I have just changed from warfarin to Xarelto, at my own request. While in warfarin and bisoprolol for the last 5 or so years, I have felt very stiff, achy, painful muscles and joints, thick headed, and overall struggling day to day, plus extreme fatigue and unable to walk far without exhaustion. I have been told when the cat was diagnosed, that apart from the af, there are no other issues with my heart and it is healthy. The last dose of Warfarin was Friday morning, I started the new med Sunday evening. Already I feel different, clearer and more flexible. How much of this is the psychological expectation of change or actual physiological change I don’t know, but I definitely feel different and for the better! My history is I had a TIA in 2013, diagnosed AF about 2015 (I think 😂) I am 64 next month. These are the only two meds I take (was 8mg warfarin, Now 20mg Xarelto and 2.5mg bisoprolol) .
Swopping to Xarelto from Warfarin - Atrial Fibrillati...
Swopping to Xarelto from Warfarin
Good news Tilly, it’s called Rivaroxaban here in the UK. I expect you probably know but it should always be taken with a substantial main meal otherwise it might cause stomach discomfort......
Thank you, Flapjack. It’s Xarelto on the packet, I couldn’t recall how to spell the generic name 😂😂😂😂 Yes, I read on their site it’s best to take at teatime if it’s to do with AF, and with food. Thank you for reconfirming for me, much appreciated.
That's interesting. I was told to take Xarelto (it's still not a generic in the UK) along with breakfast not to ward off any stomach irritation but because it needs food in the stomach to be sufficiently absorbed. My doctor also said that fatty foods had been shown to aid absorption a little more but that the difference was unimportant.
Steve
Hi Steve, on the us website for the drug it says this : “ To reduce your risk of an AFib-related stroke, you should take XARELTO® once a day with your evening meal. “. I used to take warfarin in the morning as that is when I take bisoprolol, but I kept forgetting the warfarin, so moved it the to morning. The GP wasn’t bothered and no-one could tell me why it should be taken at night. I think it all depends who you speak to, which website you look at etc 😂 I know it needs to be taken with food to minimise risk of damage/upset to stomach. Snacking that such a tiny pill can have such a profound affect! Penny
Hi - thanks for that. I did raise this with my cardiologist I recall, now. In the UK, a different regimen is recommended owing to the way the drug was initially given approval, I gather; the FDA's approval in the US brought them to recommend their evening dosing recommendation. According to my doctor, it's of no consequence.
Steve
I think both issues are right Steve. I take Apixaban so I have no direct experience but I recall BobD saying that there has been announcements saying fat in the food is important to aid absorption.
I looked at the study and the difference seemed to be minimal as my cardiologist said. These trials - and scientist's ways of evaluating data - sometimes leave the real world behind. 
I used to be involved in them, as you know, and, well - let's say my trust in the scientific method remains unshakeable, whereas my trust in scientists themselves less so. And over the Covid crisis, my trust in government scientists has plummeted...
Steve
The scientific method should be beyond reproach and if stuck to the conclusions reasonably reliable. It is when there are deviations by scientists who are more interested in proving their hypothesis right than the truth that problems arise. I think as far as the government's advice about the pandemic is concerned there has been too much reliance on mathematical modelling and not enough on public health experts. Ferguson in particular has been a disaster. Given his modelling for other health crises in the past was so way off reality it seems odd that so much attention has been paid to him.
Maybe - but Ferguson would have closed the borders, whereas Johnson welcomed tens of thousands of people from infected countries to enjoy sports matches and similar.
I’m not happy with him at all.
Steve
Me neither. The borders ( especially with hotspots like China and Italy )should have been closed immediately but this is a matter of common sense. The problem I have with Ferguson is that his way over the top predictions and poor past record give fuel to the anti lockdowners.
My own belief is that Ferguson was regularly quoted out of context to create provocative soundbites. I doubt that the Covid deniers, anti-vaxxers and conspiracy followers need anything to move them to their cynical and pessimistic standpoint. I sometimes wonder whether they haven't signed their brains away to the cult they follow.
Steve
I do find it hard to understand where the covid deniers are coming from! On the other hand I do think that there has been colossal mismanagement of the pandemic in some countries due to choices fuelled by political ideology. Even here there has been a continuation of closing hospital beds for "efficiency" savings at the very time when every bed is needed.
New hospitals stand empty and mothballed; NHS managers tour Asia recruiting new foreign staff; Johnson tells us it’ll all be different now.
Well they' ll need to get staff from Asia having driven away the Europeans by making them feel unwelcome and burned out the remaining staff.
My son is married to a lovely Romanian nurse so I know all about the effects of Brexit and the verbal actions of a few Brexiters during their referendum. You’d be saddened.
Steve
I have also changed about 9months agoMy inr wasn’t very staple and they didn’t want me going for blood tests so often during COVID
I find I bleed a lot more if I get a cut etc. on the rivaroxin
I asked to change, I was waking up everyday with it in my head that I would feel better on a DOACs than warfarin...... time will tell x
I was changed from Warfarin to Rivaroxaban when my INR wouldn't stabilise I took it for only 12 days because of the aches and pains I had throughout my body after the first dose. At my request I went back to Warfarin and bought my own Coaguchek meter to test my INR at home.
I hadn't in my previous 23 years of AF been prescribed a beta blocker, but I was 3 years ago when my heart rate rosé to over 190bpm while under general anesthesia in hospital. After 7 weeks of Bisoprolol I had a rare side effect, urticaria which is now chronic urticaria. While being weaned off Bisoprolol I had the second side effect, exacerbation of asthma causing a two night stay in hospital.
I no longer take any beta blockers.
This is an illustration of how different people react to the same drugs.
Hello best wishes. The only side effect I have is wind. Since taking Rivaroxiban I get full of wind in the evening after having a meal. I take and was advised to take with food in the evening. So I usually take half way through my evening meal if I remember or very shortly after. My watch is set to remind me if all else fails to. I’ve had a flu jab without problem and hope to have my covid jab when they start down here in Kent.
I take xaralto in the morning after breakfast and I’ve been fine. I’ve been on it since October 2019.
Interesting. I’m a night shift worker and I take both Bisoprolol and rivaoxaban with my main meal (and breakfast, yawn) in the late afternoon before work at 5ish.
I’ve not had any stomach issues at all (10 months and counting).
I fear it’s the bisoprolol that affects me most as I feel I’m generally walking in custard, slowed down especially in thinking.
My short term memory is sporadicly invisible and is starting to bother me. And my normal low pulse is slowed, unless I’m in AF of course.
I’m due a (telephone call) review tomorrow by the Dr. so I have armed myself with questions I would like answers too.
Wish me luck.
Interesting description about ‘like walking in custard’ and slow thinking. I have an issue with gluten - they won’t test me for celiacs (that’s another story) but too much wheat also makes my memory foggy and my head thick, feels like it’s full of cotton wool! Once the Xarelto has settled in I will look at what is going on with the bisoprolol ..... 🥰
Tilly, how are you coming along on xarelto?
Warfarin advice
Xarelto
Warfarin results and af meds
changing from Warfarin
