Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Has Problem In Readily Swallowing Food. On Pradaxa. Opening The Capsule And Giving The Granules With Food. Have Stroke. Cause?
Posted on
Tue, 11 Jun 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 11 Jun 2013
Answered on
Wed, 3 Jul 2013
Last reviewed on
Question : My husband is in hospital and has a problem with aspiration of foods and cannot readily swallow food, He has been on Pradaxa for over a year now. The hospital is opening the capsule and giving the granules with food. He now appears to have had a stroke. Could this be as a result of opening the capsules?
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
Pradaxa is an anti coagulant (blood thinner).
Actually the capsule should not be opened as the drug absorption increases significantly.
The hospital is administering open capsule probably due to his problem in swallowing.
Although risk of stroke is low with this, but there can be a chance of hemorrhagic stroke.
In simple words, due to opening of capsule, the blood becomes excessively thin and this can cause bleed in brain causing stroke.
Let me know if you have any doubt.
Wishing your husband a good health.
Thank you
Thanks for the query.
Pradaxa is an anti coagulant (blood thinner).
Actually the capsule should not be opened as the drug absorption increases significantly.
The hospital is administering open capsule probably due to his problem in swallowing.
Although risk of stroke is low with this, but there can be a chance of hemorrhagic stroke.
In simple words, due to opening of capsule, the blood becomes excessively thin and this can cause bleed in brain causing stroke.
Let me know if you have any doubt.
Wishing your husband a good health.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Unfortunately he had 3 seizures last night. He is unresponsive but breathing on his own. He had previous strokes in 2004 and 2005 but none that we are aware of since. They have given him Dilantin and a sedative and he is the same as above, but no further seizures. Does this sound like it could be related to this type of administration of Pradax?
Hello thanks for the follow up.
He is suffering from seizures.
Dont worry its not stroke.
It is not related to pradaxa.
Dilantin is good, he will recover with it, but medicine has to be continued for long.
Seizures are not that XXXXXXX as compared to stroke, so you can be relaxed, he will be fine.
Thank you
He is suffering from seizures.
Dont worry its not stroke.
It is not related to pradaxa.
Dilantin is good, he will recover with it, but medicine has to be continued for long.
Seizures are not that XXXXXXX as compared to stroke, so you can be relaxed, he will be fine.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
