Atrial fibrillation (also called A Fib) is a common heart rhythm disorder. People with atrial fibrillation often take anticoagulants (often referred to as blood thinners) to prevent blood clots that can lead to an ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks the blood supply to the brain.
Warfarin, an older blood thinner, has been used for many years to help prevent an ischemic stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. However, warfarin has several disadvantages. If you take warfarin, you need frequent blood tests to make sure it is working correctly. You also have to monitor your diet carefully to avoid large changes in the amount of foods you eat that have vitamin K in them. In addition, many other drugs you take can interact with warfarin.
A novel anticoagulant offers another way to prevent dangerous blood clots caused by atrial fibrillation. The frequent blood tests and dietary monitoring that are needed with warfarin are not needed with a novel anticoagulant. If your doctor has suggested a novel anticoagulant as an option for you, he or she is talking about one of several drugs that may work as well as warfarin for preventing blood clots.
Atrial fibrillation (also called A Fib) is a common heart rhythm
disorder. People with atrial fibrillation often take anticoagulants
(often referred to as blood thinners) to prevent blood clots that
can lead to an ischemic stroke. An...
More
Dr. Douglas Severance answered:Atrial fibrillation (also called A Fib) is a common heart rhythm disorder. People with atrial fibrillation often take anticoagulants (often referred to as blood thinners) to prevent blood clots that can lead to an ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks the blood supply to the brain.