Funding an alternative to anti-blood-clotting treatment warfarin will make a huge difference to patients, who will no longer need constant monitoring, Dunedin Hospital cardiologist Associate Prof Michael Williams says.
The new drug, dabigatran, was just as effective as warfarin in preventing strokes but was safer, with less risk of bleeds in the brain or bowel. Unlike warfarin, it did not need constant testing to monitor effects.
It was likely Pharmac weighed up the cost of testing patients every two to four weeks in its decision, Prof Williams said.
Approved for those with an irregular heart rhythm, who accounted for over half of the country's warfarin users, warfarin would still be used for those with heart valves. Dabigatran had not been shown as safe for those patients yet, but that could change - studies in people with heart valves were needed.
The only down side for patients would be moving from one tablet a day to two.
The new drug was available from July, after which patients would be gradually transferred, voluntarily.
Prof Williams expected many patients would be delighted with the change, as many never felt particularly well on warfarin.
In a media release, Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said the move was especially beneficial for patients unable to tolerate warfarin, who could now transfer from aspirin to dabigatran.
"It is literally a game-changer," he said.
