Blood test recall lists.

[sotolol]

This tells you how often you need bloods checked for different drugs. I’m on pradaxa ... dabigatran so every 12 months.

[JaneFinn]

Thank you sotolol! This is really helpful

(Are these from the Nice guidelines, or somewhere else?)

Jx

[sotolol in reply to JaneFinn]

Hi Jane it’s from a NHS Health centre. X

[Blavet]

Interesting. I work for the NHS and bloods for methotrexate are supposed to be done every month even in stable patients.

[sotolol in reply to Blavet]

Very interesting!!. There you go. Who are we meant to believe. As many on here say best ask the GP. Maybe my list is 100 years old. I will ask my consultant when I go. 🙄

[CDreamer in reply to Blavet]

My thoughts exactly!

I have FBC’s & Kidney & Liver function monthly, Everything else lipids/VitD/VitB etc about every 6 months and everything else as required.

I really wouldn’t take that as definitive - more likely a general recommendation your particular surgery or CCG recommendations. Nothing is black and white, it’s not a matter of belief but of protocols which your surgery adopts.

I would ask your GP - not your consultant - what is appropriate for YOU! It’s not a matter of just what meds you take but also of other conditions and how diligent your GP is about keeping you well rather than going by the rules.

PS - the drugs I am on aren’t mentioned.

[sotolol in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you. Yes you are right. Maybe I just needed proof for the Dabigatran I’m on to make sure I get it done. My potassium and sodium levels were low so got to have another test. I’ve read antidepressants can cause low sodium but I’m only on low dose. So a question then for my GP. THANK YOU AGAIN. I don’t want to mislead anyone. 👍🏻

[sotolol in reply to CDreamer]

The CCG would make sense. Thank you.

[Goosebumps]

Thanks for this Sotolol

Surely then the maximum period between tests is the U&E test every 6 months in the anticoagulant category as the EGFR rate is the determining factor . It can only be either below or above 30 according to the chart. ( had to look up all these acronyms, no idea what they meant before now)

[sotolol in reply to Goosebumps]

Hi goosebumps yes I have to look them up. 😩at least it’s a rough idea. X

[philip2468]

been taken off pradaxa for two months now and this has been replaced with edoxaban as has the whole of my area. I'm told that its down to cost.

however, just had an echo scan so will know the results in perhaps 3months if I am lucky

philip

[sotolol in reply to philip2468]

Let me know how you get on I’m waiting for my echo results and Holter results . Waiting for appointment. Hope the edoxaban works. Thank you. Any side effects I hope not.

[Glenn50]

I take Pradaxa and have my blood tested every 4 months however I have many underlying health problems and was always tested before pradaxa at about this frequency so nothings changed.

[sotolol in reply to Glenn50]

Ok Glenn50 best to keep to 4 months then as you have health issues. I’ve been taking Pradaxa for 5 years. I always have a check yearly. I changed my GP surgery and was missed. So I asked to have a blood test. My sodium was borderline so have to have another test in a few weeks. Aren’t us humans complex? Always something to stress us. Take care.

[Kat1900]

Hope ok to ask here apologies if not. Is Pradaxa widely available in the uk? My partner tried get on it but they said not but I saw it listed on nhs site

[sotolol in reply to Kat1900]

Hi Kat. Yes I get it from the NHS. Been on it five years.

[Kat1900]

That’s weird. I’m in the midlands and it was apparently trialled and unavailable It has good reviews mostly so we were a bit frustrated she couldn’t get it

[sotolol in reply to Kat1900]

That’s strange. Have you asked your GP questions as to why not?

[sotolol in reply to sotolol]

Or your cardiologist.

[Kat1900 in reply to sotolol]

She was in a and e put to aec in there and given Apixaban but she’s had bleed from mouth and may not be able to stay on them but the Pradaxa seems have better reviews. Maybe area were in ? Yet PRADAXA is definitely available. Very strange. I thought u have to be given anti coag tabs by hospital

[sotolol in reply to Kat1900]

Yes widely available on NHS. But maybe her bleed risk was too high. You need to ask A+E doctor questions. Only he will know the reason why. Best you get it from a health professional. My cardiologist put me on Pradaxa.

[sotolol in reply to sotolol]

Has your partner got a follow up appointment?

[Kat1900]

She’s due to see a heamtologst soon. Her bloods came back normal so I’m not sure why they said on trial and not available. Odd

[sotolol in reply to Kat1900]

I have sent you a private message. There are also many knowledgeable people on this forum that can suggest other anticoagulants that work as well. They all have side effects but not everyone suffers the same effects. Best of luck to you both.

[doodle68]

This is the latest from the NICE guidelines on Oral Anticoagulation dated January 2020.

cks.nice.org.uk/anticoagula...

I take Apixaban and have been having 6 monthly blood tests to check liver/kidney function.

It is now recommended by NICE that the blood tests for Apixaban are carried out yearly (unless you become ill or have renal problems ) with 3 monthly reviews ....''This review usually assesses the person's compliance, as well as any adverse effects the person may be having.''

I will stick with the 6 monthly blood tests unless my GP says otherwise..

[sotolol in reply to doodle68]

Brilliant thank you.