Xarelto
is a blood thinner used to prevent the formation of blood clots. It is
prescribed for patients with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm
irregularity, and for patients who are undergoing certain types of joint
replacement surgery who are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis,
a condition that may lead to blood clots in the lungs and other parts
of the circulatory system.
Xarelto was introduced on the market in
2011, making it relatively new. The manufacturer, Janssen
Pharmaceuticals, promoted it as an alternative to Warfarin, requiring no
monitoring.
However, patients absorb the drug at different rates.
Some patients who have taken Xarelto experienced uncontrolled bleeding,
which may lead to serious injury or death. Unlike Wayfarin, however,
Xarelto has no antidote if a patient experiences internal bleeding. The
blood thinner must pass out of the system gradually, meaning it could be
too late for the victim. There have been numerous reports of
uncontrolled bleeding, causing serious side effects including death,
according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
Recognizing Xarelto Side Effects
In
some cases, drugs are released on the market that have not been tested
adequately, and side effects from long term usage do not become evident
until years later. After release upon the market, some medications are
then discovered to have harmful, or even fatal side effects.
Serious Xarelto side effects may require emergency treatment, particularly when any unusual bleeding develops. Some minor side effects can include muscle pain, itching, and pain in the arms and legs. Any significant changes are to be reported to your doctor. Serious side effects are the major concern with this medication. They include: