Xarelto and Bruising: What Users Say

• for...
• June 29, 2013

For Atrial Fibrillation "Some itching with this, but so glad not to go for blood work and to be able to eat whatever I want. Cardiologist put me on this in January as I was on warfarin since Dec 26. This doc does ablations for Atrial fibrillation (and teaches fellows also) and this is what he wanted me to take. Little bruising, minor bleeding when brushing, nothing significant. I also take amiodarone for the Atrial fibrillation."

• Lou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "Have been on the Xarelto medication for five years and had experienced no major issues, just some bleeding with small cuts and some bruising. Then I developed arm and leg pain and some gum bleeding. The leg pain started in one thigh and woke me up at night with burning, prickling nerve pain and sometimes felt like I had been electrified. The rest of the thigh was numb. Soon both legs were involved. My doctor switched me to Eliquis, which she said had fewer side effects, and I will soon see if the arm and leg pain disappear."

• Rog...
• November 4, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "The drug works. It thins your blood! I've been on Xarelto for 1 year and am quitting it. I have a loop monitor for 6 months and no AFib. One doctor says to quit it, while another says to stay on it. Some score they use says I can quit, so that's what I'm going to do. In the first six months, I had some muscle pain, but I blamed Lipitor. I started to get blurry vision, so the eye doctor said everything was fine. Now I'm a year in. I have 2 large bruises on both legs and my big toe just recently for really no apparent reason. I have nosebleeds almost daily, muscle pain in my bicep and upper back, along with a heavy feeling in my legs when walking. Shortness of breath comes out of nowhere and lasts less than an hour, it happens on occasion. I quit, and so far, the muscle pain has subsided."

• Zls...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2019

For Pulmonary Embolism "At 17 years of age, my daughter was admitted to the ER for breathing discomfort. She was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism in both lungs and DVT. The cause of the embolism was from taking birth control pills for only one week. She gave herself Lovenox injections for one year with no side effects but bruising. She was then put on Xarelto for 6 months. The first couple of weeks of taking Xarelto, she started experiencing hair loss, leg pain, headaches, and severe anxiety. She has lost more than half of her hair and she hardly has any eyebrow hair. We are absolutely certain the medication is the cause. She takes 25 mg once daily. The doctor will not take her off of the Xarelto. Thankfully, she only has 2 more months to go. But with all the bad reviews such as uncontrolled bleeding, stroke, and death, it has me worried sick all day and night."

• pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 16, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was started on Xarelto because of Afib. After some time, besides the bruising, the red urine, which my cardiologist dismissed as not relevant, I noticed the decreasing effect of my seizure medications. I couldn't understand why until I was told about the interaction. I stopped Xarelto."

• Zar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2013

For Pulmonary Embolism "My embolisms were discovered on November 1. I was put on Warfarin, but it was hard to get my blood to regulate, and I didn't like the blood work. I began Xarelto on December 7, 2012. I have had success, and my doctors are very pleased. No new embolisms have formed. I did have upper stomach pain this week, but I also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Today, I feel fine. I have not had any bleeding or bruising."

• Wil...
• December 2, 2018

For Pulmonary Embolism "Never had a PE, but I became sedentary, sitting for hours working on my laptop. I also stopped drinking lots of water. The only reason the hospital found for my saddle PE was long hours of sitting & reduced water intake. Water keeps blood flowing; so does exercise. I passed out & woke up with sweating, nausea, couldn't breathe; then my heart went into a-fib. The ER did a CT scan & found a 6-inch clot! Took Xarelto 15 mg. twice daily, then 20 mg. once daily. My awesome hematologist ordered a battery of 19 separate blood tests after I'd been on Xa for 6 months. With good test results & no further clots, dosage reduced to 10 mg. once daily. Side effects: hair loss (I had thick, long hair; over 60% now gone), bizarre dreams, muscle twinges, headaches, dizziness, increased skin/nerve sensitivity & bruising, tiredness, extreme weight gain. I barely eat 2 meals daily, but gained 40 lbs. since taking Xarelto! I hope to be weaned from this drug, but I know God & Xarelto saved my life!"

• Jee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 28, 2017

For Atrial Fibrillation "Apparently helps my a-fib, but causes bad bruising and bleeding from minor wounds. I also have bad heartburn and take antacid frequently. This happens while I'm eating, after, and also when my stomach is empty. A friend who tried Xarelto had the same problem, which makes me think it's from the medicine, or at least it made it worse. This causes me lots of pain and discomfort, but I don't know if another blood thinner would be the same."

