Brilinta vs. Xarelto

Brilinta (ticagrelor) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) are anticoagulants used to thin the blood in different conditons.

Brilinta is used to reduce cardiovascular death and heart attack in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Xarelto is used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which may lead to pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.

Side effects of Brilinta and Xarelto that are similar include bleeding events, such as bruising, bleeding more easily, and nosebleeds.

Side effects of Brilinta that are different from Xarelto include headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, back pain, low blood pressure, fatigue, and chest pain.

Both Brilinta and Xarelto may interact with blood thinners and seizure medicines.

Brilinta may also interact with antifungal medicines, antiviral medicines to treat HIV or AIDS, blood thinners, cholesterol medications, heart or blood pressure medications, opioid medications, and tuberculosis medicines.

Xarelto may also interact with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitors, (e.g., ketoconazole and ritonavir), combined P-gp and moderate CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., erythromycin), combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, St. John’s wort, enoxaparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Common side effects of Brilinta are related to bleeding and include increased bleeding, nosebleeds, and bruising.

Other side effects of Brilinta include:

• dizziness,
• cough,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• irregular heartbeat,
• high or low blood pressure,
• back pain,
• fatigue, and
• chest pain

Common side effects of Xarelto include:

• warmth or redness in the face, neck, or chest,
• stuffy nose,
• headaches,
• stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• memory problems,
• back pain,
• an inability to differentiate between the colors green and blue,
• loss of hearing,
• ringing in the ears,
• and dizziness.

Brilinta is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain that happened because their heart was not getting enough oxygen.

Brilinta is used to lower your chance of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack or stroke but Brilinta (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and sometimes lead to death.

Xarelto is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). You will not get an erection just by taking this medicine. Xarelto helps a man with erectile dysfunction get and keep an erection only when he is sexually excited (stimulated).

Xarelto is not for use in women or children.

It is not known if Xarelto is safe and effective in women or children under 18 years of age.

Brilinta may interact with other blood thinners, HIV or AIDS medications, seizure medications, and antifungals. Brilinta may also interact with dexamethasone, digoxin, nefazodone, antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications, and heart or blood pressure medications.

Brilinta may also interact with dexamethasone (Decadron), digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek, Digibind), nefazodone (Serzone), certain antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), and heart or blood pressure medications.

Do not take Xarelto if you:

• take medicines called nitrates (such as nitroglycerin)
• use street drugs called "poppers" such as amyl nitrate or amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrate
• take any medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators such as riociguat (Adempas)
• are allergic to sildenafil, as contained in Xarelto and REVATIO, or any of the ingredients in Xarelto. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Xarelto.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take1, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Xarelto may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way Xarelto works causing side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following:

• medicines called nitrates (see "What is the most important information I should know about Xarelto?")
• medicines called guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as riociguat (Adempas)
• medicines called alpha blockers such as Hytrin (terazosin HCl), Flomax (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress (prazosin HCl), Uroxatral (alfuzosin HCl), Jalyn (dutasteride and tamsulosin HCl), or Rapaflo (silodosin). Alpha-blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure. In some patients, the use of Xarelto with alpha-blockers can lead to a drop in blood pressure or to fainting.
• medicines called HIV protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir (Norvir), indinavir sulfate (Crixivan), saquinavir (Fortovase or Invirase) or atazanavir sulfate (Reyataz)
• some types of oral antifungal medicines, such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), and itraconazole (Sporanox)
• some types of antibiotics, such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), telithromycin (Ketek), or erythromycin
• other medicines that treat high blood pressure
• other medicines or treatments for ED

Xarelto contains sildenafil, which is the same medicine found in another drug called REVATIO. REVATIO is used to treat a rare disease called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Xarelto should not be used with REVATIO or with other PAH treatments containing sildenafil or any other PDE5 inhibitors (such as Adcirca [tadalafil]).

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Brilinta can be taken with or without food.

Brilinta is taken with aspirin. Talk to your doctor about the dose of aspirin that you should take with Brilinta. You should not take a dose of aspirin higher than 100 mg daily because it can affect how well Brilinta works. Do not take doses of aspirin higher than what your doctor tells you to take. Tell your doctor if you take other medicines that contain aspirin, and do not take new over-the-counter medicines with aspirin in them.

Take Xarelto exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xarelto to take and when to take it.

Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed.

Take Xarelto about 1 hour before sexual activity. You may take Xarelto between 30 minutes to 4 hours before sexual activity if needed.

Xarelto can be taken with or without food. If you take Xarelto after a high fat meal (such as a cheeseburger and french fries), Xarelto may take a little longer to start working

Do not take Xarelto more than 1 time a day.

If you accidentally take too much Xarelto, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.