PHARMACIST ’ S LETTER / PRESCRIBER ’ S LETTE R Stepwise Treatment of Hypertension

Abstract

The recent proliferation of oral anticoagulants has health care professionals questioning how to choose among them. The newest anticoagulants are dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis). Also look for the direct factor Xa inhibitors edoxaban and betrixaban in the next few years. The following chart compares the indications, clinical benefit, antidotes, washout, and other therapeutic considerations for these agents. For additional information on anticoagulation for A fib, see our PL Chart, 2014 AHA/ACC A Fib Guidelines: Focus on Pharmacotherapy. Abbreviations: A fib = atrial fibrillation; AV = arteriovenous; BID = twice daily; CABG = coronary artery bypass graft; CAD = coronary artery disease; CrCl = creatinine clearance; DVT = deep vein thrombosis; INR = international normalized ratio; LMWH = low molecular weight heparin; MI = myocardial infarction; NNT = number needed to treat; PCI = percutaneous coronary intervention; PE = pulmonary embolism; PTCA = percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; TIA = transient ischemic attack; VTE = venous thromboembolism. Apixaban (Eliquis) (direct factor Xa inhibitor)