Pradaxa should be taken as directed by your doctor and comes in the form of a Capsule to be taken by mouth, with or without food, usually twice a day. For children, the first dose should be taken in the morning and the second dose in the evening with a gap of about 12 hours. Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break open the capsules. Doing so can release all the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. If you experience any stomach upset while taking this medication, take it with food as advised by your doctor.
If you have had hip or knee replacement surgery, take Pradaxa once a day as directed by your doctor to prevent clots. However, avoid taking antacids within 24 hours after surgery as this may affect the effectiveness of dabigatran. Do not put this medication in a pill box or medication reminder box. It must be kept tightly closed in the original bottle (or blister package) to protect it from moisture.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, kidney function, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking.
- Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: The dose is usually 75 mg or 150 mg by mouth twice daily, depending on how healthy your kidneys are.
- Blood clot prevention after surgery: The dose is usually 110 mg by mouth once daily a few hours after the surgery is finished, then it is raised to 220 mg by mouth once daily.
- Blood clot treatment, pulmonary embolism treatment, and blood clot prevention for those with a history of blood clots: The dose is usually 150 mg by mouth twice daily after finishing the injectable blood thinners given in the hospital.
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