• The...
• November 2, 2013

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I was on Coumadin from 2008 to 2012 following a stroke, and it was very difficult to regulate with lots of bruising and constant visits to the doctor. Xarelto has given me my life back, and I feel GREAT! I've had zero problems with the drug, and no bruising or bleeding. I think I feel so much better and happier because I'm not constantly worried about my PT/INR level and what I'm eating."

• DVT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2015

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I was prescribed Xarelto for two months after I got a deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms, and it definitely worked as prescribed. I did bruise very easily, but that was a small price to pay to completely get rid of my DVT and show no signs of it three months later."

• Old...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2015

For Atrial Fibrillation "Bruising is common. I have lower back soreness and right leg hip area pain. Some leg weakness in the afternoon and evening. No reason to stop the medication, in my opinion. I have had kyphoplasty and gallbladder surgery, and the medication was stopped temporarily for both. No adverse reactions."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2016

For Pulmonary Embolism "Hair very thin - shedding lots. Had a hysterectomy in June 2014 and had to use a wound vacuum. Once I started on Xarelto, this wound bleeds every day and won't heal. Almost two years. Most of my fingernails and toenails fell off (dried out). Not all have grown back. Bruise easily plus round red marks appear every day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2023

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was diagnosed with AFIB about 2 1/2 years ago and immediately put on Xarelto. At first, it has few side effects other than bruising and bleeding of the extremities. After knee surgery one year ago, I began to get sores on the leg of the knee replacement. These would not heal. They got gradually larger and more numerous until I started reducing the Xarelto. I was on 20 mg and reduced to 15 mg, then down to 20 mg every other day. The sores slowly shrank. I finally quit because I wanted to heal my leg. After a couple of weeks off the drug, they are almost gone. Leg edema was moderate, but it has gone away. I have asked the cardiologist to try some other Rx, but they are adamant that Xarelto is the best. I am now going to insist on another Rx as, for the price, I am sure there are alternatives that will work as well. I will put up with the inconvenience of monthly testing."

• Kha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2020

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "Suffered from multiple clots in the right leg that ended up traveling to my lungs. Had to have emergency surgery because a clot broke off and was blocking the left artery of my heart. After 8 days in the hospital, I was put on Xarelto. Started out as 15 mg twice a day to 20 mg once a day. Was originally supposed to be on it for 6 months, but my insurance wasn’t approving my follow-up CT scan and ultrasound. Ended up being on it for a year and 6 months. While taking Xarelto, I experienced numbness and tingling in the leg where the clots were, horrible anxiety, leg swelling, leg pain, heavy menstrual cycles, and bruising. I recently stopped the drug cold turkey, doctor's orders. Anxiety has gotten worse as I’m afraid of experiencing another DVT/PE. Overall, it did the job. No sign of clots in legs or lungs."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2021

For Peripheral Arterial Disease "Prescription: 1 pill every 12 hours. Took 1 pill before bed and 1 pill in the morning. Within an hour, I was bleeding through a bruise on my arm. Doctor immediately stopped me from using Xarelto. The second part of this explanation has to do with cost. Had I continued to use Xarelto, I could not afford the $90 every month due to my Rx plan's maximum allowance per year. I would have used it all on that one drug and not been able to get any other prescriptions covered."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2021

For Pulmonary Embolism "So I started Xarelto on Jan 18th, 2021, due to a PE caused by birth control pills. I was taking 20 mg daily. The only con about this pill was it made my period super heavy, and I had about 3 nosebleeds within the whole time taking them, and a few bruises on my thighs from lifting heavy boxes at work. Other than that, I had no other issues. I just came off the drug on July 9th, 2021. About 5 days off of it, I had an episode at work where my heart started beating fast out of nowhere. It stopped after 20 mins. Then again, 3 days later (for about 10 mins) after taking a shot of Bacardi. Hoping these symptoms fade with time as my blood gets back to normal. But overall, I have no doubt it saved my life."

• Bud...
• July 9, 2015

For Pulmonary Embolism "I have been on Xarelto for 8 months after a PE experience due to thrombin 3 deficiency. My only issue is heavier than normal bruising - I am very active."

• DUS...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2022

For Atrial Fibrillation "Been on Xarelto for years after I bled too much on Eliquis. So far, no issues, and once a day is better than twice for me. I do bruise easily, though, now. But good drug so far."

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2016

For Deep Vein Thrombosis, Recurrent Event "I bumped my leg after being on it for two days and had major bruising. Mind you, I don't bruise easy, and I'm dark. Plus, it hurts really bad. Otherwise, going well."