonary embolism.
How is Pradaxa (dabigatran) administered?
Pradaxa is available in 75 mg and 150 mg oral capsules and can be taken with or without food.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open the capsule; instead, swallow it whole..
This medication should be stored away from heat and moisture at room temperature. When you're ready to take the medication, keep each capsule in its original container
Side effects
- Indigestion, otherwise known as dyspepsia
- Upset stomach and/or abdominal pain/discomfort
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Bruising
Serious side effects
- Bleeding, including abdominal bleeding
Dabigatran can make it easier for you to bleed even from mild injuries including a fall or head bang since it prevents your blood from coagulating (clotting). If you fall, hurt your head, or have any bleeding that won't stop, call your doctor or get immediate help.
- Severe heartburn
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Weakness or extreme fatigue
- Brown or pink urine
- Joint pain and/or swelling
If you’re experiencing any of the serious side effects listed above, immediately call your doctor and stop taking this medication.
Interactions
Utilizing particular drugs concurrently is generally not advised. Some medications can change the amounts of other medications you take in your blood, which could worsen adverse effects or reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.
Your doctor might need to change the dosage of any additional medications you regularly take when you start or stop taking this medication.
When taking other anticoagulants, it is best to avoid taking Pradaxa (generic: dabigatran). Keep an eye out for interactions with other medications, such as thrombolytics, some herbal remedies, NSAIDs, and SSRIs, which can increase the risk of bleeding.
Because Pradaxa (generic: dabigatran) is a substrate of P-gp (metabolized/broken down by P- Glycoprotein), it’s best to avoid the use of rifampin with this mediation.
What happens if I miss a dose?
In case you miss a dose, take the medication as soon as you remember, however, avoid this if it will be longer than 6 hours since the missed dose. Taking 2 doses at once is not advised.
Try not to skip any doses in order to prevent strokes as much as possible.
Speak With Your Doctor
Pradaxa (dabigatran) is relatively considered a safe and effective medication when taken appropriately (as prescribed by your doctor). Talk to your doctor today about using Pradaxa (generic: dabigatran) and send your prescription to Marley Drug. Save up to 95% compared to your local pharmacy by using Marley Drug.
Plus, Marley Drug provides free nationwide shipping, allowing you to receive your medication at no additional cost straight to your door.