Rivaroxaban (patient information)

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What is the most important information I should know about rivaroxaban?

For people taking rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation

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.

Bleeding

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:

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.

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of 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

Spinal or epidural blood clots (hematoma)

  • 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).

Rivaroxaban is not for patients with artificial heart valves

What is rivaroxaban?

  • Rivaroxaban is a prescription medicine used to:
    • Reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people who have a medical condition called atrial fibrillation. With atrial fibrillation, part of the heart does not beat the way it should. This can lead to the formation of blood clots, which can travel to the brain, causing a stroke, or to other parts of the body.
    • Treat blood clots in the veins of your legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism) and reduce the risk of them occurring again.
    • Reduce the risk of forming a blood clot in the legs and lungs of people who have just had hip or knee replacement surgery.
  • It is not known if rivaroxaban is safe and effective in children.

Who should not take rivaroxaban?

  • Do not take rivaroxaban if you:
    • Currently have certain types of abnormal bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking rivaroxaban if you currently have unusual bleeding.
    • Are allergic to rivaroxaban or any of the ingredients in rivaroxaban. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in rivaroxaban.

What should I tell my doctor before taking rivaroxaban?

Before you take rivaroxaban, tell your doctor if you:

  • Have ever had bleeding problems
  • Have liver or kidney problems
  • Have any other medical condition
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if rivaroxaban will harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while Taking rivaroxaban. If you take rivaroxaban during pregnancy tell your doctor right away if you have any bleeding or symptoms of blood loss.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if rivaroxaban passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take rivaroxaban or breastfeed.

Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking rivaroxaban. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed rivaroxaban for you before you have any surgery, medical or dental procedure.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some of your other medicines may affect the way rivaroxaban works. Certain medicines may increase your risk of bleeding.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

Ask your doctor if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take rivaroxaban?

  • Take rivaroxaban exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Do not change your dose or stop taking rivaroxaban unless your doctor tells you to.
  • Your doctor will tell you how much rivaroxaban to take and when to take it.
  • Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
  • If you take rivaroxaban for:
  1. Atrial fibrillation:
    • Take rivaroxaban 1 time a day with your evening meal.
    • If you miss a dose of rivaroxaban, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time.
  1. Blood clots in the veins of your legs or lungs:
    • Take rivaroxaban once or twice a day as prescribed by your doctor.
    • Take rivaroxaban with food at the same time each day.
    • If you miss a dose of rivaroxaban:
      • And take rivaroxaban 2 times a day: Take rivaroxaban as soon as you remember on the same day. You may take 2 doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose. Take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time.
      • And take rivaroxaban 1 time a day: Take rivaroxaban as soon as you remember on the same day. Take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time.
  1. Hip or knee replacement surgery:
    • Take rivaroxaban 1 time a day with or without food.
    • If you miss a dose of rivaroxaban, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time.
  • If you have difficulty swallowing the tablet whole, talk to your doctor about other ways to take rivaroxaban.
  • Your doctor will decide how long you should take rivaroxaban. Do not stop taking rivaroxaban without talking with your doctor first.
  • Your doctor may stop rivaroxaban for a short time before any surgery, medical or dental procedure. Your doctor will tell you when to start taking rivaroxaban again after your surgery or procedure.
  • Do not run out of rivaroxaban. Refill your prescription of rivaroxaban before you run out. When leaving the hospital following a hip or knee replacement, be sure that you will have rivaroxaban available to avoid missing any doses.
  • If you take too much rivaroxaban, go to the nearest hospital emergency room or call your doctor right away.

How should I store rivaroxaban?

Store rivaroxaban at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20° to 25° C).

Keep rivaroxaban and all medicines out of the reach of children.

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