f you use this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you use it
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines including aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines, or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Pradaxa should not be used during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Pradaxa is not recommended in women who are breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any other medical conditions, including:
reduced liver function, life-threatening liver disease or increased liver enzymes
increased bleeding risk. For example: blood clotting disorders, gastrointestinal bleeding, recent tissue sampling (biopsy), recent brain bleed, recent brain, spinal or eye surgery, or an inflammation of parts of your heart (endocarditis).
reduced kidney function
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you use Pradaxa.
Using other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Pradaxa may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin, salicylates or other NSAID (anti-inflammatory) medicines
medicines used to thin your blood (such as warfarin, unfractionated heparins, heparin derivatives, low molecular weight heparins, fondaparinux, desirudin, clopidogrel, tirofiban, bivalirudin, prasugrel, ticagrelor, eptifibatide, ticlopidine, dextran, sulfinpyrazone and rivaroxaban)
amiodarone,dronedarone, medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats
verapamil, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and angina
clarithromycin or rifampicin, medicines used to treat infections
lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, tipranavir or saquinavir, medicines used to treat HIV infections
cyclosporin or tacrolimus, medicines used to help the body's immune system
selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI)
herbal medicines derived from St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
carbamazepine, a medicine used to treat fits or convulsions.
medicines used to treat reflux and stomach ulcers (such as pantoprazole and ranitidine).
These medicines may be affected by Pradaxa or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, change the timing of your medicine-taking routine or take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Pradaxa.
How to take Pradaxa
Follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box/bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
After knee and hip replacement surgery
The recommended dose of Pradaxa is 220 mg (2 capsules of 110 mg) taken as a single dose once daily.
Patients with moderately reduced kidney function (e.g. over 75 years) or patients taking certain medicines may have an increased risk of bleeding. The doctor may prescribe the lower dose of 150 mg once daily, taken |
