Rivaroxaban

[Sueplo]

I've been on this new anti coagulation drug for 12 days to treat a dvt and have un provoked bleeding from the gums, anyone else had this? Thinking I'd rather be on warfarin which I had after my first dvt 20 years ago with no side effects.

[Hidden]

I'm really interested by the various comments that are posted about anti-coagulants. On another post people are talking about how awful warfarin is and here you are saying how you would prefer to go back to warfarin.

My only experience is with warfarin. Apart from my natural aversion to injesting pharmaceuticals I really don't have any problem with warfarin. I have experienced one or two things which may, or may not, be related to taking warfarin, bloodshot eyes for example, but overall don't have any negatives.

But, why has your medication changed? Is there any reason why you can't use warfarin?

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

Some lucky people get on with warfarin and are in the therapeutic range all the time. For the unlucky few, INR constantly wanders and warfarin is a nightmare. Going for an INR test is a challenge, an opportunity to disappoint and be disappointed and one can come away deeply dissatisfied by either the result, the dose ordained or the time lapse before the next test, and sometimes all three. I didn't like having to go back the next week, but it was better than being told I worried too much and would be fine for weeks ahead. With 33 INR tests in the space of a year, I had no stability, no feeling of protection, no peace of mind.

[PeterWh in reply to Rellim296]

I fully agree. I think that it is only four weeks in total this year that I have not had a weekly test and two of those were when I was on holiday (and used my coaguchek).

[Rellim296 in reply to PeterWh]

Weekly tests may be tedious but at least you know where you are. It's being sent off to the blue yonder that's scary.

[PeterWh in reply to Rellim296]

Lol !!!!!

[Lorna058 in reply to Rellim296]

I did find the constant testing at clinic very inconvenient, so I now do my own testing at home and just phone the result through to the clinic. It makes life much more flexible. I am usually in range too, so I am happy with warfarin

[Rellim296 in reply to Lorna058]

When it's good it's very, very good and when it's bad it is horrid.

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

Rellim, what a coherent post, you've put the nightmare of Warfarin, for some, very succinctly and you've nailed it. I can't tell you about the disappointment and even despair week after week but this is something that those of us with problems and Warfarin know only too well. I've only been on my NOAC since Friday but I already feel different, I now have the peace of mind you mentioned, bliss.

Stay well my friend

Avril

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that. I sank quite low when Warfarin and the need for an increased dose of Flecainide invaded my life. Every mouthful was questionable and I lost weight that I could ill afford. I felt I'd been suddenly been whooshed forwards about 20 years to the life of an old person and medication dominated my day. But it helped that my other half was on far nastier stuff - short term only. He's been hugely supportive and understood my many frustrations. Whatever I did I could not get nicely to the middle of the therapeutic range and feel I'd got the hang of Warfarin. I seethed inwardly for months and hammered my treadmill and worse. Finding the forum and understanding AF and Warfarin better helped me turn the corner and then was it was wonderful to give up Flecainide. Swapping to Rivaroxaban six months ago has magically restored me to feeling real again and I feel immensely grateful to be I'm where I am now.

I am so sorry Sueplo that we have wandered elsewhere here.

[Sueplo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I was on warfarin 20 years ago for a dvt when I was 28, because it was my first and I was young I didn't have to stay on it. Now I have my 2nd dvt they decided riveroxaban would be better/easier. I didn't have any side effects with warfarin but I know how difficult it can be since my mum is on it. I just don't like the bleeding gums for no reason , I accept when you brush teeth etc but for them to just start out of the blue worries me!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Sueplo]

As I have said before anticoagulants do not really thin your blood. This is an erroneous monica but easier to spell than anticoagulant. If you bleed it is due to an infection or an injury (gingivitis?) not because of the anticoagulant. Your blood does not suddenly start leaking but it may take longer to clot if you do bleed. In some rare cases small capillaries may rupture and what would normally clot in seconds may take minutes.

Bob

[seasider18 in reply to BobD]

Comparing the side effects in on BNF between Warfarin and Rivaroxaban.

Warfarin:

For all VITAMIN K ANTAGONISTS:

Frequency not known

Alopecia; diarrhoea; haemorrhage; hepatic dysfunction; jaundice; nausea; pancreatitis; purpura; pyrexia; rash; skin necrosis (increased risk in patients with protein C or protein S deficiency); vomiting; ‘purple toes’

Rivaroxaban.:

Common or very common

Abdominal pain; constipation; diarrhoea; dizziness; dyspepsia; haemorrhage; headache; hypotension; nausea; pain in extremities; pruritus; rash; renal impairment; vomiting

Uncommon

Angioedema; dry mouth; malaise; syncope; tachycardia; thrombocythaemia

Rare

Jaundice; oedema

I find frequency not know to be strange for Warfarin that has been around for so long.

[Sueplo in reply to BobD]

Afraid that's not so, one of the side effects is bleeding gums, I don't have gingivitis or an infection, I go to the dentist every three months. I know they are not blood thinners but the blood doesn't clot as well so you can just start to bleed, internal as well as external .

[Therealsue]

I've been on Rivaroxaban for just over a year. Thus far, no side effects at all. Mind you, I never had any with warfarin - I just didn't like having to monitor what I ate.

[Geza10]

cheap drug warfarin been around to long my dad was on it for 36 years he had bleeds in his brain all the time rots the vains but they will not tell you that he died 2 years ago rivaroxaban is alot more £££ so they wont offer it to you need to ask for it im on it for the reason above

[Stockton_Boy]

I have been on Rivaroxaban for nearly 3 years and wouldn't swap for warfarin at any cost. I seen the inconvenience and sometimes the number of tests my father had. Stick with it, the bleeding gums may or may not be something else. Also they may settle down.

[Dee1989]

Hi I am on riveroxaban since my ablation 6 weeks ago. Never had bleeding gums in the past now I have them every day

[PeterWh]

I suggest that you all tell your GPs and get them to log it and that you also contact the manufacturers directly. This is how they find out about additional side effects that may not have come out in their trials