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Xarelto

Posted on 01/31/2017 11:59:38 AM PST by Allen In Texas Hill Country

Just had a regular annual physical and the next thing I know I was prescribed Xarelto. Is it reasonable for me to be scared as hell starting this med? The possible side effects take 3 or 4 pages and the next few pages warn of what happens if one stops taking it. This is almost a no win situation. This just came out of the blue along with mass confusion.

It seems I have a mild case of afib which was explained and it was said that while the afix situation is further explored/resolved I should be on a blood thinner.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: vanity
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Anybody else out there taking this with a bit more calm attitude????

Please and thanks.

1 posted on 01/31/2017 11:59:38 AM PST by Allen In Texas Hill Country
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Do not take this. There is no way to reverse its effects. If you cut yourself you will bleed for a day after your last dose.


2 posted on 01/31/2017 12:03:43 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

My StepDad is on this. He has an afib issue, and had a pace maker put in last year and had his carotid artery (the one in your neck) cleaned out, as it was blocked; less blood to the brain so he got dizzy a lot. He’ll be 80 this year.

He does bruise more easily, and he bleeds like crazy if he cuts himself (he’s a woodworker - always does!) and there are some veggies he can no longer eat (brassica family) but he’s not had any bad side-effects that he’s mentioned.


3 posted on 01/31/2017 12:04:28 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Ask Arnold Palmer


4 posted on 01/31/2017 12:05:53 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

See a cardiologist.


5 posted on 01/31/2017 12:06:38 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ ("It's a war against humanity!" Donald J. Trump)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

what is a “mild” case of afib? Usually, it is one of three things, persistent, intermittent, or “lone wolf”. I was not aware that they would prescribe a blood thinner for intermittent, or lone wolf, unless you are a stroke risk. There is a test of risk factors that they give you, and if you exceed a certain score, a blood thinner is recommended.

Are they planning on doing a cardioversion (or, possibly, an ablation)? If so, they would want you on a blood thinner because a clot *could* be loosened during the procedure. And, in fact, they would test your clotting time pre-op just to make sure that you hadn’t skipped any.

Just be thankful that you are not having to take warfarin. If you think xarelto is bad ...

And yes, I am currently on xarelto. At first, I was scared to shave (kidding, but only just). But incidents really are rare, and strokes aren’t fun.


6 posted on 01/31/2017 12:07:57 PM PST by jjsheridan5
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Every medicine that’s been hawked on tv ends up being sued out of existence. Just saying.


7 posted on 01/31/2017 12:08:42 PM PST by bgill (From the CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

I have been taking for years with no ill effect. I had a DVT in my leg, and they found I have a genetic factor which predisposes me to clots. therefore, I’m on this for the duration.

This drug does not require periodic blood tests to monitor like warfarin does.


8 posted on 01/31/2017 12:09:10 PM PST by marsed
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Get a second opinion!! I was on Xarelto for several months following a DVT. Also ask for D-Dimer test. It tests for inflammation in the body and can lead to problems/clots. I am now on a low dose aspirin daily and that’s all. Xarelto is fairly new and I think over prescribed. I had no clotting factors in my blood but because my doctor was so thorough he asked for the D-Dimer test. The low dose aspirin has helped bring that factor down in my body. Just get a second opinion before you get stuck on Xarelto.


9 posted on 01/31/2017 12:09:24 PM PST by MomwithHope (THE LIBERAL BUBBLE HAS BURST!!!)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

My wife has been taking this for about for a year. So far, she hasn’t had any problems. It’s very important that if you have an afib problem, you take the blood thinner. My neighbor decided to quit taking his without his doctor’s approval and had a massive stroke.


10 posted on 01/31/2017 12:10:25 PM PST by jumpingcholla34
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Relax and breathe I have been on xarelto since June 2015 after surviving a massive blood clot in a lung.....you just need to avoid getting cut...and I am not allowed to take aspirins.


11 posted on 01/31/2017 12:11:38 PM PST by Dog (..."I'm just a cook....")
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Relax and breathe I have been on xarelto since June 2015 after surviving a massive blood clot in a lung.....you just need to avoid getting cut...and I am not allowed to take aspirins.


