Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Also, do not stop using this medicine without checking first with your doctor.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor if you have any questions.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Swallow the capsule whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, break, chew, or open it.

If you are taking another medicine to thin the blood, (eg, heparin, warfarin, Coumadin®), your doctor will give you very specific instructions about how to switch to dabigatran. Carefully follow the instructions and ask your doctor if you have any questions.

To use the oral pellets:

  • If you take this medicine directly in your mouth, drink apple juice after swallowing the pellets.
  • You may mix the oral pellets with 1 to 2 ounces of apple juice or with 2 teaspoons of soft foods at room temperature (including apple sauce, mashed banana, or mashed carrots). Take the mixture within 30 minutes.
  • Throw away the mixture if you have not taken it within 30 minutes of mixing.
  • Do not mix this medicine together with milk or foods containing milk. Do not give this medicine through syringes or feeding tubes.
  • Take this medicine before meals to make sure you get the full dose.

If you are taking this medicine 2 times a day, take one dose in the morning and one dose in the evening, at least 12 hours apart. Take it at the same time everyday.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • For prevention of stroke and blood clots in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation:
      • Adults—75 to 150 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For prevention of blood clots after hip replacement surgery:
      • Adults—110 milligrams (mg) taken 1 to 4 hours after hip surgery. Then, 220 mg taken once a day for 28 to 35 days.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For treatment and prevention of blood clots from occurring again:
      • Adults—150 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day.
      • Children 8 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
        • Weighing more than 81 kilograms (kg)—260 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day (one 150 mg capsule plus one 110 mg capsule 2 times a day or one 110 mg capsule plus two 75 mg capsules two times a day).
        • Weighing 61 to less than 81 kg—220 mg 2 times a day (two 110 mg capsules 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 41 to less than 61 kg—185 mg 2 times a day (one 110 mg capsule plus one 75 mg capsule 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 26 to less than 41 kg—150 mg 2 times a day (one 150 mg capsule or two 75 mg capsules 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 16 to less than 26 kg—110 mg 2 times a day (one 110 mg capsule 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 11 to less than 16 kg—75 mg 2 times a day (one 75 mg capsule 2 times a day).
      • Children younger than 8 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (pellets):
    • For treatment and prevention of blood clots from occurring again:
      • Children 2 to 12 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
        • Weighing more than 41 kilograms (kg)—260 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day (one 110 mg packet plus one 150 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 21 to less than 41 kg—220 mg 2 times a day (two 110 mg packets 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 16 to less than 21 kg—170 mg 2 times a day (one 20 mg packet plus one 150 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 13 to less than 16 kg—140 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 110 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 11 to less than 13 kg—110 mg 2 times a day (one 110 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 9 to less than 11 kg—90 mg 2 times a day (one 40 mg packet plus one 50 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 7 to less than 9 kg—70 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 40 mg packet 2 times a day).
      • Children younger than 2 years of age—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
        • Children 18 to less than 24 months of age weighing 21 to less than 26 kilograms (kg)—180 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 150 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Children 12 to less than 24 months of age weighing 16 to less than 21 kg—140 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 110 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 13 to less than 16 kg—
          • Children 11 to less than 24 months of age—140 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 110 mg packet 2 times a day).
          • Children 10 to less than 11 months of age—100 mg 2 times a day (two 50 mg packets 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 11 to less than 13 kg—
          • Children 18 to less than 24 months of age—110 mg 2 times a day (one 110 mg packet 2 times a day).
          • Children 8 to less than 18 months of age—100 mg 2 times a day (two 50 mg packets 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 9 to less than 11 kg—
          • Children 11 to less than 24 months of age—90 mg 2 times a day (one 40 mg packet plus one 50 mg packet 2 times a day).
          • Children 6 to less than 11 months of age—80 mg 2 times a day (two 40 mg packets 2 times a day).
          • Children 5 to less than 6 months of age—60 mg 2 times a day (two 30 mg packets 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 7 to less than 9 kg—
          • Children 9 to less than 24 months of age—70 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet plus one 40 mg packet 2 times a day).
          • Children 4 to less than 9 months of age—60 mg 2 times a day (two 30 mg packets 2 times a day).
          • Children 3 to less than 4 months of age—50 mg 2 times a day (one 50 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Weighing 5 to less than 7 kg—
          • Children 5 to less than 24 months of age—50 mg 2 times a day (one 50 mg packet 2 times a day).
          • Children 3 to less than 5 months of age—40 mg 2 times a day (one 40 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Children 3 to less than 10 months of age weighing 4 to less than 5 kg—40 mg 2 times a day (one 40 mg packet 2 times a day).
        • Children 3 to less than 6 months of age weighing 3 to less than 4 kg—30 mg 2 times a day (one 30 mg packet 2 times a day).

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have less than 6 hours before your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

If you have only taken a part of your dose of the oral pellets, do not take another dose right away. Take your next dose at your regular dosing schedule, at least 12 hours after.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep your medicine in the original package (blister package or bottle for the capsules or aluminum bag for the packets of oral pellets) until you are ready to use it. Do not store the capsules in any other container (eg, pill boxes or pill organizers). After you open a bottle for the first time, you must take all of the capsules within 4 months. If you have not used the capsules within 4 months, you must dispose of the remaining capsules and start a new bottle.

Use each packet of oral pellets within 6 months of opening the aluminum bag. Throw away any unused medicine. Do not store and reuse any leftover mixture.

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