Prescription medication · Direct Thrombin Inhibitor
dabigatran
Also sold as Pradaxa. This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 15
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 44% less
- Generic vs brandReal savings
- 1
- Recall record
What the data shows
dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a prescription Direct Thrombin Inhibitor, with a lower-cost generic available (44% less than brand).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a prescription Direct Thrombin Inhibitor. This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming. It is used to lower the risk of stroke and treat or prevent other dangerous clots in your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$3.16/unit
Generic Price
$1.77/unit
Generic Savings
44%
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Common side effects
Upset stomach, Bleeding more easily (such as nosebleeds or heavier periods)
Key warnings
Dabigatran has two important warnings.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from dabigatran's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor. Thrombin is a substance in the blood that helps clots form. By blocking thrombin, dabigatran helps to keep your blood from clotting too easily.
Serious Warnings
Dabigatran has two important warnings. First, stopping this medicine too early can raise your risk of blood clots. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Second, this medicine can cause bleeding around the spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap. This can lead to paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are going to have any spinal procedures.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • P-gp inducers: Avoid coadministration with dabigatran etexilate capsules ( 5.5 ) • P-gp inhibitors in adult patients with CrCl 30 to 50 mL/min: Reduce dosage or avoid ( 7 ) • P-gp inhibitors in adult patients with CrCl <30 mL/min: Not recommended ( 7 ) 7.1 Reduction of Risk of Stroke and Systemic Embolism in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Adult Patients The concomitant use of dabigatran etexilate with P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampin) reduces exposure to dabigatran and should generally be avoided [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] .
Mechanism: Rifampin triggers a protein in the body that pumps dabigatran out of your system faster than normal. This lowers the amount of medicine in your blood, making it less effective at preventing dangerous blood clots.
dabigatran See Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Drug Interaction Studies (12.3) . ↑ dabigatran Increased bleeding risk with dabigatran. Depending on dabigatran indication and renal function, reduce dose of dabigatran or avoid concomitant use.
Mechanism: Ritonavir increases the amount of dabigatran in your system, which makes your blood thinner than it should be. This significantly raises your risk of internal or external bleeding.
Table 3: Drugs that Can Increase the Risk of Bleeding Drug Class Specific Drugs Anticoagulants argatroban, dabigatran, bivalirudin, desirudin, heparin, lepirudin Antiplatelet Agents aspirin, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, prasugrel, ticlopidine Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, mefenamic acid, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, sulindac Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, milnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline,...
Mechanism: Both drugs are powerful blood thinners used to prevent clots. Taking them at the same time greatly increases the risk of dangerous bleeding.
In patients with moderate renal impairment (CrCl 30 to 50 mL/min), reduce the dosage of dabigatran etexilate to 75 mg twice daily when administered concomitantly with the P-gp inhibitors dronedarone or systemic ketoconazole. 7.3 Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in Adult Patients Following Hip Replacement Surgery In patients with CrCl ≥50 mL/min who have concomitant administration of P-gp inhibitors such as dronedarone or systemic ketoconazole, it may be helpful to separate the timing of administration of dabigatran and the P-gp inhibitor by several hours.
Mechanism: Ketoconazole blocks a protein that helps the body get rid of dabigatran, which can cause the drug to build up. This is more likely to happen if your kidneys are not working at full strength.
The use of the P-gp inhibitors verapamil, amiodarone, quinidine, clarithromycin, and ticagrelor does not require a dosage adjustment of dabigatran etexilate.
Mechanism: Verapamil can slightly change how dabigatran is processed by the body, but the effect is not strong enough to be a concern.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I open the dabigatran capsule?
What should I do if I have bleeding while taking dabigatran?
Can I take dabigatran with other medicines?
What if I need surgery while taking dabigatran?
Can dabigatran cause stomach problems?
Is there an antidote for dabigatran if I bleed too much?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can I drink alcohol while taking dabigatran?
How long will I need to take dabigatran?
What are the common side effects of dabigatran?
Does dabigatran interact with other medications?
What drug class is dabigatran?
Is there a generic version of dabigatran?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for dabigatran?
Has dabigatran been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Detection of N-nitroso-dabigatran (NDAB) impurity levels above the Acceptable Daily Intake Limit.
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
Related Medications in Direct Thrombin Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near dabigatran - same-class peers and common alternatives.
apixaban
Eliquis
Apixaban (Eliquis) is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots.
Compare with dabigatran →
aspirin
Bayer, Ecotrin
Aspirin is a common medicine used to relieve minor pain.
Compare with dabigatran →
cilostazol
Pletal
Cilostazol is a medicine that helps improve walking distance in people with leg pain due to poor circulation.
Compare with dabigatran →
clopidogrel
Plavix
Clopidogrel is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots.
Compare with dabigatran →
dalteparin
Fragmin
Dalteparin (Fragmin) is a type of blood thinner medicine.
Compare with dabigatran →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on dabigatran
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for dabigatran
The FDA label for dabigatran (sold under brand names such as Pradaxa) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Direct Thrombin Inhibitor class. This medicine can help prevent strokes in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Upset stomach, Bleeding more easily (such as nosebleeds or heavier periods).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 15 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.77 versus $3.16 for the brand - a 44% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 20, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages