Is Pradaxa Worth The Extra Cost?

My EP suggested he could stop bleeding with Eliquis or  Xerelto. I assume he was talking about the same reversal agent they use for Pradaxa, but you might want to talk to an EP about that. That said, nothing beats  old school Warafin for fast reversal and low cost. The trade off is that you will need to have periodic blood tests to monitor your INR.

Jim

Can't comment as I live in the UK and all treatment and meds are free on the NHS

Hello Patrick, like Sarah, I'm also in the UK and benefit from the NHS, and am not aware of the cost differentials between the various anti-coagulants.

However I am a cyclist, not sure I manage 30 miles each day, but I take Eliquis and accept the risk, understanding that the only reversal for Eliquis is a blood transfusion, suitably timed before bleeding out. You say Pradaxa is the only NOAC that has a reversal agent, but Jimjames suggests that there may be a reversal agent for Eliquis. This sounds like something I should discuss with my EP at my next review in April.

Allan

Hi Patrick, you say your “copayment” is $458 per 90 day’s; what percentage of the actual cost is that?

As someone over 65, I do not have to pay prescription charges in the UK, if I did have to pay, I believe it would be around £9 for a month’s supply of any single item of medication.

Interestingly I have had an internal bleed, or at least a significant bruise, and that was when I had my only ablation, having been on Eligius for several months beforehand. A deep purple bruise from my groin to the back of my knee, covering the entire back of my leg took over six weeks to appear and disappear, This was caused by the small incision made for the catheter insertion in the groin, so a good demonstration of the effect of taking an anticoagulant.

As for the present incumbent of The White House, any comment I might make would almost certainly get moderated.

Allan

Hi Patrick, glad I made you giggle, always good to laugh!

An interesting thread, I suppose I've just accepted the risk of a fall from my bike, and 99% of mine is on roads, albeit mostly minor roads, but not entirely, as opposed to your track cycling. This risk is not something I have hitherto discussed with my GP or EP, but I will. I have a one year review since my ablation coming up in April, and will discuss this issue.

In late July I am planning to do the Ride London, the cycling equivalent of the London Marathon, a 100 mile sportive, albeit on closed roads. However, amongst 25,000 other cyclists the opportunity for an accident is probably higher than riding locally.

Thanks for your food for thought.

Best Wishes

Allan

 

There is no reversal agent yet approved for apixaban, which is only an issue if you end up in intensive care,  Dabigatran does increase your heart attack risk and, maybe, so do other NOACs to some extent,  None of the NOAC increase life expectancy, would you believe!

Hi Patrick, just completed the first 30 miler of the year, and come back to this conversation thread. A question, have you or anyone else on this thread had cause to use "WoundSeal", or even to carry it in case.

Given the most likely problem of falling from bike, assuming not a direct hit from a moving vehicle, is grazed arms or legs, I wondered if this product might not be a sensible addition to the "on-bike" kit.

Regards

Sherpa Al