Patient was educated on contraindications for using Dabigatran as follows: Dabigatran should be avoided in individuals with valvular heart disease and with prosthetic heart valves. Use of Dabigatran in such individuals carries a significant risk for clot formation and consequent embolism. Dabigatran should be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with history of brain and spinal surgeries, as Dabigatran can result in spinal cord blood clot formation, resulting in excruciating pain in the [...]

Patient was educated on contraindications for using Dabigatran as follows: Dabigatran is not metabolized in the liver and is mainly excreted in the urine. Individuals with history of compromised renal function tend to retain the drug in the circulation longer, thus resulting in toxicity and episodes of bleeding. Dabigatran should be avoided or used with extreme caution in such individuals. Dabigatran should be avoided in individuals taking NSAIDs and other blood thinners. Taking Dabigatran along [...]

Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Dabigatran as follows: Do not consume alcohol, while you are taking Dabigatran, as alcohol can increase the effects of blood thinner and consequently, make the blood extra thin, thus resulting episodes of hemorrhage and bleeding. Keep up with use of laxatives and other measures to prevent constipation. Avoid straining at stool, as this could result in profuse bleeding per rectum. Do not discontinue taking this [...]

Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Dabigatran as follows: Patients taking Dabigatran can occasionally present with episodes of internal bleeding, resulting in coughing up of blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, red colored urine, bleeding per rectum, and increased formation of ecchymosis and bleeding into the skin. Watch out closely for any such signs of bleeding and report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be [...]

Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Dabigatran as follows: Dabigatran should be avoided in individuals taking NSAIDs and other blood thinners. Taking Dabigatran along with NSAIDs or other blood thinners concurrently can significantly increase the risk for bleeding episode. Also, maintaining a schedule for anticoagulant intake will help maintain the blood uniformly thin. This prevents the risks of extra thinning with consequent bleeding and thickening of blood with consequent clot formation. [...]