Xarelto is a relatively new type of blood-thinning medication in a class of drugs called New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs).
Xarelto is manufactured by Bayer AG and sold in the United States with Bayer’s marketing partner, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Janssen is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
These companies market Xarelto for patients at high risk of developing serious clotting disorders such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE). A PE is deadly health condition in which a clot forms and then dislodges itself and travels through the circulatory system until it reaches the lungs. One in a lung, it can tear a hole in the tissues, causing serious illness or death.
Patients at risk for these conditions normally require a blood thinner such as Warfarin. While Warfarin is generally effective, patients must closely watch their diet and have regular blood tests to control their dosage. If the dosage is off, patients can develop life-threatening side effects. Xarelto, on the other hand, is supposed be as effective without requiring constant dose monitoring.
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