Dabigatran is a blood-thinning medicine that reduces the formation of harmful blood clots in your body.
This medicine is used to treat deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the leg veins) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in a lung artery). It is also used to prevent clotting in the heart due to irregular heartbeats and blood clots in the veins after knee or hip surgery.
Take Dabigatran exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Dabigatran is available as a capsule. Swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not break, chew, or open then take the pellets from the capsule.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type of your condition.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- active bleeding
- unknown cause for increased tendency to bleed
- other diseases or conditions that may increase the risk of bleeding e.g. history of stomach ulcers, recent brain, spine or eye injury/surgery; tumours, blood vessel abnormalities
- if you have received an artificial heart valve which requires permanent blood-thinning
- severe kidney disease
as Dabigatran may not be suitable for you.
Do not take Dabigatran if you are taking any of these medicines:
- any other blood-thinning medicines (oral or injectable such as warfarin and heparin) except when changing your blood-thinning treatment
- medicines for irregular heartbeat, epilepsy (fits or seizures), tuberculosis, fungal infections, and organ transplant or certain immune disorder
Please see the section “Can I take this with other medicines?” below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- blood and bleeding problems
- stomach problems e.g. heartburn (burning pain in your chest caused by food or acid from your stomach that backs up into your mouth)
- history of heart attack
- bacterial endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart and heart valves)
- antiphospholipid syndrome (immune system disorder that causes an increased risk of blood clots)
- recent biopsy (surgical tissue removal)
- serious injury e.g. bone fracture, head injury, injuries requiring surgery
- body weight less than 50 kg
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Dabigatran to an elderly.
If you are going for an operation or procedure involving a catheter or an injection into your spinal column (e.g. spinal or epidural anaesthesia), including surgery or dental work, inform your doctor that you are taking this medicine.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- You may need to have regular blood tests, liver and kidney function tests. Your doctor will advise you how often you need to have them.
- You may also need to be closely monitored for any signs of bleeding and anaemia (low red blood cell count in the body).
Dabigatran may cause any of the following side effects: indigestion, stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, skin rash and itching.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, mouth or throat
- unusual bleeding or bruising e.g. gum or nose bleeding, coughing up blood, blood in your urine, pass out bloody stools or black as tar and vomiting blood, or ground-coffee like material
- prolonged bleeding with leg weakness or numbness and bladder or bowel dysfunction
Dabigatran may cause the level of your red blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports.
Alert your doctor if you get unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Dabigatran if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban
- medicines to treat fungal infections e.g. oral ketoconazole, itraconazole
- medicines used in organ transplant or certain immune disorder e.g. ciclosporin
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- dronedarone (medicine for irregular heartbeat)
- rifampicin (medicine to treat tuberculosis or TB)
- St. John’s wort (herbal remedy for depression)
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other blood-thinning medicines e.g. clopidogrel, ticlopidine, prasugrel, ticagrelor
- medicines for irregular heartbeat e.g. amiodarone, quinidine, verapamil
- medicines for pain and inflammation e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac
- medicines to treat depression e.g. citalopram, fluoxetine, venlafaxine
- clarithromycin (antibiotic)
- ritonavir (medicine for HIV infection)
- pantoprazole (gastric medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Dabigatran.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Keep capsules in their original package to protect from moisture.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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