Mild and Severe Xarelto Side Effects

Rivaroxaban is a type of drug known as an anticoagulant, or as commonly known as blood thinner. It belongs to a class of drugs called anticoagulants, specifically the factor Xa inhibitors (blockers). Xarelto, which is the brand name of the drug Rivaroxaban, is commonly used for a number of conditions such as:

• preventing stroke who suffer from nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
• preventing and treating blood clots in the blood vessels (blood clots are formed in certain veins of the legs and is called deep vein thromboses (DVT). These clots can travel up to the lungs, resulting pulmonary embolisms)
• preventing PE and DVT after hip or knee replacement surgery
• reducing the risk of main cardiac problems such as heart attack or stroke in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) or chronic coronary artery disease (CAD)

However, there have been some serious studies about xarelto side effects. Rivaroxaban helps prevent blood clots by blocking a called factor Xa. Once blocked, it decreases the amount of an enzyme called thrombin which is responsible for forming clots in the blood. When thrombin is reduced, this prevents the clot from forming. Stroke, heart attack and other serious cardiac problems are caused when there are internal blood clots. The drug was said o help reduce these complications.

But as mentions, there have been thousands of reports about the harmful xarelto side effects.

The more common side effects that are reported include:

• bleeding, with bruising and incessant flow of blood.

When these health effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if the bruising remains or the bleeding continues, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

But there are some serious side effects as well. They include symptoms such as:

• unexpected bleeding or bleeding which stays for a long time, such as unusual bleeding from the gums, frequent nosebleeds, menstrual bleeding which is heavier than normal, or other unusual vaginal bleeding
• bleeding that’s almost uncontrollable
• bright red or black stools which look like tar
• red, pink, or brown-colored urine
• coughing up blood or blood clots
• vomiting blood or vomit which resembles coffee grounds
• extreme swelling with pain, or new drainage at wound sites

Spinal or epidural blood clots are also serious. People who take rivaroxaban, have a risk of forming a severe blood clot, have another medication injected into their spinal and epidural area, or suffer from a spinal puncture will be at risk of this medication. This can also cause long-term or permanent paralysis. Symptoms can include:

• pain, tingling, or numbness
• muscle weakness, especially in the legs and feet
• incontinence (loss of control of the bowels or bladder)

To avoid the side effects, patients should not take the medication if:-

• they are allergic to rivaroxaban
• they have high risk of bleeds
• they have diagnosed liver disease
• they take other anticoagulants such as warfarin or heparin
• they have body lesion at the verge of bleeding
• pregnant or breast-feeding

Allegations

The claimants of the Xarelto lawsuits highlighted that the manufacturing companies supposedly failed to provide a complete guide to the physicians in regard to whether a patient was eligible to take the medicine. It is an unreasonably dangerous drug which the companies constantly misrepresented as a safe alternative to the similar existing medications.