STAYING ON TRACK

Staying on Track

Need help staying on track with your treatment plan and getting the support you need?

Here are some tips that may help:

  • Keep up with scheduled doctor visits. You’ll need to work closely with your healthcare team to manage your condition and reduce your risk of stroke. So be sure to go to all of your scheduled visits with your doctor and any specialists. These may include:
    • – Your primary care provider—the person who cares for your general health. This may be a family physician, internist, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
    • – A cardiologist—a doctor who specializes in treating conditions that affect the heart.
    • – An electrophysiologist—a cardiologist who works specifically with heart rhythm disorders (also called arrhythmias), such as AFib.

    If you need a ride to and from doctors’ visits, consider asking a trusted friend or family member to come along. Or ask your doctor's office about local transportation services.

  • Review your treatment options with your doctor. Treatment options change over the years. In fact, for the first time in more than 50 years, there is an approved alternative to warfarin (Coumadin® or Jantoven®) for reducing the risk of stroke in people with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem. Learn more about PRADAXA 
  • Keep your medical history and medication list updated. An updated medical history and medication list (PDF) is key to helping your doctor create your treatment plan. That’s because you can’t take some medicines if you have certain health conditions. And some medicines can change the way PRADAXA or other medicines work in your body. Others can increase your risk of bleeding and other side effects. Be sure to include both prescription and nonprescription (or over-the-counter) products, vitamins, herbs, and other supplements you may be taking. Learn more about PRADAXA and your other medicines 
  • Get the support you need. When you’re facing a potentially serious medical condition, getting support from others is key. But in order to get the help you need, you have to know how to ask for it.
  • Here are some tools and resources that may help:
  • Make sure you understand how to take your medicine. It’s very important to take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Find out how to take PRADAXA 
  • If you find you often forget to take your medicine, you may want to sign up for medication reminders. You can receive reminders by email, phone, text message—or all 3. Sign up 
  • Manage your stress. It’s completely natural to feel stressed out when you have been diagnosed with a medical condition. Here are some tips that may help:
    • Try to get regular exercise. Exercise can help you lose weight, get a better night’s sleep, and feel more positive in general. Just be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. You need to make sure you’re doing activities that are safe for you.
    • Make time to relax. If you’ve been feeling down for a while, try planning a special day out with a friend or loved one, a trip to a favorite place, or another activity you enjoy to help you break out of the blues.
    • Learn more about your condition. Understanding your condition and its related risks can help you feel empowered. And it can help you better express your needs to your doctor and loved ones.

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TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR

Create a personalized doctor discussion guide. And help make sure you get the answers you need about AFib, stroke, and treating with PRADAXA.

CREATE YOUR GUIDE 

Need help remembering to take your medicine?

Medication reminders make it easy to know when to take PRADAXA. Sign up now to get reminders by:

Email | Phone | Text message

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WHAT IS PRADAXA?

PRADAXA is a prescription blood-thinning medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem. With atrial fibrillation, part of the heart does not beat the way it should. This can cause blood clots to form, increasing your risk of a stroke. PRADAXA lowers the chance of blood clots forming in your body.

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT PRADAXA

PRADAXA can cause bleeding which can be serious and sometimes lead to death. Don’t take PRADAXA if you currently have abnormal bleeding or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.

Your risk of bleeding with PRADAXA may be higher if you:

  • • are 75 years old or older
  • • have kidney problems
  • • have stomach or intestine bleeding that is recent or keeps coming back or you have a stomach ulcer
  • • take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, like aspirin products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and blood thinners
  • • have kidney problems and take dronedarone (Multaq®) or ketoconazole tablets (Nizoral®)

Call your doctor or seek immediate medical care if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of bleeding:

  • • any unexpected, severe, or uncontrollable bleeding; or bleeding that lasts a long time
  • • unusual or unexpected bruising
  • • coughing up or vomiting blood; or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • • pink or brown urine; red or black stools (looks like tar)
  • • unexpected pain, swelling, or joint pain
  • • headaches and feeling dizzy or weak

It is important to tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take. Some of your other medicines may affect the way PRADAXA works.

