Plavix vs. Xarelto

• Are Xarelto and Plavix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Plavix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xarelto?
• What is Plavix?
• What is Xarelto?
• What Drugs Interact with Plavix?
• What Drugs Interact with Xarelto?
• How Should Plavix Be Taken?
• How Should Xarelto Be Taken?

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) are anticoagulants (blood thinners) that inhibit aspects of blood clotting and are used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, heart attack (myocardial infarction), peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic strokes.

Common side effects of Plavix include:

• easy bleeding and bruising;
• pain, redness, warmth, irritation, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;
• itching of your feet; or
• bluish-colored skin.

Thrombocytopenia, xarelto-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and xarelto-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT) are serious side effects of xarelto.

Common side effects of Xarelto include:

• bleeding complications, including major bleeding events.

Other side effects of Xarelto include:

• fainting,
• itching,
• pain in your arms or legs,
• muscle pain, and
• muscle spasms.

Xarelto side effects that are severe are spinal hematomas that may develop after spinal surgery with this drug.

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a thienopyridine class of drug that inhibits platelet aggregation and thus inhibits aspects of blood clotting used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral vascular disease and some stroke (ischemic type) patients. Plavix is available in generic form.

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a Factor Xa inhibitor indicated for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis which may lead to pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery.

Plavix may interact with other blood thinners, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Plavix may also interact with armodafinil, modafinil, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, gemfibrozil, isoniazid, cancer medications, stomach acid reducers, antifungals, HIV medications, or seizure medications.

Xarelto may interact with other anticoagulants, aspirin and other salicylates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antifungal medications, HIV medications, or seizure medications.

Xarelto may also interact with antibiotics, bosentan, conivaptan, dexamethasone, rifamycins, St. John's wort, quinidine, verapamil, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, medicines to treat narcolepsy, dextran, abciximab, cilostazol, eltrombopag, oprelvekin, or romiplostim.

Plavix is supplied as 75 and 300 mg tablets. For acute coronary syndrome with a non-ST elevation MI, the initial recommended dose is 300 mg, followed by a 75 mg dose per day; for ST elevation MIs, the initial and continuing dose is 75 mg per day. The recommended dose is 75 mg per day for patient with a history of MI, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. Many doctors may choose to add an aspirin per day along with the Plavix dose in both non-ST elevation and ST elevation MIs as well as to stroke and peripheral vascular disease patients.

The recommended dose of Xarelto is 10 mg taken orally once daily with or without food.