TY - JOUR T1 - The newer direct oral anticoagulants: a practical guide JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 165 LP - 175 DO - 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-2-165 VL - 14 IS - 2 AU - Jecko Thachil Y1 - 2014/04/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/14/2/165.abstract N2 - Anticoagulation therapy is one of the most important advances in modern medicine, saving thousands of lives from the complications of atrial fibrillation and mechanical heart valves and preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism. Warfarin and heparins have been the predominant anticoagulants used until the past decade. However, the arrival of newer target-specific anticoagulants has brought us easier and equally effective agents, although no specific antidotes are yet available. Being relatively newer drugs, physicians need to be familiar with the various practical issues that may be encountered with the prescription of these drugs, which are summarised in this review. ER -