Reduced dose and reduced exposure to non-vitamin K-antagonist oral anticoagulants: Some considerations on this relationship

For the prevention of stroke and/or systemic embolism (SSE) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), the four available non-vitamin K-antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are each marketed in a higher and a lower dose: 150 and 110mg for dabigatran, 20 and 15mg for rivaroxaban, 5 and 2.5mg for apixaban and 60 and 30mg for edoxaban. The lower dose is commonly used with the aim to reduce the patient's exposure to the drug (and its anticoagulant effect), thereby reducing the risk of bleeding. This however, may not always be true, depending on the NOAC used and the characteristics of the patients to whom the NOAC is given.
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research