Rivaroxaban Patient Education Flashcards
Rivaroxaban Brand Name
Xarelto
What is rivaroxaban?
anticogulant or “blood thinner” that treats and prevents harmful clots in veins, arteries, brain, lungs, and heart
Why?
after an injury, your body uses clotting factors to stop the bleeding. Sometimes harmful blood clots can form in the veins of your legs, lungs,brain or heart and cause a blockage.
How does it work?
rivaroxaban prevents clost from forming or getting bigger by blocking one of the clotting factors (factor Xa)
What is rivaroxaban used to treat?
Prevent blood clots and reduce risk of stroke in people with a type of irregular heart beat know as atrial fibrillation
prevent clots in legs and lungs after hip or knee replacement surgery
Treat blood clots in the veins (DVT) or lungs (PE) and reduce risk of occuring again
Will I need routine blood checks?
you will not need regular blood test to monitor this medication
your doctor or anticoagulation clinic will check your complete blood count, kidney and liver funciton test when you start rivaroxaban
you will need to have your CBC check each year and have your kidney and liver funciton tested as instructed by your doctor
How should I take it?
take at the same time everyday
10mg, take with or without food.
15mg or 20mg, take with food
Can I crush or mix?
if you cannot swallow the tablet whole, you may crush the tablet and mix it with applesauce. Be sure to take it within 4 hours of crushing
What do I do if I miss a dose?
If you are taking rivaroxaban qd and you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. DO NOT take 2 doses at once.
EXCEPTION: if you are taking 15mg two times a day, you may take 2 doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose
Discontinuation
Do not stop taking without talking to your doctor
*be sure to refill on time
How do I store?
room temperature in a tightly sealed pill bottle
protect from light and humidity
DO NOT store in the bathroom
Side effects:
Minor bleeding is most common: brusing more easily occasional light nose bleeds prolonged or heavier menstrual bleeding prolonged bleeding after minor cuts
Side effects less common
rash
mild back pain
feeling dizzy or tired
When to call doctor or seek emergency help immediatly
allergic reaction: severe
blistering, peeling, red skin rash
bloody or brown urine
bloody or black, tarry stools
vomit that looks like coffee grounds
Are there restrictions on food or alcohol?
limit intake of grapefruit or grapefruit juice. (May incrase riks of bleeding )
limit alcohol as it can incrase your risk of bleeding
