concerned...... blood tests like coumadin, my mom is 88 yrs old and she has trouble with the weekly blood tests and she cannot take pradaxa due to a chronic wound.
Will Pravachol help guard against mini strokes as well as Coumadin, does itneed weekly blood tests?
- Posted:
- 15 May 2012 by concerned in cranston
- Topics:
- coumadin, pravachol, ischemic stroke, blood disorders, chronic, pradaxa, transient ischemic attack
Details:
Answers (3)
15 May 2012
I am not sure I understand your question. This is the PRADAXA support group. Pravachol (Pravastatin) is a statin class drug used for controlling cholesterol. She should see her doctor if she requires blood thinning medication support. If she cannot use Pradaxa then she should probably stick with the Coumadin.
kaismama15 May 2012
Pravachol lowers cholesterol, it has no blood thinning qualities. Are they doing the coumadin test with the new little meter like doing a blood sugar? Those aren't bad at all. I can where at her age, finding a vein for a stick might be torture for her.
DzooBaby15 May 2012
Pravachol DOES help to prevent strokes but not in the same manner that a drug like coumadin or Pradaxa will. Pravachol helps to slow the progression of the hardening of the arteries. It will do nothing to prevent clots from forming, however. Pravachol doesnt require the same blood testing because it doesnt "thin" the blood or affect blood clotting factors the way coumadin does. If she cant take Pradaxa and has difficulty with getting her blood tested this may be a viable option but wont provide quite the same protection. If the problem with testing is getting out to the lab or actually finding a viable vein then looking into a finger stick home testing device might be a better option if her insurance will pay for it. In some cases they will but you will need her dr willing to provide the documentation for it. This way she could stay on coumadin, test at home and just phone her results to the Dr so he can adjust her coumadin dose if needed.
concerned in cranston
16 May 2012
It's probably little known that pradaxa has no antidote and her wound bleeds almost constantly so if she has a large bleeding episode all they can do is give her transfusions and hope for the best. coumadin does have an antidote so they can reverse the effect fairly quickly. Thank you so much for your reply, these comments are very helpful.
DzooBaby
16 May 2012
Yes, that is true. There is not a reversal agent for Pradaxa like there is for coumadin. There are other ways to deal with it (not widely tested though) but if she is actively bleeding neither drug is a good option really(coumadin shouldnt be used in the presence of an actual bleed either), so she may have to just have to rely on the Pravachol. It may not offer the same degree of protection but it is better than nothing and everything has to be taken into account. All risks and benefits have to be weighed. What kind of wound does she have and what are they treating it with?
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Actually, his question when posted went to the general list of questions.
Actually, it came directly to the Pradaxa support group as well.
Oh well, you don't have to be rude to a new member.
I wasn't rude. I was pointing out that s/he had probably posted in the wrong group and gave information about each drug. Your perception of my answer is a little presumptuous.