DOACs now recommended over warfarin to prevent blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation

For decades, warfarin (Coumadin) was the standard anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots, which can lead to stroke, in people with atrial fibrillation (afib). Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), sometimes called novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), are a new type of anticoagulant medication that came on the market in 2010. In 2019, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society (AHA/ACC/HRS) updated their afib guidelines to strongly recommend using DOACs over warfarin in people with afib. Warfarin is effective, but has downsides Afib is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) quiver, and blood doesn’t flow well. This may lead to the formation of blood clots, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Anticoagulants, which are also referred to as blood thinners even though they don’t actually thin the blood, make it harder for blood to clot and help keep existing clots from growing. Warfarin was introduced into clinical practice for the prevention of clots associated with afib in the 1950s, and has proven to be a very effective therapy. Unfortunately, it requires close monitoring with blood tests to make certain that the blood does not clot too quickly or too slowly. The ability to keep the blood thinned in the correct range can be very difficult because warfarin interacts with many foods and medications. In addition, up to 25% of the population is born with a genetic characteristic that ma...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Drugs and Supplements Heart Health Source Type: blogs