Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet (rivaroxaban) is a prescription anticoagulant belonging to the Factor Xa inhibitor class. It is used to treat or prevent blood clots in the legs or lungs, lower stroke risk in atrial fibrillation, and reduce clot-related risks after surgery or during certain heart and circulation conditions. It works by blocking a protein called factor Xa that the body needs to form clots. It is available as a tablet and as an oral suspension.

What is Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet

Xarelto Starter Pack is a prescription blood thinner (anticoagulant) used to treat or prevent blood clots.

Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet uses

• Treats or prevents blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• Lowers the risk of a blood clot coming back after treatment for blood clots
• Used with aspirin to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart and circulation problems in adults with coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease, including those who recently had a procedure to improve blood flow to the legs
• Prevents blood clots in adults who can't move as normal during or after a hospital stay or after hip or knee replacement surgery
• Prevents blood clots in children 2 years and older who have had surgery for a heart problem present at birth
• Lowers the risk of stroke and blood clots in adults with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat)

Benefits of Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet

• Reduces the risk of stroke in people with certain irregular heartbeats
• Treats existing blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Helps prevent new blood clots from forming after surgery or during illness
• Lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke when combined with aspirin in certain heart and blood flow conditions

How Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet works

Xarelto works by blocking a protein in the blood called factor Xa, which the body needs to form clots. This slows down the clotting process so clots are less likely to form or grow.

Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Do not change your dose or stop taking this medication without your doctor's advice, as stopping suddenly can increase your risk of blood clots or stroke. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine, especially before surgery or dental work.

For some conditions, this medicine should be taken with food; whether you take it with or without food may depend on the tablet strength, so follow your doctor's instructions carefully. If taking certain tablet strengths, the dose should be followed immediately by food. If you cannot swallow a tablet whole, it can be crushed and mixed with a small amount of applesauce and swallowed right away without chewing. Ask your healthcare provider about giving this medicine through a feeding tube if needed.

Do not split the tablets to give a smaller dose; talk to your doctor about switching to the liquid form if swallowing is difficult for a child. If a child vomits soon after taking the liquid form, give a new full dose; if vomiting happens later, do not give another dose and continue with the next scheduled dose. Shake the oral liquid before use and measure doses with the device provided, not a kitchen spoon.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Oral suspension (liquid)

Side effects of Xarelto Starter Pack Tablet

Common

• Bleeding
• Vomiting (especially in children)
• Cough (especially in children)
• Stomach or gut inflammation (especially in children)
• Abdominal pain or back pain
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Itching
• Muscle spasms
• Sleeping difficulties
• Anxiety or depression

Serious

• Severe or life-threatening bleeding, including internal bleeding in the stomach, lungs, or brain
• Signs of allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Spinal or epidural blood clot (hematoma) causing back pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control, which can lead to permanent paralysis
• Kidney problems, including acute kidney failure
• Eosinophilic pneumonia (a rare lung condition)
• Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome)
• Blood clots, heart attack, or stroke if the medicine is stopped too soon

Warnings and precautions

• Do not stop taking this medicine without your doctor's advice, as stopping suddenly can increase your risk of blood clots or stroke.
• Some other medicines can increase your risk of bleeding when taken with this medicine, so tell your doctor about everything you take.
• This medicine can cause a serious blood clot around the spinal cord if you have a spinal tap or spinal anesthesia (epidural), which could cause permanent or long-term paralysis. Tell any doctor treating you that you are taking this medicine.
• Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury, and use extra care while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to it or if you have active or uncontrolled bleeding.
• Taking this medicine during pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about the risks.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, as this can affect how the medicine works in your body.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, as this can affect how the medicine works in your body.
• It isn't known for certain if alcohol affects this medicine, but both alcohol and this medicine can increase your risk of bleeding, so it's best to limit how much you drink.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat
• Do not freeze the oral suspension (liquid)
• Keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Seek emergency medical attention if you have symptoms of a spinal blood clot, such as back pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness in your lower body, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of bleeding, such as bruising or bleeding that won't stop, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain or swelling or new drainage from a wound, headaches, dizziness, weakness, feeling like you might pass out, urine that looks red, pink, or brown, or bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
• Get medical help right away if you have used too much of this medicine, as an overdose may cause excessive bleeding.

Alternatives

• Warfarin
• Eliquis
• Pradaxa