My was husband 49, active and in good health was recently diagnosed with a Pulmonary Embolism and prescribed Xarelto. We learned that he also has a hereditary blood disorder Factor V Leiden which is a mutation of one of the clotting factors in the blood. This mutation can increase your chance of developing abnormal blood clots and we have been informed that to keep the risk of future PEs he will need to be on blood thinners for life.
Since taking Xarelto for a little over a month, he is not feeling well. Body aches and pains in his legs, arms, shoulders, he feels cold, weak, and tired. He had a high threshold for pain, and now he feels everything with intensity. Without a doubt these side affects are taking a toll on his mental mood. He is sad.
Has anyone had similar side affects, and did they last while on the medication? His Doctor said it is highly unlikely that the Xarelto is causing these symptoms, but I call B.S.!
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WifeConcerned
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Of course no-one can know for certain, and I am certainly not medially qualified, but from the reports around this message board, where a lot of people take Xarelto (rivaroxaban) I agree with your doctor it is less likely.
I take it without any side effects, and yes your husband could be the exception, but like your doctor I would look elsewhere first if I am honest.
Thanks for your reply Ian, love your name by the way, that is one of my son's names Glad to hear you are free from side effects. I am thankful this site exists. Nice to get feed back from the community to help guide me in helping my husband! Be well yourself!
Hi, I was prescribed Xarelto last Nov and experienced very similar reactions to your husband. Also nausea and dizziness. It took about 2 - 3 months to settle down and fingers crossed I am now feeling much more like my former self. So if its necessary to take it for the overall improvement in your husband's health try and stay with it. Good luck to him.
Thanks for you reply --I forgot to mention he has had nausea and dizziness as well. He has only been on Xarelto for a month, so maybe it is best to give it time. It is just hard to see him not like himself. I will pass along your reply to him. It was helpful. Thank you!
Hi Wifeconcerned, its possible taking a new medication like Xarelto means he will feel like that for 3 months until the body adapts. In the early stages of taking Flecainide, I had a number of complaints you mention in particular sensitivity, cold & tired.
If I was him I would discuss with the doctors first then see a reliable Alternative Practitioner to learn if there are other more natural substances he can take instead plus do more walking (2 miles x2 per day), water and fish (Krill oil) supplement.
I was diagnosed with Factor V Leiden (heterogenous i.e. one gene issue only) at the same age when I developed a clot in the leg after a long car journey without breaks. Clearly, a PE is more serious and probably needs the above and more.
Hope something there helps and thank you for mentioning it, I was told that I think around 10% of the population have Leiden and are unaware as I was. Also, if you have any kids get them checked as 2 out of 3 of mine have it - needless to say Dad did not earn any credits for that one!
My husband has Copy One like you. His Hematologist was perplexed as to why he got the PE in the first place because he hadn't had surgery or broke any bones, etc., However, he did have a few weeks of slight trauma to his body. {twisted his knee and wore a brace at work all day, his surfboard clocked him in the ribs and he felt like he broke his rib cage, strained his back etc.,] He visited with a Chiropractor, and got a deep tissues massage and during the visits they really worked on his legs and calves so we are thinking that is when the clots were released to his lungs. The ER initially misdiagnosed him and set him home {even after stating he may have Factor Five knowing his dad had it and had PE's himself but they ignored that} to end up back at the ER 4 days later. It has been a roller-coaster experience.
The consensus that I am hearing is that he needs to give his body time to adjust to the Xarelto. We are getting a second opinion and have a DR appointment set up with another Hematologist-- did your DR state that because of FFL that you need to stay on thinners for life? Are you concerned that there is no known antidote for Xarelto to stop bleeding is serious injury occurs?
Thanks for the suggestion of Krill, I most definitely will look into that!
My current GP is superb and our local Guildford hospital the same but I am under no allusions that you just blindly follow medical opinion as a generation ago. Lost a lot of faith when I got my leg clot (and diagnosed FFL) 15 years ago and the GP sent me packing twice until I insisted on seeing a specialist, his words 'if you want to waste £150 go ahead'. I did and he apologised later.
Re blood thinners, I have taken nothing since and FFL aside my CHADS score is 0 at 62yo and my cardiologist is happy with that for now. I would take the Xarelto at night and wouldn't worry about the lack of a reversal that should be here soon from USA and the risk must be over 1:1000 plus I think they can do something even now - someone here may have said a blood transfusion, sorry I can't remember.
