Question

A patient will begin taking dabigatran etexilate [Pradaxa] to prevent stroke. The nurse will include which statement when teaching this patient?

a. Dabigatran should be taken on an empty stomach to improve absorption.
b. It is important not to crush, chew, or open capsules of dabigatran.
c. The risk of bleeding with dabigatran is less than that with warfarin [Coumadin].
d. To remember to take dabigatran twice daily, a pill organizer can be useful.

Answer 1

The key instruction for taking dabigatran is not to crush, chew, or open the capsules, as this can increase the risk of bleeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer for your question is: b. It is important not to crush, chew, or open capsules of dabigatran. Dabigatran etexilate, known by the brand name Pradaxa, is a medication used to prevent strokes, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation that is not caused by heart valve issues. When instructing patients about dabigatran consumption, it is critical to emphasize that the capsules must be swallowed whole. Crushing, chewing, or opening them may lead to increased drug exposure and a heightened risk of bleeding.

While dabigatran offers certain advantages over warfarin, such as not requiring routine blood monitoring, it is not accurate to say the risk of bleeding is less with dabigatran compared to warfarin (option c). Taking dabigatran with or without food does not significantly impact absorption, so option a is not a critical teaching point. Utilizing a pill organizer can indeed help patients to remember their doses (option d), but this advice is not specific to dabigatran and is a general recommendation for any medication that is to be taken regularly.