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Dabigatran vs. Aspirin

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to help prevent and treat blood clots in adults and children. It's approved for certain conditions, including atrial fibrillation (AFib), where it lowers the risk of stroke. The medication comes as oral capsules and oral pellets that you take by mouth once or twice a day, depending on your condition. Common side effects include stomach upset and bleeding. If serious bleeding occurs, another medication called Praxbind (idarucizumab) can quickly reverse its blood-thinning effects.

Adults:

• Lower the risk of stroke and blood clots in certain people with atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Treat blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) - after 5 to 10 days of treatment with an injectable blood thinner
• Lower the risk of DVT and PE from happening again in those who finished treatment
• Prevent DVT or PE after hip replacement surgery

Children (3 months and older):

• Treat blood clots - after 5 days of treatment with an injectable blood thinner
• Lower the risk of blood clots from happening again in those who finished treatment

• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Bleeding

• Higher risk of blood clots from stopping too early
• Bleeding around the spine (after certain spinal procedures)
• Risk of bleeding
• Not for people with mechanical heart valves
• Interactions with other medications
• Not for people with antiphospholipid syndrome

Aspirin is an over-the-counter NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that helps lessens inflammation. It's used to help lower fevers and relieve pain from minor injuries in people 12 years of age and older. A lower dose of aspirin is also commonly used for heart protection in certain adults who are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This medication most often comes as pills that are taken by mouth. Aspirin side effects include heartburn and stomach upset.

• Pain relief from minor aches and pains, such as from headaches, muscle pain, toothache, menstrual cramps, and arthritis
• Fever
• Heart protection (lower the risk for heart attack or stroke) in certain adults - low-dose aspirin (81 mg per day) only

• Stomach irritation (e.g., heartburn, stomach upset)

• Stomach irritation, stomach bleeding, and stomach ulcers
• Kidney problems
• Reye's syndrome in children
• Harm to an unborn baby
• Severe allergic reactions and skin reactions
• Different aspirin strengths available