xarelto vs warfarin

warfarin

Warfarin works by blocking the blood clotting factors that rely on

Vitamin K from forming. Vitamin K is used by multiple factors to     help the blood clot.

·         The drawback to warfarin is the amount of monitoring it requires. Patients taking warfarin must be monitored every two to four weeks. The prothrombin time test. The test measures the International Normalized Ratio (INR). A high INR indicates a high risk of uncontrollable bleeding, and a low INR indicates a high risk for blood clots

warfarin has several antidotes that reverse bleeding. Without an antidote, a bleed can quickly become a life-threatening situation. 

Speed of Anticoagulation Reversal	Method
Complete reversal within 15 minutes	Prothrombin complex concentrate plus intravenous vitamin K
Partial	Fresh frozen plasma partially reverses anticoagulation
Within 4–6 hours	Intravenous vitamin K
Slow reversal within 24 hours	Oral vitamin K
Very slow reversal within 3–5 days	No therapy

Rivaroxaban

Xarelto is a Factor Xa inhibitor. Factor Xa is an integral part of the process that forms the protein thrombin, and thrombin is required for blood to clot. By inhibiting Factor Xa, Xarelto prevents thrombin from forming which prevents the blood from clotting

·         The effect of Xarelto declines rapidly if it isn’t taken regularly, It is popular because it does not require patients to have special diets or have blood tests to determine the dose like warfarin 

Anything from a small bruise to a severe car accident can endanger a Xarelto patient. ER doctors are limited in treatment options for these patients because of the lack of antidote. (irreversible bleeding).

·         Rivaroxaban can increase risk of stroke after discontinuous