Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis: NOACs’ Reversal a Key?
From the article:
Dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis) — are touted for their safety, efficacy, and ease of use for both patient and physician, but these new oral anticoagulants (NOACs, pronounced No Ax) have one drawback in common: There is no antidote.
Kowey said 6 million people in the U.S. are on outpatient anticoagulants, and last year 200,000 people (one in 30) were admitted to the hospital for bleeding complications, including 65,000 patients on NOACs.
Filed under: General Problems
I have a patient they just switched from Eliquis to warfarin. I made sure I got a D/C order! I don’t trust the average patient .
I was somewhat surprised they got FDA approval since the “antidote” is going to cost more and increase hospitalizations more so than sticking with Coumadin. The antidote issue is in the package insert, but I’m sure the lawsuits and ‘baddrug’ ads will be starting soon if they haven’t already. Of course because of the ‘Metrics’ RPh has ZERO time to reinforce that discussion upon dispensing that should have been started by the Cardiologist who prescribed it. As an RPh/patient myself, I’m always only asked by the tech if I have any questions for the pharmacist. Very rarely anymore does the pharmacist actually ‘dispense/hand me the rx” which in my method of practice is my 4th and final check that I am giving the patient the correct medication._(show and tell) as I was taught at school. I actually got a lectured as a student because I DIDN’T make errors using that method. As I’ve d before “Metrics be d—ed” Patient safety first!!!