Noacs chosen over warfarin

"New scientific studies show that NOACs may be safer for patients because there is less risk of bleeding, and they may also be more effective at preventing blood clots than warfarin," said Craig T. January, MD, PhD, FACC, co-chair of the focused update.

Further, the decision to use an anticoagulant should not be influenced by whether the AFib is paroxysmal, persistent or permanent."




[www.acc.org]

Renal and hepatic function should also be tested before initiation of an NOAC and at least annually thereafter.

How many on here have had the above tests? I bet not many.

Time will tell how much safer these new drugs are, most drugs have a side effect.

Liz

I've had them annually for years as part of a routine physical. They were also repeated prior to every ablation. Renal and hepatic function are part of a comprehensive metabolic panel, which any routine physical should include. Anyone who hasn't had a metabolic panel in at least the last two years needs to schedule a physical whether they take NOACs or not.