FINDINGS
Nearly 98% percent of people prescribed direct-acting oral anticoagulants such as apixaban used over-the-counter products. Of those, 33% took at least one such product that, in combination with the anticoagulants, could cause dangerous internal bleeding. People on these medications largely lacked knowledge of some potentially serious interactions.
BACKGROUND
Direct-acting oral anticoagulants are the drug of choice for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, which occurs most frequently in older patients. Apixaban is one of the most frequently prescribed. However, most people prescribed apixaban or other direct-acting oral anticoagulants are not followed in specialized anticoagulation clinics or monthly by health care professionals. As a result, these people may not be aware of potential drug interactions.
METHOD
The researchers surveyed 791 English- and Spanish-speaking patients from April to October 2018 who had been prescribed apixaban about their knowledge of potential interactions between the drug and over-the-counter supplements. They were asked about how often they took aspirin, ibuprofen/naproxen, and acetaminophen, and 13 common dietary supplements, including Chinese herbs, various fish oils, ginger and herbal teas, while also taking apixaban.
Limitations to the study included a low response rate (33%), self-reported data, which can be unreliable due to faulty memories, and the researchers focused on a limited number of dietary supplements.
IMPACT
Because such a large number of people lack knowledge of these interactions, there is a need to educate patients and healthcare providers about the dangers that these combinations may pose. In addition, data are needed on outcomes in people combining apixaban and over-the-counter products.
###
AUTHORS
Dr. Derjung Tarn of UCLA; Maureen Barrientos, Dr. Margaret Fang, and Dr. Janice Schwartz of UCSF; and Angel Wang and Abhijit Ramaprasad of the University of Chicago.
JOURNAL
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
FUNDING
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through the UCLA and UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institutes; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; BMS/Pfizer Alliance ARISTA-USA: American ThRombosis InveStigator IniTiated Research ProgrAm-USA; and the University of Chicago Jeff Metcalf Internship Program.
DISCLOSURE
Tarn and Schwartz were funded by the BMS/Pfizer Alliance ARISTA-USA to conduct this study. In addition, Schwartz is on advisory boards for Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer.
Media Contact
Enrique Rivero
310-267-7120
erivero@mednet.ucla.edu
Journal
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society