Anticoagulant

[DIB69]

I usually take my rivaroxaban in the evening after my main meal around 7.00pm. I'm going to be spending two weeks with my daughter in Spain where they have their main meal at around 2.00pm. Is it likely I'll suffer any side effects from taking my meds at a different time? My understanding is that it's best to take anticoagulants with a substantial meal.

[Hidden]

You are right, taking it with a main meal enables it to be absorbed into the body so that it can do its stuff. It also reduces the risk of causing stomach discomfort which I understand is one of the main side effects. Why not try bringing the time forward an hour a day until the it coincides with 2pm but don’t forget to take account of the hours difference. Have great time…….

[BobD Volunteer]

No problem. Enjoy your holiday.

[Lucymoo]

You should be fine I take mine around 8 am and 8 pm whether I’ve eaten or not and if away in a different time zone just adjust to same timings locally and it seems to work ok

[Danceawaytheblues]

My GP said that it was ok to take it with a glass of milk and a biscuit which is what I sometimes do if my routine is different. Enjoy your holiday.

[JK5AEO in reply to Danceawaytheblues]

Interesting. This is similar to the advice that I received. The trend on here is the opposite!

[Ppiman]

I was told by my cardiologist that any meal will do, so I take mine during or immediately after breakfast. Unlike in the UK, it seems the FDA recommends an evening dose based on the original drug submission for approval. The absorption was only very minimally reduced with a fatty (i.e. substantial) meal in a study I read.

Steve

[WhitstableWanderer]

I'm currently in Spain and just take my Riveroxiban with our main meal, either lunchtime or evening. Definitely better to take it with a proper meal, a biscuit or similar is better than nothing if you forget.

[DIB69]

Many thanks for all your replies to this query. This forum is so helpful and life affirming and the responses from everyone are much appreciated and reassuring.

[Jbeans]

I always take my tablets in the evening. I always take it with food, but on occasions this might be a sandwich and a yoghurt. Define a substantial meal? For a lot of people it is just a sandwich and cake. I don't know why it's recommended to be taken at night. Maybe it's because digestion takes longer when resting. If Rivaroxaban is taken without food it doesn't have the same absorption rate. For me I try and keep the doses at reasonably the same time. I am going to Florida soon so like you will have to try and sort out timings.

[DIB69 in reply to Jbeans]

Very helpful Jbeans and yes, in fact, I do notice that eating my main meal late and therefore taken my anticoagulant late tends to play games with my digestion.

[Magson]

Everybody has a routine when it comes to taking medication. I usually take Rivoraxaban just after breakfast. I rarely forget but once or twice I have done and have just taken it after lunch. If I forgot the whole day I wouldn't take double dose the next day ( not advised).

[Sportfix]

Good you’ve had loads of replies and good advice. Sorry, I no longer take riveroxaban as I had a bleed behind my knee after foot surgery. I now take Edoxaban. Have a lovely holiday!

[JK5AEO]

I was worried about this as my work dictates that I do not have fixed or regular meal times. I take mine at breakfast (which is relatively predictable). I was worried that my porridge with granola and fruit would not constitute a large enough intake of food. However, I discussed this with the nurse at the GP practice, and she said this was easily enough, backed up by recent research in Canada and New Zealand that found Rivaroxaban was 66% absorbed even on an empty stomach. There has been much advice on this forum urging you to eat a 'full breakfast' or substantial meal when you take the tablet, but it would appear this is not supported by research evidence. Personally, I find that large meals trigger AF, so I am relieved by the guidance and evidence from medics.