Just been put on to Pradaxa - any advice

[migmog]

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

I've been on Pradaxa for a year now. The most important thing is to remember to take it as directed. At first I actually made check marks, morning and evening on my calendar page to mark that I had taken the dose. This is a medication that you want to take carefully, as close to 12 hours apart in the dosing, like 8 a.m. and 8 pm to keep a nice steady blood level. You don't want to accidentally take it twice, nor do you want to skip doses. So do whatever you need to do to help you remember to take it every single day, twice a day. The reward is knowing that you are at a reduced risk of stroke, which is a comforting thing to know!

[DavDug in reply to SRMGrandma]

I pop mine in before breakfast and just before I jump into bed at night. Perhaps I am lucky but you need plenty of water to go with it. That's good for you anyway despite the journey to the loo during the night. You could take it earlier in the evening, but the water's the thing!

[Warriors]

I have been on pradaxa since September . Take it twice a day and had no problems. Far easier than taking warfarin.

[migmog]

Thanks SRMGrandma and Warrior - Pradaxa focused correctly seems, in the majority of times ,works the trick - unfortunately I was taken off of Warfarin a year ago - the AF and Sinus started going chaotic!! 4 months later following tachycardia x 2 had a TIA. So cardiologist has now prescribe Pradaxa - better late than not at all!!

[jbrucej]

I've been on Pradaxa for a couple of years now. It is activated by acid in the capsule and so it can give you chest pain type symptoms from the acid reflux or heartburn. I find that if I take it with food and follow it up with at least two glasses of water, I have no problems.

I take aspirin, plavix, and pradaxa. When my cardiologist took me off the plavix, my AF gave me a serious TIA three weeks later and so I'm back on the Plavix. So if you have active AF, make sure you don't miss a dose and that you take your other meds carefully.

[AFAssociation1]

You may find this fact sheet on dabigatran (pradaxa) useful atrialfibrillation.org.uk/f...

Also, here is some information about AF anticoagulation challenges and considerations: atrialfibrillation.org.uk/f...

If either of these links do not work, please refer to our fact sheets here: atrialfibrillation.org.uk/p...

And booklets here: atrialfibrillation.org.uk/p...