12 posted on 01/31/2017 12:11:44 PM PST by Dog (..."I'm just a cook....")
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

Relax and breathe I have been on xarelto since June 2015 after surviving a massive blood clot in a lung.....you just need to avoid getting cut...and I am not allowed to take aspirins.


13 posted on 01/31/2017 12:13:17 PM PST by Dog (..."I'm just a cook....")
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country
...it was said that while the afix situation is further explored/resolved I should be on a blood thinner.

Read up on Nattokinase. It's a natural blood thinner product that is effective, safe, and economical.

My wife was prescribed blood thinning medication for a medical issue a number of years ago. She started the medication, and the immediate side effects were horrendous, and almost worse than her underlying condition.

A friend who'd been through a similar health crisis counseled us (in very strong terms) to switch over to Nattokinase right away, which we did. It immediately began doing what the pharma drug was supposed to do, without the added side effects.

14 posted on 01/31/2017 12:13:22 PM PST by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

My wife also has A-fib, and was prescribed Eliquis by her cardiologist for the condition. We’ve heard all kinds of horror stories about Xarelto, and even if only a few of these are true, I wouldn’t touch it.


15 posted on 01/31/2017 12:13:42 PM PST by mikrofon (Health BUMP)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

You do have a choice. The Good thing about Xarelto is that you do not need lab tests to check your PT/INR (clotting time) every so often. The bad is that it is true—it is not reversable. The hospital can give you FFP and Platelets to reverse the bleeding in emergency situations. The other choice is Coumadin (warfin). It has been around for years and works but you nust limit your vitaminK intake and also not eat any green leafy veggies (they have Vit K). You also need to have blood tests every so often. Your choice really. I work as an RN in a Major University Medical Center in the Radiology Department where we do angiograms and routinely see folks on both. IMHO it’s a crap shoot either way. Best thing is to get your AFIB fixed asap. The longer you wait the harder it is to stop. See a Cardiologist!!!!!!


16 posted on 01/31/2017 12:14:40 PM PST by timlilje
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

If you have afib, see a Chiropractor for an adjustment of your thoracic vertebrae. It appears to be a pinched nerve to the heart that causes the problem. Mrs. Submareener’s chiropractor can stop an afib episode in seconds. He taught me how to do the adjustment, and I can usually stop them as well. Any excuse for a hug. ;-)


17 posted on 01/31/2017 12:14:52 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR)
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

My husband has been on warfarin/Coumadin for a long time due to afib. His cardiologist said that we could look into Xaralto (sp?) and one other that starts with an “E” (I think). I looked into them starting with insurance coverage and it would have been about $100 for 90 days supply (after union ins./good) compared to warfarin/Coumadin that costs less than $3 for 90 days. The other 2 are less restrictive in what you eat though.

I do see periodic commercials (lawyers?) regarding lawsuits on either of the 2 newer blood slickeners, but have no opinion on that, sorry.

We just got back from Mayo/Rochester, MN this week; about 9 months after he had an ablation procedure for his afib. He has not had a re-occurrence and his heart looks good sizewise, etc., but due to high blood pressure/kidney disease he will have to remain on warfarin/Coumadin. Good luck to you!


18 posted on 01/31/2017 12:15:42 PM PST by scenicsoap
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

My father was on this drug.

He had afib. Also was receiving treatments for prostate cancer which caused blood clotting issues. Had a mini stroke and they wanted him on blood thinners.

After a few weeks on the drug he had routine blood work, and his doctor freaked out. Demanded that he be admitted to the hospital NOW. It appears his kidneys were shutting down. Apparently it was the drug. They got him off of it and put him on Warfarin. That did not affect his kidneys, but left him with a horrible metallic taste in his mouth. He could not eat and began dropping a lot of weight.

He needed some minor surgery so they got him off the warfarin. I saw him in the hospital, and he was so happy that he could actually taste his food again that he was going to ask the doctor to put him back on the Xarelto.

Three days later he had a pulmonary embolism and died.

I guess at the end of the day, none of these drugs did him any good.


19 posted on 01/31/2017 12:16:36 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Allen In Texas Hill Country

In general, it is a bad idea to seek medical advice for a potentially serious problem on a political bulletin board.

There are alternatives to this medication.

If you are concerned about taking this medicine, get a second opinion from a good cardiologist.


20 posted on 01/31/2017 12:18:20 PM PST by paterfamilias
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