Xarelto and Bleeding: What Users Say

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2012

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I was put on Xarelto as an alternative to Warfarin four days before my colonoscopy and endoscopy, stopped one day ahead of the procedures, and resumed 3 days after. I had already been anemic, probably because of bleeding due to the Warfarin (which is reversible with Vitamin K). Several polyps were removed, including one large one that had to be partly removed, and later on to get the other part. I was now bleeding even worse with the Xarelto. My hemoglobin fell to 5.2, and I was given several transfusions. Hb rose to 8.7, and I was sent home. Xarelto has no way to reverse bleeding, and if it is discontinued, there is an increased chance for a stroke. I would prefer to have Warfarin and a way to reverse the bleeding."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "One week after starting, I started experiencing almost uncontrollable nose bleeds. I got a small cut on my lower leg that would not heal. Fought with the doctor who was very upset when I stopped taking. It took about two weeks for the bleeding to subside. I refuse to take this or any similar medication again."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "One week after starting, I started experiencing almost uncontrollable nose bleeds. I got a small cut on my lower leg that would not heal. Fought with the doctor who was very upset when I stopped taking. It took about two weeks for the bleeding to subside. I refuse to take this or any similar medication again."

• for...
• June 29, 2013

For Atrial Fibrillation "Some itching with this, but so glad not to go for blood work and to be able to eat whatever I want. Cardiologist put me on this in January as I was on warfarin since Dec 26. This doc does ablations for Atrial fibrillation (and teaches fellows also) and this is what he wanted me to take. Little bruising, minor bleeding when brushing, nothing significant. I also take amiodarone for the Atrial fibrillation."

• Lou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "Have been on the Xarelto medication for five years and had experienced no major issues, just some bleeding with small cuts and some bruising. Then I developed arm and leg pain and some gum bleeding. The leg pain started in one thigh and woke me up at night with burning, prickling nerve pain and sometimes felt like I had been electrified. The rest of the thigh was numb. Soon both legs were involved. My doctor switched me to Eliquis, which she said had fewer side effects, and I will soon see if the arm and leg pain disappear."

• Lou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "Have been on the Xarelto medication for five years and had experienced no major issues, just some bleeding with small cuts and some bruising. Then I developed arm and leg pain and some gum bleeding. The leg pain started in one thigh and woke me up at night with burning, prickling nerve pain and sometimes felt like I had been electrified. The rest of the thigh was numb. Soon both legs were involved. My doctor switched me to Eliquis, which she said had fewer side effects, and I will soon see if the arm and leg pain disappear."

• Zar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2013

For Pulmonary Embolism "My embolisms were discovered on November 1. I was put on Warfarin, but it was hard to get my blood to regulate, and I didn't like the blood work. I began Xarelto on December 7, 2012. I have had success, and my doctors are very pleased. No new embolisms have formed. I did have upper stomach pain this week, but I also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Today, I feel fine. I have not had any bleeding or bruising."

• Dam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2016

For Atrial Fibrillation "I'm a 50 yr old female who is still menstruating. I started this drug in the hospital, and my cycle went from 3-5 days to up to 9 days then stopped. This month, I am on day 15 of an incredibly heavy cycle. I wear two extra long overnight pads (which should last 10 hours), and I go through them in less than 2 hours. I started this drug after a mild stroke that seems to have been a by-product of A-fib. I didn't want Coumadin (aka Rat Poison) and thought out of the 3 two-year-old medicines left, this seemed to be the best for my active lifestyle. It is not. The bleeding is so heavy, I am exhausted. Pains in my feet and ankles, back pains, neck pains, and migraine-like headaches on the opposite side of my stroke-affected side. Help!"

• Sar...
• June 29, 2014

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I am a 39-year-old woman with a history of DVT who switched from warfarin to Xarelto. Shortly after starting the medicine, I began to experience migraines for the first time. After two weeks of being on it, I began my menstrual period as scheduled. The period was severe bleeding for 6 days straight. At that point, I went to the ER. I ended up with several blood transfusions that were not helping, my hemoglobin was dropping to dangerous levels. The only thing to be done was an emergency uterine ablation. I believe that blood levels do actually need to be monitored. My blood was so thin I was not clotting."

