Dabigatran is an oral anticoagulant medicine used for the prevention of clots and emboli after major orthopaedic surgery (hip or knee replacement) and to prevent stroke and other systemic emboli in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), a commonly occurring abnormal heart rhythm. As with any anticoagulants, including warfarin, there is a risk of bleeding when using this medicine.
The TGA has completed two safety reviews of dabigatran - one completed in August 2012 and the other in April 2013. These reviews included consideration of advice from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicines (ACSOM). Both reviews reinforced the importance of appropriate patient selection for the safe use of dabigatran. In particular, when making a decision to prescribe dabigatran, a careful assessment of the risk factors for bleeding needs to be undertaken.