Dear Patient,
Your doctor has initiated treatment with Pradaxa® (dabigatran
etexilate). In order to use Pradaxa® safely, please consider the
important information inside.
As this patient alert card contains important information about
your treatment, please carry this card with you at all times to
inform healthcare professionals about your intake of Pradaxa®.
Pradaxa®: Information for Patients
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April 2014
•	 Keep this card with you at all times
•	 Make sure to use the latest version
•	Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking Pradaxa®.
•	Pradaxa® prevents clots by making your blood less “sticky”.
However, this may increase the risk of bleeding.
•	In case of a bleeding event which does not stop
spontaneously, immediately inform your doctor.
•	If you fall or injure yourself during treatment, especially if you
hit your head, please seek urgent medical attention.You may
need to be checked by a doctor, as you may be at increased
risk of bleeding.
•	As Pradaxa® acts on the blood clotting system, most side
effects are related to signs of bruising or bleeding. Signs and
symptoms of bleeding events might be haematoma of the
skin, tar stools, blood in urine, nose bleed, etc.
•	If surgical or invasive procedures need to be performed,
inform the treating physician about your intake of Pradaxa®.
•	Do not stop the intake of Pradaxa® without talking to your
doctor, as you are at risk of suffering from a stroke or other
complications due to blood clot formation.
•	In the case of bleeding, please contact your doctor before
stopping the intake of Pradaxa®.
•	Take Pradaxa® regularly as instructed and do not miss a dose.
•	Inform your doctor about all medicines you are currently
taking.
PATIENT ALERT CARD
Pradaxa®
Dabigatran etexilate
Pradaxa® Information for Healthcare
Professionals
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•	Pradaxa® can be taken with or without food.The capsule
should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, to ensure
delivery to the stomach. Do not break, chew, or empty the
pellets from the capsule since this may increase the risk of
bleeding.
•	Pradaxa® is an oral anticoagulant acting by direct thrombin
inhibition and is eliminated predominantly via the kidney.
•	In case of surgical or other invasive procedure, Pradaxa®
needs to be stopped in advance (for details, see Summary of
Product Characteristics).
•	In case of major bleeding events, Pradaxa® must be stopped
immediately.
•	Since Pradaxa® is eliminated predominantly by the kidneys,
adequate diuresis must be maintained. Pradaxa® is
dialyzable, but there is limited clinical experience (for details
and more advice to antagonize the anticoagulant effect of
Pradaxa®, see Summary of Product Characteristics).
Patient Information
Please complete this section or ask your doctor to do it.
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(Name of the patient)
(Date of birth)
(Indication for anticoagulation)
(Dosage of Pradaxa®)