• Sna...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2019

For Pulmonary Embolism "Lots of people focus only on the negative of being on a blood thinner. If it wasn't for Xarelto, I would most likely have been dead. I can't take warfarin, I had a bleed on that. I've had no clots since being on Xarelto. Been on it, 20 mg a day for over two years. Thanks for giving me an alternative blood thinner. You most likely saved my life and definitely increased my lifespan."

• Jee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 28, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "Apparently helps my a-fib, but causes bad bruising and bleeding from minor wounds. I also have bad heartburn and take antacid frequently. This happens while I'm eating, after, and also when my stomach is empty. A friend who tried Xarelto had the same problem, which makes me think it's from the medicine, or at least it made it worse. This causes me lots of pain and discomfort, but I don't know if another blood thinner would be the same."

• Xar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 25, 2022

For Atrial Fibrillation "74 yr. old female. Have been on Xarelto, 20 mg, for approximately 1 year. For no reason I could discern, my knee swelled up and became very painful. Eventually, I could not walk and was in severe pain. I went via emergency transport to the local emergency room. The ER doctor diagnosed me with hemarthrosis, internal bleeding into the knee joint, caused by Xarelto!!! I was never warned about internal bleeding. The package insert only mentions external bleeding. Also, the bleed seems to have been spontaneous and not caused by any injury to the knee. Very scary! I am no longer taking any blood thinner/anticoagulant. Avoid this drug."

• The...
• November 2, 2013

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I was on Coumadin from 2008 to 2012 following a stroke, and it was very difficult to regulate with lots of bruising and constant visits to the doctor. Xarelto has given me my life back, and I feel GREAT! I've had zero problems with the drug, and no bruising or bleeding. I think I feel so much better and happier because I'm not constantly worried about my PT/INR level and what I'm eating."

• CM1...
• January 15, 2015

For Pulmonary Embolism "A warning for menstruating women... I am a 28-year-old female who was prescribed Xarelto for a pulmonary embolism. My menstrual period lasted 10 days with extremely heavy bleeding and clots. Normally, it lasts 3-4 days and is very light. Soaked through an ultra tampon and overnight pad every 2 hours. I went through a box of tampons every 2 days. I was not able to function at work, and it was ruining my relationship. I held my meds for a day and boom! Period went away. I believe that Xarelto prevented my endometrial lining from forming and staying in place."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2016

For Pulmonary Embolism "Hair very thin - shedding lots. Had a hysterectomy in June 2014 and had to use a wound vacuum. Once I started on Xarelto, this wound bleeds every day and won't heal. Almost two years. Most of my fingernails and toenails fell off (dried out). Not all have grown back. Bruise easily plus round red marks appear every day."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2018

For Pulmonary Embolism "I was admitted to the hospital for anemia, also PE in both lungs. I was given Xarelto 15 mg 2x a day. I also have internal hemorrhoids. Well, the first day home, I bled from my hemorrhoids and it would not stop. I lost a lot of blood. I am seeing the doctor and coming off this horrible drug."

• Qui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2014

For Deep Vein Thrombosis, Prophylaxis "Xarelto should never be prescribed to anyone with a bleeding disorder. It will cause severe bleeding that, in my situation, required spending a night in the ER and required that I be taken off this medication immediately."

• RJ3...
• July 10, 2017

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I was taking Xarelto for DVTs in my right leg. For the most part, the drug went as expected. Until I got a nosebleed. When it started, it was like any other. Then the bleeding started like a cut vein. And it would not stop. I was rushed to emergency at a local hospital, where they shoved 2 devices that were to help it stop. They did not work, and the ER doc on hand had to put larger ones in. I was told at the time there weren't any drugs that would slow the bleeding down. It was time and compression that worked. It scared the hell out of me. As of now, I will not go back on it due to these effects. And also due to my work. If I got a bleed in the place I work, it'd be disastrous."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2023

