Articles Posted in Pradaxa

Xarelto is an anticoagulant medication manufactured by Bayer AG, the German pharmaceutical giant, and Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, markets it in the United States.

Xarelto is one of three relatively new forms of medication marketed to treat patients who suffer from a condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib). The other drugs in this class of New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) include Pradaxa and Eliquis. All three of these medications are essentially designed to be replacements for Warfarin (Coumadin), which has been the longstanding preferred course of treatment for Afib patients to prevent clotting disorders such as stroke and pulmonary embolism (PE).
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While Bayer AG, the German pharmaceutical giant, has seen a recent increase in quarter-over-quarter profits, sales numbers for their bestselling drug, Xarelto, have actually dropped this past quarter for the first time since the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for market.

Xarelto is a member of a class of drugs known as New Oral Anticogulants (NOACs) and, despite what drug makers claim, has been marketed as a replacement for Warfarin (Coumadin) for patients suffering from a serious medical condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib). Afib is a serious heart condition, which can cause a patient to have a stroke or other serious clotting disorder. Due to Afib, patients must take either a blood thinner or other anticoagulant to prevent clots from forming. Not only can these clots block an artery causing heart failure or stroke, they can break free from the deep veins in which they formed and travel through the patient’s circulatory system to the lungs. If they puncture a hole in a patient’s lung, it leads to a serious medical condition known as a pulmonary embolism, which often results in death of a patient.
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According to a recent news feature from the Madison Record, a woman in Texas is suing Bayer Pharmaceuticals AG, and its United States marketing partner Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson) for injuries she alleges was a result of her Xarelto prescription.

Xarelto is the brand name for a drug known as rivaroxaban. It is a member of a class of drugs known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs). Patients who suffer from various medical conditions including atrial fibrillation (Afib) require an anti-clotting agent. If blood clots form, they can block the flow of blood, causing strokes and other serious issues. If a clot forms and breaks loose, it can travel to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, where it can cause serious internal bleeding known as a pulmonary embolism or PE. Until the creation and FDA approval of NOACs, including Xarelto, Pradaxa, and Eliquis, the most commonly used medication was Warfarin, which is the generic form of Coumadin.

While Coumadin is effective in treating Afib patients, it does require very frequent blood tests to monitor dosage, and patients must also watch their diets closely, as certain foods can alter the rate at which Coumadin is absorbed. If the dosage is off, the patient can have serious consequences including bleeding disorders.
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These days it is nearly impossible to watch television without seeing commercials for one of three drugs, which are part of a new group of blood thinning medications known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs). This relatively new class of drugs includes big names like Xarelto, Eliquis, and Pradaxa. Xarelto makers, for example, have hired golf legend Arnold Palmer and actor Kevin Nealon to promote their product.

All three of these medications offer what their respective makers claims is a better alternative to long used blood thinner, Warfarin. Patients who suffer from a medical condition known as atrial fibrillation or “Afib” need to take a blood thinning medication, because they are at higher risk of developing blood clots. When a blood clot forms, it can block an artery, causing stroke and heart disease. It can also break free from a vein and travel to the lungs, where it can puncture the tissue. This is a serious and often deadly condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PM).

Warfarin is generally safe and effective when a doctor can frequently monitor a patient’s dosage. If the dosage is off, serious bleeding disorders can occur. This means a patient will have to undergo frequent blood tests and have scheduled follow up visits with their doctor. A patient must also closely watch his or her diet, because certain foods can change the rate at which Warfarin is absorbed. These new drugs, like Xarelto, are supposed to be as effective as Warfarin without the need to constantly monitor the patient’s dosage.
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Patients who have a serious health condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib) are required to take blood-thinning medications to prevent stroke, heart disease, pulmonary embolism (PE) and other serious clotting disorders. Traditionally, this means taking Warfarin. Warfarin is a long existing blood thinning medication now available in generic form.

While Warfarin is known to be effective, it does require frequent monitoring of a patient’s blood, so doctors can make dosage changes when necessary. If the dosage is not monitored constantly, they may suffer serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions. Patients must also closely monitor their diets, because certain foods can affect how Warfarin is absorbed in the body, which in turn can affect dosage rates.
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Xarelto, like Eliquis and Pradaxa, is a blood thinner known as a New Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) or Factor Xa Inhibitor. Patients at risk for heart disease or with clotting disorders are often required to take an anticoagulant to prevent stroke and other serious medical conditions.

The traditional therapy used by millions of Americans is aspirin or Warfarin. While Warfarin is generally effective, patients must have frequent blood tests, so their doctors can closely monitor their dose. They must also watch their diets carefully and avoid foods that can change the rate of Warfarin absorption. If the dose if off even slightly, patients can have serious adverse events (side effects), and this is a problem on which Xarelto makers are trying to capitalize.
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One of the main ways drug companies get patients to take their drugs is through direct marketing to potential patients through television, Internet, and magazine advertisements. There was a time when the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not allow drug companies to direct market to individual users, but that ban was lifted a long time ago.

These days, it is typical for a patient to say to their doctor they want to take a particular medication. This is different from the past, when a patient would explain his or her symptoms and a doctor would tell the patient what drugs were available. However, today it is necessary to get doctors on board with prescribing a particular drug as well as having patients ask for the drug by name.
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