It was prescribed after a lung embolism
I am currently taking Xarelto 20 mg/day. How safe is this drug?
Question posted by Belgie on 4 Oct 2014
Last updated on 13 November 2018 by Nancy J Girvin
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9 Answers
Nancy J Girvin
13 Nov 2018
I have been on 20 mg of Xarelto for a year after almost dying from a DVT and bilateral PE. My cardiologist and hematologist both say it’s the best way I can be protected. I’ve had no serious side effects. I’m grateful that this drug is working for me.
blueiris6
13 Nov 2018
I have been on Xarelto 20mg since November 2013. I was in the hospital for 2 PE's (both sides) and 3 DVT's. I didn't start taking it until I left the hospital, but I was on it for 30 days after the hospital and was told I wouldn't need it anymore. 60 days later developed another DVT and was back on it. I have used it since to this day. every 3-4 months my blood is drawn to monitor that and other issues. I will say I haven't had any side effects from the drug. I am very careful of falling, bruising, cuts, etc. I still seem to clot pretty good from clots, but notice that they take longer to heal, including bruises. I am also a low level diabetic, so that could be some of the healing issues also. I haven't drank any alcohol since taking the Xarelto. I have had to stop it for a few days because of getting hip injections. Surgery soon. When I started taking it, Bayer said that once you are on it, the copay was covered for life.
So far so good on that one too. I am thankful that I have not had any problems since being on it. My doctor does insist the lab work all the time. I haven't taken the chance of drinking alcohol. I would love a beer, but my life has higher priority.
Tarastrong
23 June 2018
I don't know how safe it is.
Dancpro
24 Jan 2018
Some what safe
dale44
31 Dec 2016
My brother-in-law was prescribed xarelto 7 months ago for a clot in his leg. He suffered a fall 10 Days ago, and died 2 days later. His spleen lacerated and he went into cardiac arrest because they could not stop the bleeding. There is no monitoring protocol for it, and no antidote. If you are on it you can't abruptly stop it without risking a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. It is a terrible and dangerous drug, and should never have been approved without safeguards in place. I pray no other patient or family has to endure what my brother-in-law and our family has.
wishmomwashere
14 Dec 2014
Do yourself a favor and seriously find another drug to take. My mom was taking this drug for AFib for 5 months. She went to the Dr's one morning and she was doing great he said she looked better than she had in months. My daughter found her unresponsive that night on the couch with my 3 grandchildren. She was only alone for 10 minutes prior to her being found. She called 911 and was brought to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. She passed away 2 hours later. There is nothing they can do to stop a bleed while taking Xarelto. They couldn't drain the blood that was pressing her brain into her skull. There are 151 confirmed deaths on this drug though that doesn't sound like a lot its enough to want this drug off the market. They say you don't need to get your blood tested but seriously wouldn't you want to know how thin your blood was getting. I regret that I didn't have my mom taken off this drug and now I need to live with her death.
Please do yourself and your family this favor and look into a blood thinner that is monitored. I will get this off the market in honor of my mother.
Inactive
14 Dec 2014
My deep and sincere condolences and sympathy for the loss of your mother.
We each react differently to drugs and we each may have underlying health issues. People who take no anticoagulant die of cerebral hemorrhage every day. It's hard to pin the cause of anything on one factor. For example, one could have an undiagnosed cerebral aneurysm that bursts and is fatal, whether one is taking an anticoagulant drug or not.
I've been on 20 mg of Xarelto daily for AFib for about a year now with no problems that I'm aware of except slightly more bruising. The research and clinical experience with Xarelto is that it reduces the number of strokes caused by embolisms (clots) by about 50%. In clinical trials the fatal cerebral hemorrhage rate with Xarelto was about 1/2 that of Warfarin. Statistically speaking Xarelto is a major life saver and protector against severe disability for people with AFib
I hope this helps you come to terms with the loss of your mother.
kaismama
14 Dec 2014
I think the point was that there is no way to stop the bleeding. There is no antidote for the new anticoagulants. They can't evacuate the bleed because they don't dare cut her.
kaismama
14 Dec 2014
I'm afraid you won't have much luck getting it off the market. Too many docs are brain washed about it. I don't think an anticoagulant should be on the market without an antidote or the ability to monitor it. , but what I think hardly matters, there is too much money in it. I asked my cardiologist about it, and she told me to tell me the truth, patients aren't willing to be tested like warfarin demands, that's why they use it.
