Stopping Xarelto (Page 4)

I have been instructed to stop my 20mg a day after being on it for 6 months (2 PE's one in each lung at Xmas) and I have to say I am really worried and every little pain I think its come back. I have another 3 weeks to go until I got for a blood test to see if I am prone to clots however I am completely paranoid. Anyone else had the same feelings....as the meds have been my comfort blanket for so long.....

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My husband has been on Xarelto for a year, his surgeon is going to be doing, a replacement of disk in his neck, & wants him to go off Xarelto for 10days before the surgery, & 10days after the surgery. Is that safe ?

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Omg me too. I stopped mine yesterday... and mentally I think I'm gonna drop dead any minute because my right lung was completely covered in small p.e... I think I need counselling or reassurance from the doctors saying I'm fine and not to worry like you said, this medication was my comfort blanket too.

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I was diagnosed with DVT and put on xarelto 15mg twice daily for a month which I finished. I was then put on 20mg once daily for 6 months. I took it for 2 weeks and stopped 1 week ago. What are the repercussions?

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I've been on this drug Xarelto for nine days and drs seem to think my side effects are rare: Headache, legs ache, losing balance just to mention a few. I sent a note to the nurse who prescribed it. Her response was to exercise and lose weight as she quoted I'm round, this makes me so angry. Yes I'm overweight and I work on losing weight but I have multiple medical issues. Since starting this drug my instinct is to get off of it. I have learned to follow those instincts. I am diabetic, have NASH. A liver disease in stage 4 and because I have NASH my spleen is also enlarged. Last year I found out the vertebrae in my neck have arthritis, bone spurs, C3-7 with my arms going numb and it was suggested I have surgery. Not yet. So instead they gave me a pain injection in my back. It helped for almost a year. It's returning and the arm is once again going numb. With this Xarelto if I get an injection I'm at risk of being paralyzed, or having a stroke.. the nurse never explained there was no antidote. If the liver or spleen start bleeding how will they stop the bleeding? Guess I will die and I'm not ready yet. I also have CAD, thyroid disease, lung disease, only major organ not affected at this time is the kidneys. The list is endless.

I'm losing sleep over this drug. It's all that goes thru my mind at night. I believe so strongly that the drug companies were in such a rush to make money, they didn't take into consideration what this drug does to us. I have a friend who's a nurse and worked in ICU in neurosurgery and she is concerned for me while on this drug. She had negative things to sai about it. They discovered the afib when doing a stress evaluation. I've worn the 30 Holter monitor for 30 days several times and the afib isn't apparent then. Being the medical profession as they are they rushed me to take Coumadin. That lasted only four days. For those four nights I didn't sleep because my legs ached so severely I couldn't stand it and was in tears. Of course it's the weekend so ended up calling the nurse on line. I stopped the Coumadin that day. And my husband said I was walking as I was drunk.....I don't drink.. I improved by 80% the next day and the following day was back to myself, so that's my story at this point. I've sent a note to the person I see at the Mayo Clinic for the liver disease to get her opinion. I'm hoping she agrees with me. Either way I'm quitting the Xarelto this week and going back to my aspirin. Another factor I forgot to mention is that my platelets are on the low side at 136,000..your opinions please.

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My mother had open heart surgery last August. The doctors never put her on blood thinners right after. Now in the beginning of June her arm was hurting her and she went to the doctor. He said to go to the ER where they did a scan and there was a blood clot in her right arm. She was put on xeralto twice a day. She was on it for three weeks and she started to become weak, tired, couldn't breathe. Just last week these symptoms became worse and she was very pale. We found out she was losing blood because the medicine was making her bleed out somewhere. Now the doctor has stopped xeralto and said either she can go back on xeralto and continue to bleed out or just remain off of it take aspirin. It won't take the blood clot away but can help a little. He literally said she has a 50/50 chance either way. I was wondering if anyone has had this problem or any idea of what to do?

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I was on Xarelto for 2 years and recently stopped taking it due to side effects such as weight gain, itching & vision problems. I am on Warfarin now. Please explain possible withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping Xarelto, as I feel very sick.

