Final answer:
To safely switch from warfarin to Pradaxa, it's advised to start Pradaxa when the INR is below 2.0. Pharmacogenomics can assist with personalized dosing to prevent warfarin overdose, and women of childbearing age on warfarin should consider safer alternatives if planning pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert a patient from warfarin to Pradaxa (dabigatran), the pharmacist should recommend discontinuing warfarin and beginning dabigatran once the patient's INR (International Normalized Ratio) is below 2.0. This ensures a safe transition between anticoagulants by minimizing the risk of clotting or bleeding. Pharmacogenomics can assist these patients by analyzing genomic data to predict warfarin sensitivity or resistance, which affects dosing and overdose risk.
This personalized approach to medication management can lead to more precise dosing and reduced adverse events. Women of childbearing age on warfarin should switch to alternative anticoagulants like low molecular weight heparins if they plan to become pregnant due to warfarin's teratogenic effects.