What is Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)?

Rivaroxaban (xarelto) is a drug known as a blood thinner or anticoagulant. It assists in preventing and treating blood clots effectively. 

The drug xarelto used for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. It also prevents and treats clot formation in the veins of your brain, lungs, heart and legs.

It is commonly used in patients with irregular heart rhythms to prevent clot formation. It is more helpful in minimizing the risk of getting clots in people who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgeries.

It is also used in children to prevent blood clots from forming after the specific heart surgery. 

Sometimes, the drug is recommended to be taken along with aspirin to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack or death in adults with coronary artery disease. 

It is even used to treat and prevent PE and SVT from reoccurring in infants and children who have undergone at least five days of blood thinner treatment. 

Actually, rivaroxaban uses are diverse, and the doctor utilizes this drug in several situations to safeguard the lives of the patients at risk. 

Buy the medicine from Sanford Online pharmacy after checking the Rivaroxaban price to get its benefits completely. 

How does Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) work?

The xarelto 10 mg is a novel oral anticoagulant that works by stopping the clotting factor known factor Xa from working.

In other words, it works by blocking specific clotting proteins present in your blood. It assists in preventing the formation of blood clots in your body.

Remember that this drug is a type of medicine called an anticoagulant.

Even though it does not dissolve blood clots, it can prevent them from getting bigger. So, your body can dissolve the blood clots over time.

Besides, it helps prevent the formation of new blood clots in the body. As said before, the medicine works by blocking the substance in the body that involved in blood clotting.

It keeps the blood flowing throughout the body freely and reduces the chance of clot formation inside blood vessels. 

The medicine prevents or reduces the damage caused by clots in the lungs, stroke and other blood vessels. 

It also makes it less likely that parts of the blood clot will break off and travel to other body parts. Now, you get an idea of how does xarelto work.

How to use Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)?

Read the medication guide rendered by your pharmacist before taking this drug and every time you get the refill.

Check the xarelto 20 mg price and expiry date before buying and using the drug. Ask the pharmacist if you have any doubts or questions.

The dose should be taken once a day to prevent blood clots because of other conditions, such as after hip or knee replacement surgery.

These are general dosage schedules, but you must carefully stick to your doctor's dosage advice. For instance, if you are prescribed to take a dose once in the morning and evening, follow it properly.

Never increase your dose or take/stop it often without a doctor's approval.

The 15 and 20 milligrams should be taken with food. Swallow the drug as a whole. Do not crush, chew or break the medicine. Always take the drug at the same time regularly. 

When you think about how long does rivaroxaban take to work, it takes a few hours after consumption of the drug. 

At Sanford Pharmacy, patients have access to rivaroxaban in various strengths and formulations to accommodate individualized treatment needs.

• Missed dose

If you are taking this drug for a specific course of time and missing a dose unexpectedly, take it once you remember.

When it is near the time of the next dosage, skip the missed one without hesitation. Do not double the dose to meet up the missed one. 

Take the next xarelto dosage at the regular time to avoid complications and side effects. 

• Overdose

Call the medical team immediately if you take too much dosage of the drug and confront symptoms such as difficulty in breathing.

Noticing symptoms such as prolonged/unusual bleeding, dark/pink urine and bloody/black stools, you must seek medical attention. 

Delaying or taking another dose without a doctor's attention may put your life at risk. Be cautious and look for unwanted signs, especially if you have taken an overdose. 

Precautions and warnings

Before taking xarelto 20 mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to the active and other ingredients of the drug or if you have any other allergies.

Tell your doctor about your medical history especially if you have liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, bleeding problems, stroke, blood disorders, frequent falls, and recent major surgeries/injuries.

This drug may cause stomach bleeding, so follow the doctor's advice and dosage recommendation properly.

Avoid the consumption of alcohol when using this medicine as it may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.

It can also cause heavy bleeding so minimize the chance of getting cut, injured or bruised. Handle sharp objects such as nail cutters with caution.

Avoid indulging in activities such as contact sports while in the treatment. In case you fall or injure yourself, call the doctor right away.

During pregnancy, the drug should be taken only when required. Discuss the doctor about the drug’s pros and cons.

As the medicine may pass into breast milk, consult the doctor before breastfeeding. 

Do not stop consuming the drug without a doctor's advice. Stopping the treatment suddenly may maximize the risk of blood clots or stroke.

Contact the doctor if you or your child have the bleeding signs such as dizzy, headaches, nosebleeds, heavy menstrual periods, blood in urine, coughing up blood or any blooding that not stop.

Avoid taking grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking this tablet because grapefruit contains compounds that slow down the drug's effectiveness and maximize the activity, leading to bleeding.

Avoid taking any food that maximizes vitamin K activity or blood clotting when taking other blood thinner, such as Warfarin.

Avoid consuming food items such as spinach, sprouts, broccoli, green tea, asparagus, and mustard greens. 

Ask your doctor about the food and medicines to avoid while using this drug because it has several food and drug interactions. It could increase the likelihood of getting serious side effects. 

Side effects of Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

Most rivaroxaban side effects do not need any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the drug. Consult the doctor if the following side effects persist.

• Bleeding or bruising that will not stop
• Pink/brown/red urine
• Tarry/bloody stools
• Excessive bleeding from the wound
• Gut inflammation 

This is not a complete list of side effects that occur when you overdose or miss the dose unexpectedly. Contact the doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

Storage

Store the drug at room temperature and avoid excessive moisture and light exposure. 

Never store the medicine in the bathroom. Keep all the medication away from pets and children as it may cause potential troubles.

Discard the xarelto 15 mg properly when it is expired or no longer required. 

Interactions

Sometimes, it is unsafe to use specific medicines at the same time when consuming rivaroxaban. Drug interaction may increase side effects and even make the medication less effective.

Tell your physician about all your current medicines, whether prescription or non-prescription drugs, herbal products or supplements.

It helps you stay away from potential complications. These are the primary drugs that affect the effectiveness of the drug.

• Carbamazepine
• Ritonavir
• Ketoconazole
• Erythromycin, rifampin
• Medicines used for preventing blood clots, such as enoxaparin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, Warfarin, and dipyridamole
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like meloxicam, aspirin, naprozen, diclofenac, celecoxib and others

Remember that it is a complete list of drugs that may interact with the Rivaroxaban. Consult with the doctor or pharamacist to know the possible drug interactions.

Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicines you consume without the doctor's approval. 

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) holds a prominent position in the therapeutic armamentarium available at Sanford Pharmacy for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. With its proven efficacy, convenience, and favorable safety profile, Rivaroxaban exemplifies the commitment to delivering high-quality care and improving patient outcomes within our community.

Frequently asked questions about Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) (FAQs)

1. Can I donate blood while taking Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)?

No! You cannot donate blood while on the treatment of Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) because your donated blood will not clot appropriately.

Even if your doctor stops your treatment, avoiding at least two days before donating blood is mandatory. 

2. Does consuming Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) increase/decrease my blood pressure?

Although high and low blood pressure are not listed as the side effects of this drug, a sudden drop or rise may occur in your blood pressure, even if it causes a severe allergic reaction or too much bleeding.

3. Is it mandatory to consult doctor before taking or stopping the drug?

Of course, you must consult the doctor before beginning and stopping the drug because they know how to deal with your condition effectively.