Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a prescription medicine used to treat and prevent blood clots in adults. It is a blood thinner that works by slowing down the bodys ability to clot by selectively blocking one of the clotting factors found in the blood, an enzyme called Factor Xa. Xarelto is used to:
- Reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in adults who have a medical condition called atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem.
- Treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which harmful blood clots form in the blood vessels of the legs.
- Treat pulmonary embolism (PE), a blood clot in the lung.
- Prevent DVT and PE from happening again after initial treatment is completed in adults.
- Prevent clots after surgery to replace the knee or hip.
- Lower the risk of stroke in people with AFib (atrial fibrillation).
- Lower the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with heart or peripheral artery disease.
Xarelto is available only with a doctors prescription and should be taken exactly as prescribed. It is important to follow the doctors instructions carefully and not to change the dose or stop taking the medication without consulting the doctor first. Xarelto may cause side effects, such as increased risk of bleeding, and may interact with other medications, so it is important to inform the doctor of all medications being taken.
