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Dabigatran vs. Enoxaparin

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

Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a blood thinner that's used to treat and prevent blood clots and other clotting-related conditions. It's given as an injection under the skin in the stomach. The dosing for enoxaparin (Lovenox) depends mostly on your weight, but also on why you need the medication. Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a preferred choice for pregnant women, but it might not be the best option if they have prosthetic (artificial) heart valves. Side effects aren't common, but can include bleeding or bruising at the injection site. Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is available as a brand and generic medication.

• Prevention of blood clots in the arms or legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE) in:
  • People having stomach, hip, or knee surgery
  • People who aren't able to move well
  • People with a certain type of chest pain called unstable angina
• Treatment of blood clots
• Heart attack

• Abnormal liver tests (6%)
• Major bleeding (up to 4%)

• Risk of bleeding around the spinal cord during other injections near the spine
• Risk of bleeding
• Low platelet counts and clotting problems
• Higher risk of clots in pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves
• Risk of serious breathing problem in infants (gasping syndrome)