Rivaroxaban
About Rivaroxaban
Rivaroxaban belongs to a class of drugs known as anticoagulants or blood thinner. Rivaroxaban is primarily used to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in leg veins) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung) by reducing blood clot formation. Deep vein thrombosis is a medical condition in which blood clots form in deep veins usually in the legs. Pulmonary embolism is a condition in which a blood clot blocks the arteries in the lungs.
Rivaroxaban contains Rivaroxaban, a blood thinner that works by inhibiting the production of clotting factors by decreasing the action of vitamin K. This prevents the conversion of fibrinogen (soluble protein) to fibrin (insoluble protein), thereby preventing blood clots formation.
Take Rivaroxaban as prescribed. You are advised to take Rivaroxaban for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical conditions. You may experience bleeding, anemia (low number of red blood cells), and nausea. Most of these side effects of Rivaroxaban do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
If you are known to be allergic to Rivaroxaban or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to consult a doctor before using Rivaroxaban. If you have a stomach ulcer, kidney or liver problems, high blood pressure, or bleeding problems, inform your doctor before taking Rivaroxaban. Talk to your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Uses of Rivaroxaban
Medicinal Benefits
Rivaroxaban belongs to a class of drugs known as anticoagulants or blood thinner. Rivaroxaban is primarily used to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in leg veins) and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung) by reducing blood clot formation. Rivaroxaban works by inhibiting the production of clotting factors by decreasing the action of vitamin K. This prevents the conversion of fibrinogen (soluble protein) to fibrin (insoluble protein), thereby preventing blood clots formation.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Rivaroxaban
- Bleeding
- Anaemia (low number of red blood cells)
- Nausea
Drug Warnings
Rivaroxaban should be used with caution in children. Prolonged use of Rivaroxaban may cause hair loss. Regular blood tests are recommended while taking Rivaroxaban to check the time taken for your blood to clot and the level of platelets (blood cells). If you are known to be allergic to Rivaroxaban or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to consult a doctor before using Rivaroxaban. If you have a stomach ulcer, kidney or liver problems, high blood pressure, or bleeding problems, inform your doctor before taking Rivaroxaban. Talk to your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Rivaroxaban may interact with antiplatelet drugs (warfarin, enoxaparin), antiviral or HIV medicines (lopinavir, ritonavir), painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen), antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin), drugs to treat fungal or bacterial infections (fluconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin), and herbal medication for depression (St John's wort).
Drug-Food Interactions: Rivaroxaban may interact with grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and green tea.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Use with caution in patients with kidney, liver, or bleeding problems, heart problems, and unstable blood pressure.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol with Rivaroxaban as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Pregnancy
cautionTell your doctor before using Rivaroxaban because it may cause harmful effects. So, only use in that condition when a doctor is prescribed.
Breast Feeding
cautionRivaroxaban may pass into breast milk. Therefore consult your doctor.
Driving
safe if prescribedRivaroxaban usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Rivaroxaban with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Rivaroxaban with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeRivaroxaban is not approved for children. Therefore Rivaroxaban is not safe for children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid making any changes in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
- Cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, noni juice, and pomegranate juice may interact with Rivaroxaban and lead to unwanted side effects. Hence try to avoid these juices while taking Rivaroxaban.
- Avoid drinking alcohol as it increases the risk of gastrointestinal ulcer/bleeding.
Special Advise
You should have regular platelet count, factor V assay, fibrinogen level test, prothrombin time test (PT or PT-INR) and the INR, or international normalized ratio to analyze your blood clotting time.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in legs) is a medical condition in which blood clots form in deep veins usually in the legs. The symptoms include leg pain or swelling. Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung) is a chronic condition that occurs as the blood clots break and travel to the lungs from deep veins in the legs or other parts of the body. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism include cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
FAQs
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Rivaroxaban without consulting your doctor to worsen the condition. Therefore, take Rivaroxaban for as long as your doctor has prescribed it.
No, Rivaroxaban is not expected to cause weight gain. If you notice unexpected weight gain and think it is because of this Rivaroxaban, immediately consult your doctor and inform him about it.
Rivaroxaban has many beneficial effects, but it has the ability to make you bleed more than normal. Even with minor injuries as it decreases your ability to blood clotting. Sometimes Rivaroxaban may cause severe bleeding that may be dangerous and may require urgent medical care. This risk may be increased in people taking Rivaroxaban along with other blood thinner medicines.
Avoid taking grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking Rivaroxaban, and it contains compounds that slow down the metabolism of Rivaroxaban and increase the activity leading to bleeding.
It is not known that Rivaroxaban causes hair loss. Kindly contact your doctor.
Rivaroxaban is a type of medicine known as an anticoagulant. Rivaroxaban works by stopping a clotting factor called factor Xa from working. This thins your blood, so it takes longer to clot.
