What does it do?

Rivaroxaban is used to treat and help prevent clots in your blood. It reduces your chance of having a stroke and new clots forming in your legs or lungs.

Before you start

• Tell your doctor if you have bleeding or kidney problems.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

How should you take it?

Take rivaroxaban regularly as directed with a glass of water.
If you take 15 mg or 20 mg tablets, take them with food.
If you take 10 mg (or less) a day, you can take it with or without food.

What if you forget a dose?

If you take rivaroxaban once a day:
Take the missed dose if you remember on the same day. If not, skip the dose and carry on as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time.

If you take rivaroxaban twice a day:
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. You can take two doses together at the same time. Carry on as normal the next day.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with rivaroxaban including:

• anti-inflammatories, such as diclofenac (e.g. Voltaren®), ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®), or aspirin (e.g. Disprin®, in doses used for pain relief). These can also be found in some cold and flu medicines (e.g. Nurofen Cold and Flu®).
• low-dose aspirin (e.g. Cartia®) - sometimes prescribed with rivaroxaban, check with your doctor.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products (e.g. St John's wort) or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side Effects	Recommended action
Bleeding you cannot stop, bruises that get bigger, coughing or vomiting blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, red or dark brown urine, red or black poo, severe headache (may be signs of bleeding)	Tell your doctor immediately

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

• It is important to tell anyone who gives you medical or dental treatment (e.g. doctor, dentist, pharmacist or podiatrist) that you are taking rivaroxaban.
• You may bleed or bruise more easily while you are taking rivaroxaban. Take care or avoid activities that may cause bleeding e.g. tattoos, piercings and contact sports.
• If you have a serious fall or hurt your head, talk to or see a doctor straight away.