Key takeaways
Pradaxa (dabigatran) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) are both blood thinners used to prevent and treat blood clots, but they work in different ways. Pradaxa is a direct thrombin inhibitor, while Xarelto is a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that blocks factor Xa. Pradaxa is taken twice daily, whereas Xarelto can be taken once or twice daily depending on the condition being treated. Neither medication are available as a generic, potentially making them more expensive. Pradaxa has an antidote available in cases of severe bleeding, but Xarelto doesn’t, making it more difficult to treat in these situations. Both medications have similar risks, such as increased bleeding and they don’t require regular blood tests, frequent dose changes, or diet changes. However, Xarelto can be used in very young children and has a broader range of indications, including use in combination with aspirin for certain heart conditions.
