Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers
Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers questions about medicines. This time: why do you suffer from mouth bleeding?
I take Pradaxa and sotalol. When I lie down at night, I have bleeding in my mouth. During the day I don’t have this problem. Do you know what could be causing this?
Answer:
The drug Pradaxa is a blood thinner that reduces the risk of blood clots and a stroke or heart attack. The disadvantage is that wounds continue to bleed for longer. Nosebleeds are also common. The small blood vessels in the nose can easily break at night due to, for example, dry air, temperature differences and because the blood pressure in the head is higher when you are lying down. Because the nose and mouth are connected, it is possible that blood also ends up in the mouth with a nosebleed. Especially when you are lying down; then the fluid runs from the nose to the throat and mouth. So if you have blood in your mouth especially at night, it could very well be coming from your nose. Small bleeding does not have to be a reason to stop taking the drug. In case of major bleeding or bleeding that lasts longer than 30 minutes, you should call your doctor.
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Sources):
- Plus Magazine
