Thank you for that chart, I found it very informative. I do have one question, when it says that Vitamin K foods influence warfarin's blood thinning effect, what exactly does that mean.

Thank you for that. I've printed it out and will show it to my doctor.

I'm still watching the statistics about the new anticoagulants and still considering them. The longer it's on the market the better, as far as I'm concerned. (grin)

Cavey,

For me, it's been a year since I been on Xarelto. So far no issues with it other than it is more expensive than Coumadin/Warfarin. But as you elude to, only time will tell if there are any downsides to using it short or long term. So far, liver panels have not indicated any problems and I haven't noticed any side effects. Earlier this year I had posted on the Clot Connect site a survey regarding whether users had experienced any muscle aches and pain shortly after starting Xarelto (a few people did chime in saying they had including myself). I think it is purely coincidental but who knows at this point. As more information becomes available and more time elapses our patient community will have a better snapshot of the real differences (pro's and con's).

Everyone have a Happy and Safe New Years!!

mocha790,

Sorry, skipped over you question; my apology. Foods containing Vitamin will affect your INR by lowering it. How much will vary person to person. Old school medicine recommends patients on Coumadin/Warfarin stay away from all foods which contain Vitamin K. Newer research shows that keeping Vitamin K as a daily part of your diet and eaten in moderation is okay. Here is some generation information that discusses INR fluctuation:

http://patientblog.clotconnect.org/2010/11/20/inrs-that-fluctuate/

Some people never have INR problems while others have an INR that rollercoaster all over the place. It definitely varies person to person and what affects one person may not affect the next..

Thanks for the chart. I may forward it to my Doc. But the "other"
anticoags are bit expensive for me.

I take 100mg of vit K per my Doc. It seems to help keep my INR
stable. But we are all different.

missd12932,

The Xarelto Care Path program helps bring the cost down quite a bit (depending on your insurance provider). I think the cost on the program is $10 for a 30 day supply. I know military TRICARE is not eligible, I was paying $16 per 30 day supply.

http://www.xareltocarepath.com/dvt-pe

My pulmonary doctor said he does not want me on the new meds because if a PE occurred again they don't know how to treat it; he would just be throwing drugs into my body. I believe he meant TPA. Have you heard anything regarding treatment for PE on Xarelto. I really dislike Warfarin and being a vegetarian does not help.

jck06,

Xarelto is approved to treat DVT and/or PE just like Coumadin among other conditions (Atrial Fib, knee/hip replacement preventative treatment for VTE).

If and when they develop an antidote I'd be very interested in trying one of the other medications, but that likely won't happen within the time frame that they have me on coumadin and providing that I never have another issue, hopefully.

Great chart.Thanks. I'm currently on warfarin & my doc wants to move me to xarelto. I'm really concerned xarelto has no antidote and it will cost me $300/mo as opposed to $10/mo on warfarin.

mrschicopea,

There is a reversal agent which is doing really well in trials, though not currently approved by the FDA. I suspect it won't be available until summer 2014 on the market (once approved by the FDA).

For the most part, there are currently procedures in place which control the bleeding (not reverse it) in case of severe bleeding. Studies have found that bleeding on the new anticoagulants is no worse than Coumadin and because the medications remain in the system a lot shorter than Coumadin has not been as big of concern as originally thought. Of course that is still something a patient most weigh in on and discuss fully with their doctor when considering any of the new oral anticoagulants.