The drug dabigatran is now recommended by some doctors over warfarin in treatment of atrial fibrillation. New guidelines also suggest surgery.

According to new guidelines released in the ‘Canadian Journal of Cardiology’ on Feb. 18 2011, warfarin is out and a drug called dabigatran is in when it comes to treating the symptoms of atrial fibrillation. AF is the most common type of irregular heartbeat and 3 million people worldwide are estimated to have an atrial fibrillation-related stroke each year.

Dabigatran More Effective than Warfarin, Guidelines Say

The new guidelines cite a study released in November of 2010 that finds dabigatran (brand name Pradex) is just as effective, and possibly more effective, than is warfarin (brand name coumadin), the current most used drug treatment of atrial fibrillation symptoms. Dabigatran has also been determined to be easier for patients to use. The efficacy of warfarin needs to be regularly monitored, not so, the guidelines say, with dabigatran.

A drawback of dabigatran is that while it has been approved for use in Canada as well as other countries it’s an expensive medication.

Read more: http://www.suite101.com/content/new-drug-recommended-in-treatment-of-irregular-heartbeat-af-a349618