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I stopped Xarelto July 7th (this is a Friday) after two weeks of taking this drug. The side effects got to me. I needed to fast for an evaluation, so I decided this was a good day to stop this drug. By the end of the day I began to feel better. Next day almost my old self again. And by Monday back totally myself. Since this was a weekend I waited until Monday morning to send a message to the nurse who prescribed this drug. Within the hour I received a phone call and when we discussed the side effects, I expected her to tell me to tough it out. To my surprise she just explained the risks of stopping Xarelto. I explained I was bleeding from either my stomach or GI tract. I failed to mentioned this the first time I contacted her with my concerns. She asked more questions which I answered and thought indeed I was bleeding. I asked what else could be used instead of Xarelto, she told me other drugs that are out there or Coumadin. I declined any of them. I tried Coumadin and did not tolerate it so that ends the blood thinners for me. I returned to my aspirin. At this point I'm doing OK except for one leg hurting, but believe it's from an old injury. I think "Arthur" is there causing the discomfort.

I have come up with a plan for the future regarding new prescriptions. I will tell the medical people, Drs, nurses etc. I'll give consideration to a new drug only after I have researched it myself and get back to them whether or not I will take the new drug. I do not tolerate drugs very well and my side effects list is very long. You would think this would be a light bulb going off when they see all the drugs I can't take. I know the risks of going off Xarelto, and praying I continue to do well. Everyday is a risk for all of us, as no one knows when our number will be called and leave this world. I wish the best for everyone taking this nasty drug and their decisions to whether they continue to stay on it or quit.

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In March 2017 I discovered what Afib was at 65 yrs old. They sent me home taking Eliquis for 30 days. I was having muscle spasms in my neck and sinusitis that would not go away. So I stopped the Eliquis and immediately started to get better. 30 days later another Afib and the doctor put me back on Eliquis. Symptoms returned to the point of my throat and tongue swelling almost to choking. I went to my primary care doctor and went through 2 rounds of antibiotics until finally, someone said it's the Eliquis! The doctor then changed me to Xarelto. I call this the nightmare drug... Every night horrid nightmares, awake at 4 am with the worse headache of my life, also cried a lot. 2 days ago I said no more! I am a very active person, run a business and work everyday. These meds were absolutely destroying my life. Like others, I was never told of the dangers of blood thinners. I was just told it was a precaution I could have a blot clot. Well, I could get run over by a train also... This has been the worst experience on this medication and getting off this medication. I now need nerve pills I think! I have a pain and think I need to go to the ER! But being tough and taking my life back!

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Re: Raheela (# 62)

Hello. Did you successfully come off of Xarelto with no issues?

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I have had a-fib for 18 years. I never had a major episode until 2013. Only took Metoprolol and Xanax. Now I have started Xarelto 4 months ago and am not happy. I cough a lot, have shortness of breath and hurt all over. Tired, anxious, headaches, bleed a lot from hemorrhoids. Can I just stop? Doctor says you need to take it. Well I am 70 and I want to enjoy what time I have left. I was very active and could handle afib most of the time. My heart meds have been adjusted and I had a cardioversion and am ok as of now. I really am going to stop this horrible blood thinner. I guess I need to let the doctor know.....but I also know that you can get thinners from vitamins and food. Also anticlot foods... It's a money maker for the doctors also. They get so much for each prescription, as I understand it... I had blood drawn for a test a few years ago and I bled a lot. The nurse asked if I was on thinners. I said no. So I have thin blood anyway....Anyone know of natural blood thinners? I take garlic, vitamin C, all of the B vitamins, E, D, and foods with blood thinner properties.

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Re: Barbie (# 70)

I stopped taking Xarelto. I'm so happy I did. I was concerned at first because of all the literature that's out there. I too ached everywhere, headaches, my legs hurt so bad, then the internal bleeding. As soon as I stopped taking the Xarelto, by the end of twelve hours I started feeling like my old self. By 48 hours I was totally back to being myself. On Saturday as I'm driving and listening to the radio, I heard about a study that had been done by cardiologists and it stated that taking 325 aspirin daily worked just as good if not better for people who have afib that had been taking Xarelto. I felt such a relief knowing now I had done the right thing by stopping that terrible drug Xarelto. I have been on other blood thinners and will never take another other than aspirin because of the side effects. Next time a Dr/Nurse wants to prescribe a new drug. My answer is, I'll think about it and if interested will get back to you. In the meantime I'll research the drugs first myself before taking any new prescription.

