Hi Thanks to everyone. I have been taking Warfarin for 10 years & my Cardiologist has said on many occasions that there is something better coming. So I thought I would ask the group for any info & appreciated all of your replies. Main reason is that every drug has some side effect & it would be nice to find an alternative. Regards from down under in Sydney that has very poor visibility today due to a very unusual dust storm & strong winds
josh you may like to have a read of this maybe there is something new coming along for warfarin users
New blood-thinning stroke drug could save lives and cut reliance on warfarin
A new blood-thinning drug to prevent strokes could replace a commonly used treatment based on rat poison for thousands of patients. The drug called Pradaxa is one-third more effective at reducing the risk of stroke and blood clots in at-risk patients than warfarin, and cuts deaths by 15 per cent.
Warfarin, which is still used in large doses to kill vermin, has been a routine medication for preventing strokes since the 1950s. But it is inconvenient for patients because careful monitoring and regular blood tests are needed to prevent excessive bleeding from cuts or stomach ulcers, requiring frequent clinic visits.
It can also interact badly with other drugs and certain foods, including green vegetables and grapefruit. The new drug, Pradaxa, works by reversing and inhibiting the effects of thrombin, which is the substance responsible for clotting.
New possibilities: A drug that could revolutionise stroke sufferers' lives has been discovered
New possibilities: A drug that could revolutionise stroke sufferers' lives has been discovered
Patients taking capsules twice a day do not have to be constantly checked for signs of overdosing, can eat what they like and it is much easier to use alongside other medicines.
Results from a major trial today showed Pradaxa was 34 per cent better at reducing the risk of stroke and blood clots in at-risk patients than well-controlled warfarin.
Fatal strokes were also reduced by 15 per cent when patients were given the drug More than 18,000 patients aged around 71 from 44 countries took part in the three year RE-LY (randomised evaluation of long term anticoagulant therapy) trial.
All suffered from atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that greatly increases the risk of stroke. They were randomly assigned to treatment either with Pradaxa or warfarin.
The findings were presented yest(sun) at the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain, and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Professor Stuart Connolly, one of the leading investigators from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, said 'The results exceeded all our expectations.
'We now have an oral treatment which offers superior protection from stroke with less bleeding and without the need for routine monitoring.'
At present the drug, also known as dabigatran, is only licensed in the UK for the treatment of orthopaedic patients at risk of clotting after surgery and taken for up to four weeks.
The drug's makers Boehringer Ingelheim are planning to apply next year for permission to use it for the prevention of stroke when patients would have to take it for life. However, the high cost of Pradaxa means it will have to assessed by the Government's drug rationing body to determine whether it can be widely used in the NHS.
Daily treatment will cost around £4.20 at current prices whereas warfarin costs around £1 for a month's supply, plus clinic visits. Dr Adrian Brady, consultant cardiologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, said 'This is the greatest step forward in anticoagulation therapy for over 50 years.
'The results presented today could mean the end of warfarin, known by many as rat poison, for many patients - no more anticoagulation clinics, no more blood tests, no more watching what you need to eat and drink.
'Patients and their doctors will be eagerly examining these findings with a view to switching from warfarin to this new drug once it is licensed.'
Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects more than half a million people in the UK and is a leading cause of stroke. Around 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke each year.
Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said the new drug looked promising but further trials were needed to establish its potential.
He said: 'It's the first oral warfarin alternative that's been through a phase 3 clinical trial without showing severe toxicity.
'There are more oral agents in the pipeline and this type of therapy might lead to a rise in the numbers being treated.
'The health economists are going to have to see if the lives saved and the hassle saved are worth the extra costs' he added.
Dr Keith Muir, medical advisor for The Stroke Association said 'Warfarin is a highly effective treatment when indicated for stroke prevention, but it is underused, often because of safety concerns or the need for regular blood tests to monitor its effects.
'The RE-LY trial indicates that dabigatran may offer a useful alternative to warfarin for stroke prevention in some circumstances, but the trial highlights both pros and cons that mean its place isn't yet clear.
'The trial only involved people who could equally well have taken warfarin, and anyone currently taking warfarin should continue it unless advised by their doctor.'
here is the link to the article
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ke-drug-save-lives-cut-reliance-warfarin.html
regards Jeff
