People with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart beat) are at an increased risk of forming a blood clot in the heart, which can travel to the brain, causing a stroke, or to other parts of the body. rivaroxaban lowers your chance of having a stroke by helping to prevent clots from forming. If you stop taking rivaroxaban, you may have increased risk of forming a clot in your blood.
Do not stop taking rivaroxaban without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. Stopping rivaroxaban increases your risk of having a stroke.
If you have to stop taking rivaroxaban, your doctor may prescribe another blood thinner medicine to prevent a blood clot from forming.
Rivaroxaban can cause bleeding which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. This is because rivaroxaban is a blood thinner medicine that reduces blood clotting. While you take rivaroxaban you are likely to bruise more easily and it may take longer for bleeding to stop.
You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take rivaroxaban and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, including:
Aspirin or aspirin containing products Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Warfarin sodium (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) Any medicine that contains heparin Clopidogrel (Plavix®) Other medicines to prevent or treat blood clots
Tell your doctor if you take any of these medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.
Unexpected bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time, such as:
Nose bleeds that happen often Unusual bleeding from the gums Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal or vaginal bleeding
Bleeding that is severe or you cannot control Red, pink or brown urine Bright red or black stools (looks like tar) Cough up blood or blood clots Vomit blood or your vomit looks like "coffee grounds" Headaches, feeling dizzy or weak Pain, swelling, or new drainage at wound sites
People who take a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant) like rivaroxaban, and have medicine injected into their spinal and epidural area, or have a spinal puncture have a risk of forming a blood clot that can cause long-term or permanent loss of the ability to move (paralysis). Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if:
A thin tube called an epidural catheter is placed in your back to give you certain medicine. You take NSAIDs or a medicine to prevent blood from clotting You have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures You have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine.
If you take rivaroxaban and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet), loss of control of the bowels or bladder (incontinence).
What is the most important information I should know about rivaroxaban?
People with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart beat) are at an increased risk of forming a blood clot in the heart, which can travel to the brain, causing a stroke, or to other parts of the body. rivaroxaban lowers your chance of having a stroke by helping to prevent clots from forming. If you stop taking rivaroxaban, you may have increased risk of forming a clot in your blood.
Do not stop taking rivaroxaban without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. Stopping rivaroxaban increases your risk of having a stroke.
If you have to stop taking rivaroxaban, your doctor may prescribe another blood thinner medicine to prevent a blood clot from forming.
Rivaroxaban can cause bleeding which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. This is because rivaroxaban is a blood thinner medicine that reduces blood clotting. While you take rivaroxaban you are likely to bruise more easily and it may take longer for bleeding to stop.
You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take rivaroxaban and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, including:
{{NAME}} or aspirin containing products {{ORGANIZATION}} anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Warfarin sodium ({{NAME}}, {{NAME}}) Any medicine that contains heparin {{ORGANIZATION}}) Other medicines to prevent or treat blood clots
Tell your doctor if you take any of these medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.
Unexpected bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time, such as:
Nose bleeds that happen often Unusual bleeding from the gums Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal or vaginal bleeding
Bleeding that is severe or you cannot control Red, pink or brown urine Bright red or black stools (looks like tar) Cough up blood or blood clots {{NAME}} blood or your vomit looks like "coffee grounds" Headaches, feeling dizzy or weak Pain, swelling, or new drainage at wound sites
People who take a blood thinner medicine (anticoagulant) like rivaroxaban, and have medicine injected into their spinal and epidural area, or have a spinal puncture have a risk of forming a blood clot that can cause long-term or permanent loss of the ability to move (paralysis). Your risk of developing a spinal or epidural blood clot is higher if:
A thin tube called an epidural catheter is placed in your back to give you certain medicine. You take NSAIDs or a medicine to prevent blood from clotting You have a history of difficult or repeated epidural or spinal punctures You have a history of problems with your spine or have had surgery on your spine.
If you take rivaroxaban and receive spinal anesthesia or have a spinal puncture, your doctor should watch you closely for symptoms of spinal or epidural blood clots. Tell your doctor right away if you have back pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet), loss of control of the bowels or bladder (incontinence).