Hawai’i Residents routinely hear the commercials on television warning about the dangers of side effects from use of prescription medications. Every prescription drug has some adverse side effect and drug manufacturers usually set up prescription criteria and testing to make sure the patient gets a proper dose, and also provide information on antidotes in the case of an adverse side effect.
Blood thinners and anti-coagulation drugs are known to sometimes lead to internal bleeding and blood clots. Established blood thinners like Warfarin or Coumadin have carefully established prescription protocols that allow doctors to protect their patients before they take the drug and to deal with adverse side effects after they are on the drug. d. With the new line of blood thinners, known as “Xa inhibitors” such as Xarelto® there is no antidote available. The “one-size-fits-all” approach for this new line of drugs is more convenient but places patients at risk of serious injury and death.
In the case of Xarelto® (rivaroxaban) the FDA originally approved the drug to reduce the risk of blood clots for hip or knee replacement patients, but clearly warned that in the case of internal bleeding there is no antidote:
A specific antidote for rivaroxaban is not available. Because of high plasma protein binding, rivaroxaban is not expected to be dialyzable [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Protamine sulfate and vitamin K are not expected ……The use of other procoagulant reversal agents like activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC) or recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) has not been evaluated.
If you are taking Xarelto® (Rivaroxaban), Eliquis (Apixaban), Pradaxa (Dabigatran) or Lixiana (Edoxaban) you should be aware of these risks:
- Internal bleeding
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Brain Hemorrhage
Be safe. Consult your doctor and ask about the risks of uncontrolled internal bleeding. Protect yourself and your loved ones.
