"You Might Be Getting The Wrong Dose Of Your Heart Drug, New Studies Show" - Hallie Levine
Millions of Americans take blood-thinners for atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an irregular and rapid heart rate which can increase the risk of stroke. The newer drugs have all been shown to be as effective as older blood-thinning medication, with fewer side effects. A new study that looked at almost 15,000 patients on these new drugs, found that 16 percent of them received the wrong dose – potentially undermining the medications’ effectiveness and increasing the possibility of life-threatening complications. “The overdosed group didn’t reduce their risk of stroke any further, while the underdosed group didn’t have any reduction in bleeding risks,” said Jonathan Halperin, MD, professor of cardiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
- Jonathan Halperin, MD, Professor, Medicine, Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai