Rivaroxaban and headaches

[Muir211]

Iv just been diagnosed with provoked PE following a relapse of MS and being less mobile and steroids used to improve symptoms causing huge fluid overload. I’m 39 and usually very fit active and able 😢. Develop a PE and diagnosed a week ago. Was started on Rivaroxaban and have in the last 3 days developed severe headaches which come and go. They seem worse on standing up coughing etc. I see headaches are a side effect but have any of you suffered these and being so severe at times….. will this settle once I get used to the drug ? Thank you

[Hidden]

Oh dear, poor you. I think headaches caused by coughing are very common. Do you have a minor virus on top of everything else, which could be causing the headaches and making the coughing worse?

[Muir211 in reply to Hidden]

thank you for your reply. I feel well otherwise but I suppose anything is possible after being in hospital surrounded by lots of poorly people with flu , etc. just never suffered headaches and these have been bad. Suppose a lot of changes recently too 🙏

[123Rusty]

It can take from a few days to 2 weeks for side effects to settle. I have been on Rivaroxaban for three years after an unprovoked PE. After a few months my dose was reduced to the lowest of 10mg, which I am on now. I still do have side effects, which I find tolerable. The two main ones are discomfort in the stomach and bowel, that I minimise by taking with a meal and milk to line the gut. The other is breathlessness and occasionally headaches. If I have a haeadache it’s usually on waking. Keeping well hydrated tends to avoid this.

I did switch to Apixaban for a while but got different side effects, one of which was a foggy brain., so I switched back. There are a number of different anticoagulants and if your symptoms don’t improve its well worth a discussion with GP or consultant to find one that suits you.

[Muir211 in reply to 123Rusty]

thank you so much for your reply . I managed to see a gp today and they have swapped me to edoxaban and my Bp was high which is very unusual for me. Hopefully both will settle 🙏

[wf234]

I have been on Rivaroxaban for about 10 years following a second DVT. In that time I have not had a single headache. Maybe I am just lucky, but your symptoms don't sound like a side effect to me.

[Brookiebiceps]

I had headaches on 20mg.. amongst other symptoms. I'm also on 10mg as of last year and my symptoms did improve but I still have some, including headaches here and there. If they are severe and not relieved with Tylenol and hydration, you need to see your Dr. Be well.. it gets better but never the same as before.

[Muir211 in reply to Brookiebiceps]

thank you so much for your reply , Gp has changed me to edoxaban today to see if that helps. Bp was high which is unheard of for me . Hoping I will settle soon .

[tracey13]

I've been on rivaroxaban now for 7 years now after my last DVT . I'm on these for life now after having three separate DVTs.I've had no side effects from them.

My daughter has just had a virus with terrible ice pick headaches . Look these up and there's a remedy you can drink . Think it's water squeezed lemon and Himalayan pink salt see if this helps.

Hope you get sorted soon.

Tracey