Xarelto is used to treat and prevent deep venous thrombosis, a condition in which harmful blood clots form in the blood vessels of the legs.
These blood clots can travel to the lungs and can become lodged in the blood vessels of the lungs, causing a condition called pulmonary embolism.
This medicine is used for several days after hip or knee replacement surgery while you are unable to walk. It is during this time that blood clots are most likely to form.
Rivaroxaban is also used to prevent stroke and blood clots in patients with certain heart rhythm problem (eg, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation).
Rivaroxaban is a factor Xa inhibitor, an anticoagulant. It works by decreasing the clotting ability of the blood and helps to prevent harmful clots from forming in the blood vessels.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using Xarelto, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. This is a decision you and your doctor will make.
For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric Population: Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of rivaroxaban in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric Population: Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rivaroxaban in the elderly.
However, elderly patients are more likely to have bleeding and blood clotting problems and age-related kidney disease, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving rivaroxaban.
Pregnancy: All Trimesters: Category C:Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.
Breastfeeding: There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions: Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose or other precautions may be necessary.
When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Clarithromycin
Fluconazole
Other Interactions: Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems: The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Surgery (eg, eye, brain, spine), recent or history of—Use with caution. The risk of bleeding may be increased
Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body
Major bleeding, active
Prosthetic heart valve—Should not be used in patients with this condition
3 Proper Usage
To use Xarelto properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
The 10-mg tablets can be taken with or without food. The 15 and 20 mg tablets should be taken with food. Also, take this medicine at the same time each day.
If you are unable to swallow the tablets whole:
The 10-, 15-, or 20-mg tablets may be crushed and mixed with a small amount of applesauce. This must be taken immediately followed by food.
If you are using a nasogastric tube or gastric feeding tube: The 10-, 15-, or 20-mg tablets may be crushed and suspended in 50 milliliters (mL) of water before administering it via the tube. This must be followed by enteral feeding.
Dosing: The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
For prevention of deep venous thrombosis (hip replacement surgery):
Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day for 35 days. The starting dose should be taken at least 6 to 10 hours after surgery.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For prevention of deep venous thrombosis (knee replacement surgery):
Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day for 12 days. The starting dose should be taken at least 6 to 10 hours after surgery.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For prevention of reoccurring deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
Adults—20 milligrams (mg) once a day with food.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Adults—15 or 20 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken with the evening meal.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism:
Adults—At first, 15 milligrams (mg) two times a day, taken with food for the first 21 days. Then, your doctor may give you 20 mg once a day, taken at the same time each day with food.
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose: This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
If you take this medicine once a day: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can on the same day. Then take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time on the next day.
If you take this medicine 2 times a day to treat a blood clot: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can on the same day. You may take 2 doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose. Then take your regularly scheduled doses on the next day.
Storage: Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
4 Precautions to Take
Before using Xarelto, there are some precautions you must take. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects. Be sure to keep all appointments.
You may bleed or bruise more easily while you are using this medicine. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers. Avoid nose picking and forceful nose blowing.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause bleeding problems. This risk is higher if you have a catheter in your back for pain medicine or anesthesia (sometimes called an "epidural"), or if you have kidney problems.
The risk of bleeding increases if your kidney problems get worse. Check with your doctor right away if you have any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stools, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the lower legs, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
Check with your doctor right away if you have a decreased urine output, confusion, dizziness, nausea, rapid weight gain, swelling of the face, ankles, or hands, or unusual tiredness or weakness after receiving the medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.
Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Doing so may increase the risk of having a stroke. Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during treatment with this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St John's wort) or vitamin supplements.
As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Xarelto. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
Tightness in the chest
Unpleasant breath odor
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Unusual tiredness or weakness
Yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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