Joyo
30 Aug 2015
It is a shocking drug and you are right to be upset about it. It caused me to have a PE even tho it's supposed to be the gold standard for clot busting. I feel terrible since I've been on it but you cant stop it as you may have a stroke if you do. I was never advised of this. Terrible side effects and dangerous.
DemoninDC
6 Oct 2014
Yes it is according to the trials that the FDA reviewed to approve the drug. Xarelto was considered superior to Warfarin for some indications. The issue with Warfarin is that you may not be coagulated or that you may be over coagulated. Staying in the range can be difficult. Are you seeing a cardiologist and hematologist?
randy5520
20 Oct 2017
I used Xarelto last year for blood clots in my lungs i use it for 3 months and it worked perfect for me i had no side affects it completely stop the clots from coming into my lungs and when i went back to my doctor the blood clots was completely gone Xarelto worked for me.
Dancpro
24 Jan 2018
Yes both
DemoninDC
24 June 2018
For those of you who may not have seen the announcement last month, the FDA has finally approved a Bleeding Antidote for Eliquis (apixaban) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban). It is called Andexxa. It will begin limited release this month (June 2018) with expected full release by January 2019.
unclerobmac
4 Oct 2014
On Sept 2nd, 2014 I went into a bad AFIB. I was running 140 BPM. The next day after being on Cardizem for a day and not converting back to sinus rhythm, I had a single cardioversion shock. It worked. I was prescribed generic Lopressor and the 20 mg. Xarelto. So far eveything OK after 30 days. Xarelto is now the goto drug to prevent strokes and clots. It is safe as long as you don't take any NSAIDs like aspirin or Aleve. I was told I can use Tylenol for pain because its not a blood thinner. Obviously no heavy drinking with Tylenol because it causes liver failure. With my insurance I pay $45 a month for 30 Xarelto. If you get nose bleeds, bloody urine or tar like stool see Doc immediately. YOU CANNOT JUST STOP TAKING Xarelto. Must see Doc or major risk for stroke. All alternative meds cost about the same. Taking Warfarin (Coumadin) is cheaper but MUCH more involved and risky.
kaismama
4 Oct 2014
warfarin is no more risky, just has to be monitored and you have to be careful you don't eat allot of vit K. Unlike the others, warfarin has an antidote if you start to bleed.
RodriguezRG6
16 June 2017
I am taking Xarelto, and I get nose bleeds all the time. But this happened before as well. So it is normal for me. I noticed after starting ton Xarelto the nose bleeding occurred more often than before but it was stopping about same time as before and not bleeding much I started using a nose spray as moisturizer and it works. The nose bleeding still happening but not as often. I talked to my doctors and they weren't concerned since it happened a lot before and the bleeding is not bad. I haven't had any other issues with the medication. I take it everyday around 6 pm and I always eat something starchy with the pill as my pharmacist recommend and also my doctor. I have been traveling and so far everything was good and I am going to be traveling to Mexico in about 3-4 weeks. I haven't had any other issues like I already said and I do feel safe with Xarelto. I had a PE but doctors can't find the cause.
All tests come out negative and they do not understand what happened and why I got the PE. Thankfully I did not get the full effect of the PEs I only had a weird and uncomfortable pain on my left shoulder and that was it. I was at the hospital for only 3 days which it was great because who likes hospitals! although everyone at the hospital was so nice! any ways, my doc says that I will be taking Xarelto for life... so he is becoming my best friend.
Cathyr1
16 Jan 2018
I had my cardioversion nov 2014 but AFib came back in December so now I have to decide to have a another cardioversion or have an ablation. Good luck to you
kaismama
4 Oct 2014
No drug is safe. They all have side effects. With any of the anticoagulants you have the risk of bleeding. Ask yourself, how safe was that embolism?
Joyo
30 Aug 2015
This is a very dangerous drug... you risk bleeding,hemorrhage,esophagus and gt problems dizziness and lots more possibly life threatening events. It should never have been approved until there was an antidote available.
Related topics
Further information
- Xarelto uses and safety info
- Xarelto prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xarelto (detailed)
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