XARELTO

XARELTO® is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation, not caused by a heart valve problem. For patients currently well managed on warfarin, there is limited information on how XARELTO® and warfarin compare in reducing the risk of stroke. XARELTO® is also a prescription medicine used to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to help reduce the risk of these conditions occurring again. XARELTO® is also a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of forming a blood clot in the legs and lungs of people who have just had knee or hip replacement surgery.

Rivaroxaban can help save lives by reducing the chance of harmful and sometimes life-threatening blood clots forming and preventing stroke, DVT and PE. However, like all anticoagulants, the main side effect of rivaroxaban is bleeding. Unlike warfarin, there is currently no equivalent of the INR blood test to monitor rivaroxaban’s effect on blood clotting, or to inform any dose changes. Some people will prefer rivaroxaban as they won’t have to have ongoing monitoring. For others, the regular INR blood tests that are needed to monitor how well warfarin is working may be reassuring, since it is an easy way to tell if you are at risk of bleeding, and if a dose change is required. Bleeding seems as likely to occur with rivaroxaban as it is with warfarin. However, unlike warfarin there is currently no specific antidote to rivaroxaban to stop the bleeding. So if you do have a serious bleed while you are taking rivaroxaban, it may take longer to treat. If you are taking rivaroxaban you will still need to have regular check ups, and blood tests to check your kidney function before you start rivaroxaban and at least once per year if you are taking it long-term. Because rivaroxaban is a tablet, it can be a suitable choice for people who are unable to manage anti-clotting medicines that need to be injected, such as enoxaparin (Clexane). Find out more about who can take rivaroxaban and other medicine choices. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of rivaroxaban compared with other medicines (e.g. warfarin) with your doctor. Find out more about warfarin.