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Re: Sayrahh (# 69)

I stopped cold turkey!! No side effects and so glad I'm off of that medicine. I suddenly began feeling like myself again!

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After several month on Xarelto (20mg) I have developed intense itching and rashes all over my body..up 2 or 3 times a night..only thing that helps is very hot water sprayed on itching areas my latest Doctor has recommended Hypercoagulababilty blood test and stopping xarelto for 1 week..maybe change to another medication or even aspirin...my main concern is WHEN if at all will the itching stop after I stop taking xarelto will very much appreciate advice from you good people out there.
P.S. How long are drug companies going to get away with lying, deceiving, and misleading us about the true statistics of bad side effects from their products.

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Re: Tony L (# 73)

I had itching but it stopped after getting off the drug. I bet once the drug leaves your system you'll feel better. I went back to aspirin 325mg. Good luck and I agree with your regarding drug companies

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Re: T (# 57)

I have heard that lots of people stop it cold turkey and haven't heard of any problems. I know I need to tell my doctor but they give me the old..''You have to take it!!" No I do not! I am not prone to clots and my afib is not permanent...so I think I can do it... He's gonna be mad and my cardiologist is more understanding than my regular doctor, but I know what he will say...so I am going to try it. Wish me luck. Good luck to you also...

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I just stopped Xarelto about 50 hours ago after 6 months. Doc said there is no weening off. Just stop. Today I have noticed my teeth are incredibly sore. When I started xarelto I had the flu like aches mostly in my back. I can only speculate that what I’m experiencing now is due to stopping the drug. Am probably going to take baby aspirin for a few days just to ease any sudden blood thickening.

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My mom had blood clots in her legs. She was prescribed Xarelto for 1 month. When the course was finished she was taken off Xarelto. In a matter of days she was sick and we found out she was bleeding internally. The bleeding in her stomach was resolved through an endoscopic procedure. As it turns out she still had the blood clots and ended up with an IVC filter in her neck. I wanted to know what the procedure is for taking a person off Xarelto? Should any tests have been done to see if she still had the blood clots?

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Re: Sayrahh (# 69)

I tried to get the doctor to give me the ok, but guess what? He slammed me. Said I was a large woman of 70, had afib and need to remain on it. I asked if I could take less....he said NO, your weight and age is a factor. I am NOT that much overweight!...Then I asked if I could try Eliquis or Pradaxa. He said they are all the same with the same side effects. How rude is that??? So I am going to finish my bottle of Xarelto and see what happens. I am getting more side effects all the time. Cold weather is set in here in Iowa and I hurt so bad and told him that...he gave me tramadol!!! More pills to help side effects of other pills. I am done. And he said aspirin won't help with blood clots with afib........wth?? This pharmaceutical crap is making us sick, not well...research it better!! I cannot tolerate Coumadin so I will go at it alone with natural blood thinners!! If anyone has an ideal diet to follow for thinning blood I would like to know? :) Have a nice day!!

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Re: Barbie (# 78)

You sound like me, I too stopped in July because of side effects after only 10 days which were many. And the bleeding. That's when I said no more. Took a week for bleeding to stop but I feel much better. I don't think the nurse believe me but that's her problem. It's our right to say NO! To these Drs. Under no circumstances will I ever take their poison drugs regarding a fib. There was a study stating that aspirin was just as good as that horrible drug. This was on the radio.
If your Dr gives you a hard time fire him! And find a better one. I thank the Lord every night for the good day I had with no blood clots. Hopefully you find the right answer for yourself. Bless you and good luck!

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Hi I’ve been on Zarelto 20mg for the last 6 months and my period is extremely heavy and I’m losing clots all the time. They seem to take forever to go too. I’m on day 5 now and still extremely heavy. I had an extensive blood clot in my right leg. It’s scary and I’m scared about what will happen when I come off the medication. I go back into my doctor in 2 weeks time and I’m due to have another ultrasound then too.

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