Take PRADAXA exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Don’t stop taking PRADAXA without talking to your doctor as your risk of stroke may increase.

Tell your doctor if you are planning to have any surgery, or medical or dental procedure, because you may have to stop taking PRADAXA for a short time.

PRADAXA can cause indigestion, stomach upset or burning, and stomach pain.

Click here for full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call
1-800-FDA-1088.

The health information contained in this Website is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare professional. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT PRADAXA

Click here to expand

PRADAXA can cause bleeding which can be serious and sometimes lead to death. Don’t take PRADAXA if you currently have abnormal bleeding or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.


Your risk of bleeding with PRADAXA may be higher if you:

  • • are 75 years old or older
  • • have kidney problems
  • • have stomach or intestine bleeding that is recent or keeps coming back or you have a stomach ulcer
  • • take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, like aspirin products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and blood thinners
  • • have kidney problems and take dronedarone (Multaq®) or ketoconazole tablets (Nizoral®)

Call your doctor or seek immediate medical care if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of bleeding:

  • • any unexpected, severe, or uncontrollable bleeding; or bleeding that lasts a long time
  • • unusual or unexpected bruising
  • • coughing up or vomiting blood; or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
  • • pink or brown urine; red or black stools (looks like tar)
  • • unexpected pain, swelling, or joint pain
  • • headaches and feeling dizzy or weak

It is important to tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take. Some of your other medicines may affect the way PRADAXA works.


Take PRADAXA exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Don’t stop taking PRADAXA without talking to your doctor as your risk of stroke may increase.


Tell your doctor if you are planning to have any surgery, or medical or dental procedure, because you may have to stop taking PRADAXA for a short time.


PRADAXA can cause indigestion, stomach upset or burning, and stomach pain.



WHAT IS PRADAXA?


PRADAXA is a prescription blood-thinning medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem. With atrial fibrillation, part of the heart does not beat the way it should. This can cause blood clots to form, increasing your risk of a stroke. PRADAXA lowers the chance of blood clots forming in your body.


Click here for full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide.


You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


The health information contained in this Website is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare professional. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.


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PRADAXA® (DABIGATRAN ETEXILATE MESYLATE) CAPSULES:
IMPORTANT STORAGE AND HANDLING INFORMATION
PRADAXA must be kept dry. To protect it from moisture, PRADAXA comes in either a bottle with a special cap that contains a drying agent or a blister pack with each capsule sealed separately.

When taking PRADAXA, please follow these instructions carefully:
  • Always store PRADAXA in its original container.
    • Never put PRADAXA into any other container, such as a pill box or pill organizer.
    • Store PRADAXA at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
  • If your PRADAXA came in a bottle:
    • Be sure the closure tape, which indicates that the bottle has not been opened, is intact when you receive your prescription. Do not remove the closure tape until you are ready to open the bottle. Open your new bottle only after finishing your current bottle.
    • Once the bottle is opened, you must use PRADAXA within 30 days.
      • As soon as you open the bottle, write the date on the label. PRADAXA will expire 30 days after the date you opened the bottle.
      • Do not alter the child-proof cap.
      • Safely throw away any unused PRADAXA after 30 days.
      • If your pharmacist or other healthcare provider gave you more than one bottle of PRADAXA, be sure to open only one bottle at a time.
    • Each time you take PRADAXA:
      • Remove only one capsule from the opened bottle.
      • Immediately and tightly close the bottle.
  • If your PRADAXA came in a blister pack, remove only one capsule from the pack at a time.
  • Always read the Medication Guide included with each of your PRADAXA prescriptions. There may be information that is new or that has changed since your last prescription.
  • Remember to keep PRADAXA, and all medicines, out of the reach of children.
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Pradaxa® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG and used under license.
Copyright© 2012 Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 01/2012
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