Practical guide to choosing dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or apixaban 5 mg twice daily for patients with atrial fibrillation

VernacularTitle:Practical guide to choosing dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or apixaban 5 mg twice daily for patients with atrial fibrillation
Author: Zen KOBAYASHI ¹ ; Satoru ISHIBASHI ² ; Yoshiyuki NUMASAWA ³ ; Shuzo SHINTANI ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Neurology, JA Toride Medical Center, Japan
2. Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
3. Aozora Clinic, Japan
Keywords: apixaban; atrial fibrillation; dabigatran; direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)
From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2019;14(2):153-155
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: Based on previous reports, we propose a practical guide to choose dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or apixaban 5 mg twice daily for patients with atrial fibrillation. We recommend the use of dabigatran 150 mg twice daily for patients with atrial fibrillation who have a high risk of embolism (e.g., ischemic stroke on other oral anticoagulants, presence of left atrial appendage thrombus) and a low risk of bleeding. However, the prevalence of such patients with atrial fibrillation is considered low because patients with atrial fibrillation with a high risk of embolism usually have a high risk of bleeding. In most other patients with atrial fibrillation, the use of apixaban 5 mg twice daily should be considered.