Anti-stroke drug approved by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (UK)

Pradaxa, which has been described as the "holy grail" of blood-thinning drugs, reduces the risk of a stroke in people with a heart contition called atrial fibrillation (AF). The drug has now been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for prescriptions on the NHS in England and Wales. Up to 1.2 million people in Britain have AF, where the heart's chambers fail to beat in rhythm, causing blood to pool and form clots. Eventually a clot can be dislodged by blood and washed along the arteries, before blocking a small blood vessel in the brain, causing a stroke. Boehringer Ingelheim, the drug maker, estimates 5,000 strokes could be prevented annually if people who were given the drug instead of the blood-thinning agent warafin, traditionally used as rat poison. A study of 18,000 people with atrial fibrillation (AF) found that taking 150mg of Pradaxa daily reduced the risk of stroke by between 30 and 39 per cent, caompared to those on warfarin, depending on the type of AF. The twice-daily pill does cost more than warfarin - about £2.50 daily compared to about £1 - and some local health authorities have expressed concern at the high potential cost

Eliquis more effective at preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation

The experimental anticlotting pill Eliquis beat out the standard drug, warfarin, at preventing strokes in people with a heart condition that puts them at high risk of blood clots and stroke, researchers report. The new drug, also known as apixaban, cut the risk of stroke by 21% compared with warfarin in people with atrial fibrillation (AF). It lowered the risk of dying by 11%. The side effect of serious internal bleeding, the key safety concern of anticlotting medication, was reduced by 31% with Eliquis compared to warfarin - WebMD

Bristol-Myers recalls warfarin lots (USA)

Bristol-Myers Squibb has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its 1,000-count bottles of Coumadin (warfarin) 5 mg tablets after the company found that one tablet had higher doses than expected. The New York City-based Bristol-Myers said the lot affected is 9H49374A and has an expiration date of September 30, 2012. The FDA said that an overabundance of the active ingredient could increase the risk of bleeding while a decrease of the active ingredient could increase the risk of clots that could increase MI or stroke. While the company said that patients on warfarin should not discontinue treatment, it recommended that patients check with their pharmacists to see if they were administered the infected lot. The FDA concluded that clinicians and patients should report any adverse events to the agency's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

Instructions reduce warfarin complications

"Proper instructions of how to take the blood thinning drug warfarin resulted in less risk of bleeding complications, U.S. researchers said. The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, also indicated patients who see only one physician and fill their prescription at a single pharmacy were 60 percent less likely to experience serious bleeding events. The researchers theorize that improved patient communication - which clarify questions about dosing, other drugs to avoid while taking warfarin, and early symptoms of bleeding problems - could prevent a substantial number of injuries and resulting hospitalizations" - UPI