Rivaroxaban (Patient information)

Cork Emergency Departments

What should I know about Xarelto®?

• Xarelto® (Rivaroxaban) thins the blood, which prevents you from dangerous blood clots
• Xarelto® must be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor
• To ensure optimal protection from blood clots, never skip a dose
• You must not stop taking Xarelto® without fi rst talking to your doctor as your risk of blood clots may increase
• Speak to your health care provider prior to any intake of other medication
• Inform your health care providers about Xarelto® intake prior to any surgery or invasive procedure

How do I take Xarelto ®?

• To ensure optimal protection, Xarelto ® 15 mg and 20 mg must be taken with food

When should I seek advice from my health care provider?

When taking a blood thinner such as Xarelto ® it is important to be aware of its possible side effects.

• Bleeding is the most common side effect
• Do not start taking Xarelto ® if you are at risk of abnormal bleeding, without first discussing this with your doctor
• Tell your health care provider right away if you have any signs or symptoms of bleeding such as the following:
  • pain, swelling or discomfort
  • chest pain, feeling breathless or looking pale
  • headache, dizziness or weakness
  • unusual bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding of gums, bleeding from cuts that take a long time to stop
  • menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal
  • pink or brown urine, red or black stools
  • coughing up blood, or vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Information for health care providers:

• INR values should not be used as they are not a dependable measure of the anticoagulant activity of Xarelto ® (Rivaroxaban)