After being diagnosed with afib in the ER at the end of July (this year), I was put on Pradaxa. I tried (valiantly, I thought) for 5 weeks to make it work, but the stomach side effects were intolerable. I was switched to Xarelto. I'm very sensitive to new meds, but, so far, no side effects. Any of us on anti-coagulants are concerned about reversibility. There is some information that says (this from the American Heart Association) that Xarelto (riveroxaban) is immediately reversible with a prothrombin complex concentrate (http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2011/09/06/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.029017). Other publications state that there is no reversal agent.
I guess many of us are more concerned about a stroke than reversibility.
Xarelto is expensive....
Hope this helps. Best wishes in making the decision about Xarelto.

Thank You! My husband is 48 and has been on rate control, and had episodes of afib that self terminate in a few hours. He has had his first long episode... he in his 30th hour of it so his EP is prescribibg blood thinners. He was diagnosed in May of this year. He is scheduled for ablation in January. This is all so new and scary to us!

Xarelto should be fine. I take Pradaxa. Xarelto is once a day. Pradaxa is twice. Xarelto is less likely to upset your stomach and probably more reversible. Pradaxa reduces stroke the most. They all work. I guess it is whatever works best for the individual.

petey

Thanks for all the feedback. It's been very helpful and reassuring.Ep reassured us that AFIB is not going to kill my husband, but it sure puts an interesting twist on the quality of life until you find all the right combinations to keep it at bay. Take care all! Happy Halloween