Apixaban : New Stroke Drug Available on NHS

Those suffering from atrial fibrillation, can now breathe a sigh of relief as a new drug to manage its consequences is now available on NHS.

At least a million Brits, mostly seniors, suffer from a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AF), in which the chambers of the heart do not beat synchronously, causing the blood to collect inside and clot. The clot can then travel outside and get lodged in the brain blood vessels or neck resulting in a devastating stroke.

How to Deal with a Stroke - Signs - Symptoms - Risk Factors - Prevention
Stroke is a brain attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It affects all age groups; according to the WHO, 15 million people are affected by stroke annually.

A person having AF has a five- fold increased chance of stroke which can be more debilitating than a stroke caused by other reasons.

Currently the drug warfarin, a blood thinner which was originally designed to function as rat poison, prescribed since 1950’s, is used to manage the condition.

Warfarin has the ability to reduce two thirds of the risk for stroke but the patients have to undergo regular tests to monitor the dose of the drug, as a higher dose of warfarin can increase the risk of bleeding.

Caffeine may Trigger Atrial Fibrillation
Caffeine is among the most common foods that trigger atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterized by irregular heartbeat.

Also, taking other medicines, consuming alcohol or eating broccoli can affect the way warfarin functions. All these features and drawbacks have made doctors reluctant to prescribe warfarin for those at risk for a stroke.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has recently recommended that doctors in England and Wales prescribe a new drug called “apixaban”, which is being marketed under the brand name Eliquis. Apixaban inhibits factor Xa, a component of the blood clotting mechanism. It thus acts as an anticoagulant.

New Atrial Fibrillation Risk Prediction Model Devised
Researchers have devised a new and simple method for determining atrial fibrillation in women.

The decision has been taken 18 months after a large study conducted on the drug which found that the pill (to be taken twice-daily) is even better than warfarin at preventing stroke and even reducing bleed episodes.

Apixaban has been projected as the new generation drug for stroke prevention. Another two drugs rivaroxaban and dabigatran, are projected to be equally effective. All the three drugs cost a little over £2 a day in comparison to warfarin which costs about £1 a day.

Digoxin Ups Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation Patients
Digoxin is associated with a significant increase in deaths in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), finds study published in European Heart Journal.

It is heartening to note that doctors will now have an extra arsenal in their armory for treating patients with AF and minimizing their risk for stroke.

Source-Medindia