I use any illness as a challenge to come back more healthy and I have followed the simple things regular brisk walks every morning and evening, cut down on sugar and carbs, increase water and supplements, I have taken Krill Miracle (brand name) for several years now.
Good luck, your husband needs to grit his teeth for a while as he grapples with the drug and the research required but you do come out the other end of the tunnel!
I've been taking the PE dose of xarelto for 3 weeks and had a look on here when I started- I'm sure there are several people on this forum who have reported excessive aches and pains with this drug? If you search for rivaroxaban side effects you should find some info.
I previously was on apixaban and before that dabigatran(which didn't suit me at all) and I'd guess either of these would alternative for your husband? If his problems continue perhaps you could speak
to his GP? What is for sure is that different people suffer different side effects from anti- coagulants and there may be some trial and error involved. i also agree that it does take a bit of time for your body to adjust - I think it took a few months for me to get used to apixaban and within the rivaroxaban I feel very tired and queasy at the moment - it is depressing but probably better than the alternative !!
Thanks for your reply Perrylees -- That is the consensus -- not everybody body's tolerates the same drugs! Obviously...but to hear my husband's DR say that his side effects are unlikely caused by the meds leaves us believing possibly something else could be wrong. I am glad this site exist and I am able to get feed back! It is very helpful. I guess he will need to give it time to see if his body adjusts, then go from there! Thanks again! Take care!!
I know this post is a year old and I hope you've found the cause of his symptoms. I wanted to share my experience in case you are still searching for answers. I've been on xarelto for two years now and also have Factor V Leiden. I had a full leg dvt in 2012 and was on warfarin for a year. Off that for over a year and had a second unprovoked dvt. I'm now on xarelto for life. I had no side effects per se. What I did notice is medications I've taken prior to xarelto are having opposite effects. Example would be Benadryl used to knock me out. Now I can't take it in the evening unless I want to stay awake. I had a scan with contrast. Not my first time with contrast but now I'm allergic. I'm also not reacting to pollen in the air like I used to which is great. So xarelto may not be the cause of the symptoms but rather an instigator for another med he may be on and reacting differently. This would take some trial and error to find the problem med if he's on more than a couple. I'd hate to see him discontinue xarelto or think he can't take it with his condition. Having been on warfarin I know what a pitb it is to keep your numbers consistent. Good luck to you both and I hope this info is no longer needed because he's doing great!!
I realize this is an old post but feel compelled to relay my experience. I too had a DVT and PE in 2005 that almost killed me. I struggled with warfarin/Coumadin for ten years. Warfarin was the worst. Constantly changing the dose. Blood tests every week. A pharmacist told me that with blood thinners I would be better off with the brand name meds. That turned out to be true, but the restrictions on my diet were too much to comply with. In 2016 I was put on Xarelto. Life has been so much better. Although the cost of the drug is oppressive, even on Medicare, I will continue to take it. I have had no side effects ever. Is it ideal? No. But since he has factor V, as do I, it is a necessary drug and the best alternative out there. I hope he is doing better on it. For me it was a godsend.
Have you went to their patient assistance website? I am only havung2to pay $10 a month after filling out a short firm! I just started taking xarelto after fighting with warfarin for 5 years. Factor v leiden carrier. 2 dvts and a double pulmonary embolism. i have been struggling with the cold and upset stomach but am trying to hang in for a month or 2 to see if it subsides
Thank you very much for the information. I read the list of requirements and believe now that i am semi-retired I should qualify. I have been on Xarelto two years now and have had no side effects. I printed out the application and will be filling it out this week. The drug is so expensive, even with Medicare part D it can run $2000 a year. I thank you very much for the advice.
I am the mother of a 37 yr old son who had factor v for years. I am told he inherited it. He was on warfin from age of 12 till 36 yr old. He got a new doctor that changed his warfin to Xarelto then he stated getting very sick aching hurting all over then went into renal failure 4 times in 7 months. Then he dropped dead at the kitchen sink. Dead before he hit the floor. It’s been 7 months since he died and I cannot help but wonder if he was still on warfin would he still be here.
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Glad to hear you are free from side effects. I am thankful this site exists. Nice to get feed back from the community to help guide me in helping my husband! Be well yourself! 
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