Rivaroxaban
Rivaroxaban, sold as Xarelto 15 mg tablets, is a blood thinner that reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack and dangerous clots in people with Acute Coronary Syndrome or Coronary Artery Disease.
Key points
- Factor Xa inhibitor: rivaroxaban blocks a natural substance involved in blood clot formation, which is why it sits in the Blood Thinners category.
- Boxed warning on stopping: people with atrial fibrillation face a higher stroke risk if they discontinue rivaroxaban suddenly; the label warns against stopping without medical supervision.
- Bleeding risk: because rivaroxaban prevents clotting, cuts and injuries may take longer to stop bleeding, and you may bruise or bleed more easily than normal.
Before you start
Rivaroxaban carries a second boxed warning: epidural or spinal anaesthesia, or a spinal injection, while taking the medicine can cause a blood clot near the spine that leads to paralysis. Tell your doctor about any spinal tubes, spine problems, back surgery or multiple spinal injections before any procedure. Patients on rivaroxaban are issued an anticoagulant alert card to carry and show to doctors or dentists before treatment. Other medicines that raise bleeding risk include NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, other blood thinners like warfarin or heparin, and the herbal supplement St. John’s wort.