A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: Blood thinners (anticoagulants)

  • Pregnancy, Breastfeeding – Safety of Various Anticoagulants

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… LMWH (low molecular weight heparin) is the preferred anticoagulant in the pregnant patient. LMWH and warfarin are safe in the woman who is beast-feeding. Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa) and apixaban (Eliquis) should not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. A detailed summary about the safety of the various anticoagulants during pregnancy…

  • FDA to Review Eliquis (Apixaban) for DVT and PE Treatment

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… On Dec 19th the FDA accepted the application by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Pfizer for review of Eliquis (apixaban) for the treatment of DVT and PE. The press release of BMS is here.  The goal date for a decision by the FDA is August 25, 2014.

  • Handout for Your Patients in Clinic – Which Anticoagulant to Use for DVT and PE

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  Patients who are on warfarin for a history of DVT or PE  may inquire whether a switch to one of the  new oral anticoagulants is appropriate.  Similarly, many physicians initiate this discussion with their patients. This is, obviously, a detailed discussion and an individualized decision with a number of factors to be considered.…

  • Reversing Warfarin for Urgent Surgeries – Extended FDA Approval of Kcentra

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… The FDA approved today (Dec 13th, 2013) the use of the drug Kcentra® for urgent warfarin reversal in patients who need an urgent surgical procedure.  This extends the indications for use of this drug – it had been approved by the FDA in April 2013 to treat major bleeding on warfarin…

  • LMWH and Epidural Catheters – FDA Recommendations

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… The FDA published today a drug safety recommendation to decrease bleeding and paralysis risk for patients receiving epidural catheters and being treated with LMWH  (detailed FDA report is here).  While in many parts of the document the FDA talks specifically about enoxaparin, the communication states that “these new timing recommendations….. will be added to the…

  • Major Bleeding on Dabigatran (Pradaxa) – Interesting Publication

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… Interesting publication this week in Circulation: “Management and outcomes of major bleeding during treatment with dabigatran or warfarin” (Majeed A et al; published online Sept 30,2013;  full publication is here).  The management and prognosis of major bleeding in patients treated with dabigatran or warfarin was compared, pooling data of the major bleeds that occurred in 5 phase III…

  • NEJM Publication: Edoxaban for VTE Treatment

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  Today, Sept 1st, 2013, the New England Journal of Medicine published the phase 3 clinical trial of edoxaban versus warfarin in the treatment of DVT and PE [ref 1]. It showed that edoxaban was as effective as warfarin and led to less clinically relevant bleeding.

  • New Oral Anticoagulants for DVT and PE: Update on FDA Applications

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…   1.  Pradaxa (Dabigatran) Today, August 28th, 2013, it was announced that the FDA is reviewing the application by Boehringer-Ingelheim to get Pradaxa (dabigatran) approved for use in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) – details here. At present, in the US, Pradaxa is only FDA-approved for…