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was diagnosed with AFIB about 2 1/2 years ago and immediately put on Xarelto. At first, it has few side effects other than bruising and bleeding of the extremities. After knee surgery one year ago, I began to get sores on the leg of the knee replacement. These would not heal. They got gradually larger and more numerous until I started reducing the Xarelto. I was on 20 mg and reduced to 15 mg, then down to 20 mg every other day. The sores slowly shrank. I finally quit because I wanted to heal my leg. After a couple of weeks off the drug, they are almost gone. Leg edema was moderate, but it has gone away. I have asked the cardiologist to try some other Rx, but they are adamant that Xarelto is the best. I am now going to insist on another Rx as, for the price, I am sure there are alternatives that will work as well. I will put up with the inconvenience of monthly testing."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I wouldn't even give this medication a 1 if I had a choice. I had my first DVT at 16 years old and just suffered another one at 21 years old a few months ago. I was prescribed the Xarelto pill and, 3 weeks later, suffered such severe internal bleeding as well as hemorrhaging externally that I almost bled to death. Luckily, the doctors performed 3 emergency surgeries that saved my life. I wouldn't recommend this medication to any females since I have yet to hear of a bad case happening with males (but I could be wrong)."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I wouldn't even give this medication a 1 if I had a choice. I had my first DVT at 16 years old and just suffered another one at 21 years old a few months ago. I was prescribed the Xarelto pill and, 3 weeks later, suffered such severe internal bleeding as well as hemorrhaging externally that I almost bled to death. Luckily, the doctors performed 3 emergency surgeries that saved my life. I wouldn't recommend this medication to any females since I have yet to hear of a bad case happening with males (but I could be wrong)."

• rub...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2023

For Atrial Fibrillation "I have been taking Xarelto for about a year and has landed me in emergency twice. The first time I had heavy bleeding in my stool, urine, and mouth. This past Monday, I had an ambulance pick me up after having a really strange dizzy spell with numbness in my head and immediate heavy bleeding from the mouth. I will not take this medication anymore, I'm sure it will kill me if I continue taking it."

• Nic...
• August 27, 2020

For Pulmonary Embolism "I had a DVT, and I threw a clot after being in the hospital as a young adult for 2 weeks. I was put on Warfarin for about 6 months, then came off it. 10 years later, I had a massive PE and was put back on Warfarin. I hated having to stick to a level amount of greens and constant check of my INR. So when I was able to try Xarelto, I was happy those issues went away. I'm not sure if I have other side effects. I'm older now, and sleep doesn't come easily. I'm also heavier, but as we age and slow down, so does our metabolism. It does take me a little longer to stop bleeding if I am cut, I'm on a 20 mg dose. But I can deal with it. No more street brawls for me, I guess. The only real issue I see with this drug is the insane price and the way insurance companies handle it. You either have to pay nearly $500/mo for the drug or get insurance that is over $500/mo that covers it. I saw the patent information. There are no unicorn tears in the chemistry, so I'm not sure why it's so expensive."

• Nic...
• July 1, 2016

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I've been taking Xarelto for 5 months for a blood clot in the brain. I've felt a range of side effects including: dizziness/vertigo, headaches, photosensitivity, lesions on my nose, ear, and tongue, sinusitis, nausea, diarrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding, and general aches/fatigue. Basically, any kind of infection I get is much worse than it would be normally. I haven't had any major bleeding events, but my periods have been debilitatingly heavy. As far as effectiveness, it has worked for me, and I have not developed any further clotting, which is the most important thing. Not sure if other blood thinners are as effective and have less severe side effects, but if they are, it probably would have been worth the extra trips to the doc for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2015

For Pulmonary Embolism "I had my first PE in both lungs after having myomectomy surgery. Did not know I had a clotting condition. Was experiencing shortness of breath and low energy, which I thought was iron deficiency, so I went to the ER. CT scan proved PE. After being on a heparin drip for 24 hours, the hematologist prescribed Xarelto, and I was released the next morning. Side effects so far after 4 days are tingling in calves and knees, heavy menstrual bleeding. My period ended 2 days prior, and this drug brought it back extra heavy. Bummer!"