Work faster: DOACs start working faster than warfarin does. You generally don’t need frequent blood tests with DOACs. Less monitoring and fewer checkups: People taking DOACs don’t require as much monitoring as those taking warfarin. There’s a reason DOACs are recommended over warfarin for most people with AFib. What are the benefits of DOACs for AFib treatment? The results also showed that DOACs had a lower risk of bleeding than warfarin, especially bleeding in the brain. These studies showed that DOACs were equivalent to or better than warfarin at preventing stroke in people with AFib. RCTs also compare an experimental group (in this case, the DOACs) to a control group (in this case, warfarin). RCTs are the best type of study to measure cause and effect because they help prevent researchers from accidentally influencing the study. These comparisons were made using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Warfarin has been compared to each of the four FDA-approved DOACs for stroke prevention in AFib. The most recent guidelines from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend DOACs as the best blood thinners for AFib in most people. DOACs: What’s the best blood thinner for AFib? Current DOACs include:ĭirect thrombin inhibitor: Pradaxa (dabigatran)įactor Xa inhibitors: Eliquis (apixaban), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), and Savaysa (edoxaban)
Factor Xa inhibitors prevent blood clots by blocking factor Xa - a protein that turns into thrombin. Direct thrombin inhibitors block the actions of thrombin, a protein the body uses to form blood clots. There are two main categories of DOACs: direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors. DOACs focus on removing certain dominoes in the middle. Warfarin focuses on stopping the rally at the very beginning. Like warfarin, DOACs prevent blood clots from forming in the body. These medications - called DOACs - work differently than warfarin and have many advantages. Decades later, a new group of medications was discovered. Warfarin used to be the preferred blood thinner in AFib. The body uses the activated form of Vitamin K to make blood clots. Known as a “vitamin K antagonist,” warfarin works by blocking vitamin K from becoming activated. Warfarin was first FDA approved in the 1950s. Or the bleeding can be more severe, such as in the brain.ġ of 6 History of warfarin as the blood thinner of choice for AFib Some bleeding can be minor, such as your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth. But they also raise your risk of bleeding. They can then travel from the heart up to the brain.īlood thinners lower the risk of blood clots forming in the body. This is more likely to happen with AFib because an irregular heartbeat can cause blood clots to form in the heart. One of the things that can block blood flow is a blood clot.
An ischemic stroke occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain. If you have AFib, your healthcare provider may recommend taking a blood thinner to prevent a type of stroke called an ischemic stroke. Why are blood thinners used to treat AFib? Here, we’ll cover the different blood thinners used to treat AFib and the benefits of each.
But a newer group of medications called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be a better option for many people. For many years, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) was the only oral blood thinner recommended for people with this condition. So one of the main goals of AFib treatment is to prevent stroke.īlood thinners, also known as anticoagulants, are often prescribed for people with AFib to help prevent blood clots and stroke. For example, someone with AFib may be up to five times more likely to have a stroke. AFib can increase someone’s risk for other conditions. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most commonly treated type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).
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