It's important to take rivaroxaban as your doctor has told you.
Dosage and strength
Rivaroxaban comes as 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets.
It also comes as granules that you mix with water, for children and young people aged under 18.
Your dose of rivaroxaban depends on why you're taking it.
The usual dose in adults:
- for a heart condition called atrial fibrillation is 20mg a day, but your doctor might prescribe a lower dose if you have kidney disease and are at a higher risk of bleeding
- for a blood clot you've had (deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism) is 20mg a day. You might need to take a dose of 15mg twice a day for the first few weeks of taking rivaroxaban. If you have kidney disease and are at a higher risk of bleeding, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose
- after an operation to replace a hip or knee joint is 10mg a day
- after a heart attack or for a heart condition called unstable angina is 2.5mg twice a day
For children, the doctor will use your child's weight to work out the correct dose.
If you're unsure what dose you need to take, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to take it
You'll usually take rivaroxaban once a day just after a meal or snack. It's important to take it with some food to help your body absorb the whole dose.
Try to take it at the same time every day.
If you're taking rivaroxaban to treat DVT or a pulmonary embolism you may need to take it twice a day for the first few weeks. Your doctor will tell you if you need to do this.
Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.
If you find it difficult to swallow tablets you can crush rivaroxaban tablets and mix them with water or apple purée. Swallow this mixture, then eat some food straight away.
How long to take it for
How long you need to take rivaroxaban will depend on why you're taking it.
If you have had an operation to replace your knee or hip joint, you'll probably take rivaroxaban for 2 to 5 weeks.
If you have had a blood clot (DVT or pulmonary embolism), you'll usually take rivaroxaban for at least 3 months. Depending on what caused the blood clot, you might need to take it for longer.
If you have a heart problem like atrial fibrillation or have had a heart attack, you might need to take rivaroxaban long term or even for the rest of your life.
Do not stop taking rivaroxaban without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking it you may be at increased risk of serious health problems caused by blood clots.
If you forget to take it
If you forget a dose of rivaroxaban, what you need to do depends on the dose you take.
If you usually take:
- 10mg, 15mg or 20mg once a day – take a dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next one, in which case skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time and then carry on as normal. Never take more than 1 dose in a single day
- 15mg twice a day – take a dose as soon as you remember. If it's nearly time for your next dose you can take two, 15mg tablets at the same time to get a total of 2 doses in 1 day. Never take more than 2 doses in 1 day
- 2.5mg twice a day – take a dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next one, in which case skip the missed dose. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed one. Take your next dose at the usual time, and then carry on as normal
It's very important that you remember to take rivaroxaban every day.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
Taking too much rivaroxaban puts you at risk of bleeding.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of rivaroxaban
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the rivaroxaban packet, or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.
Anticoagulant alert card
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you an anticoagulant alert card.
Carry this with you all the time. It tells healthcare professionals that you're taking an anticoagulant. This can be useful for them to know in case of a medical emergency.
If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your anticoagulant alert card to the nurse, doctor or dentist. This includes before you have vaccinations and routine sessions with the dental hygienist.
Your doctor may advise you to stop taking rivaroxaban or reduce your dose for a short time.
Switching from warfarin to rivaroxaban
If you need to switch from warfarin to rivaroxaban, your doctor will advise you when to stop taking warfarin. This will probably be a few days before you start taking rivaroxaban.
Your doctor or anticoagulant clinic will do a blood test called the international normalised ratio (INR) to check how quickly your blood's clotting. This is to help decide exactly when you should start taking rivaroxaban.
Switching from rivaroxaban to warfarin
If you need to switch from rivaroxaban to warfarin, you may need to take both medicines together for a few days.
Your doctor or anticoagulant clinic will do a blood test called the international normalised ratio (INR) to check how quickly your blood's clotting. This is to help decide exactly when you should stop taking rivaroxaban.