Xarelto

Rivaroxaban is used to prevent blood clots from forming due to a certain irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) or after hip or knee replacement surgery. It is also used to prevent blood clots from forming in high-risk patients with limited mobility during their hospital stay and after discharge. In addition, rivaroxaban is used to treat blood clots (such as in deep vein thrombosis-DVT or pulmonary embolus-PE) and to prevent the blood clots from forming again.

Rivaroxaban is an anticoagulant that works by blocking certain clotting proteins in your blood.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking rivaroxaban and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. If you are taking this medication to prevent blood clots after knee or hip replacement surgery or during a hospital stay and after discharge, the dose is usually taken once a day. If you are taking this drug to prevent strokes and blood clots that may form due to an irregular heartbeat, the dose is usually taken once a day with the evening meal. If you are taking rivaroxaban to treat blood clots, the dose is usually taken twice a day for the first 3 weeks, and then once a day. To lower the risk of blood clots forming again, this medication is usually taken once a day. Carefully follow your doctor's directions. Do not increase your dose, take it more often, or stop taking it unless you are told to do so by your doctor.

The 10 milligrams tablet may be taken with or without food. The 15 milligrams and 20 milligrams tablet should be taken with food. If you have any questions about how to take rivaroxaban, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are unable to swallow whole tablets, you may crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce. Eat the entire mixture right away. Do not prepare a supply for future use.

If you are giving this medication through a tube into the stomach (nasogastric or gastric tube), ask your health care professional for detailed instructions on how to properly mix and give it.

The dosage and length of treatment is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.

See also Warning section.

Easy bruising or minor bleeding (such as nosebleed, bleeding from cuts) may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This medication can cause serious bleeding if it affects your blood clotting proteins too much. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of serious bleeding, including: unusual pain/swelling/discomfort, unusual bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts or gums, persistent/frequent nosebleeds, unusually heavy/prolonged menstrual flow, pink/dark urine, coughing up blood, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, severe headache, dizziness/fainting, unusual or persistent tiredness/weakness, bloody/black/tarry stools, difficulty swallowing.

Get medical help right away if you have any signs of very serious bleeding, including: vision changes, confusion, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking rivaroxaban, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, bleeding problems (such as bleeding of the stomach/intestines, bleeding in the brain), stroke, artificial heart valves, recent major injury/surgery, blood disorders (such as anemia, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia), frequent falls/injuries, certain eye problem (retinopathy), a certain clotting disorder (antiphospholipid syndrome), certain hereditary enzyme problems (such as galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, glucose-galactose malabsorption).

It is important that all your doctors and dentists know that you take rivaroxaban. Before having surgery or any medical/dental procedures, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.

This medication may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol while using this medicine will increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcoholic beverages. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how much alcohol you may safely drink.

This medication can cause bleeding. To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use great caution with sharp objects like safety razors and nail cutters. Use an electric razor when shaving and a soft toothbrush when brushing your teeth. Avoid activities such as contact sports. If you fall or injure yourself, especially if you hit your head, contact your doctor right away. Your doctor may need to check you for hidden bleeding that could be serious.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially bleeding.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before using this medication.

This medication may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Use/discard the crushed tablet mixture within 4 hours. (See also How to Use section.) Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: mifepristone, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as warfarin, enoxaparin), certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine, SNRIs such as desvenlafaxine/venlafaxine).

Other medications can affect the removal of rivaroxaban from your body, which may affect how rivaroxaban works. Examples include cobicistat, conivaptan, certain azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole), rifamycins (such as rifampin), HIV protease inhibitors (such as lopinavir, ritonavir), St. John's wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital), among others.

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: bloody/black/tarry stools, pink/dark urine, unusual/prolonged bleeding.

If you are taking this medication once a day and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are taking this medication twice a day and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you missed the morning dose and it is near the time of the evening dose, you may take both doses together. Then take your next dose at the regular time.

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as hematocrit/hemoglobin, red blood cell count) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.