Until the last decade, the only option available for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation to help control blood clots was Coumadin (also known as warfarin). While effective in preventing intracranial bleeding, patients on Coumadin have to endure regular blood tests and risk major bleeding complications. Now there are new drugs known as non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

The two anticoagulants at the forefront of the blood thinner market are Pradaxa (dabigatran), made by Boehringer Ingelheim, and Xarelto (rivaroxaban), manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals division. Both of these blood thinners are considered by some doctors to be safer and more effective than Coumadin. But they still come with increased risk of severe bleeding that have resulted in patients filing both Xarelto lawsuits and Pradaxa lawsuits by the thousands. Additionally, they are more expensive and may impact the renal system with prolonged use.

Because of these issues, we decided to do a head-to-head comparison between the two biggest rivals in this class of new blood thinners. Patients trying to choose the right blood thinner should consider the following things when weighing their options.