According to a recently published medical study, Xarelto users who are also taking NSAID painkillers may be at an increased risk of suffering from uncontrollable bleeding problems, an already commonly reported Xarelto side effect.

Commonly used and readily available NSAIDs (like Advil, Motrin, Aleve, and other types of over-the-counter painkillers) have allegedly been found to have negative interactions with the blood thinning medication Xarelto. The Denmark-based Xarelto study was published in the November issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, finding that patients currently on an anticoagulant like Xarelto to treat an atrial fibrillation condition are at an increased risk of bleeding problems when they also take NSAIDs.

NSAIDs, Xarelto, and Bleeding Side Effects

The Xarelto study gathered data from over 150,000 atrial fibrillation patients who were prescribed some type of NSAID. Within 14 days of taking an anticoagulant like Xarelto and an accompanying NSAID painkiller, researchers found that this created 2.5 times more patients suffering from bleeding problems when compared to patients who had not been given any type of NSAID at all.

According to research, the correlation did not differ based on the type of blood thinner or NSAID the patient was prescribed. Additionally, the Xarelto research suggested that NSAIDs in combination with anticoagulant drugs increase a patient’s risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

The researchers of the Xarelto study have stated, “Use of NSAIDs was associated with increased absolute risks for serious bleeding and thromboembolism across all antithrombotic regimens and NSAID types. An NSAID dosage above the recommended minimum was associated with a substantially increased hazard ratio for bleeding.” This means that the bleeding events were related to specific NSAID doses. Patients who are already taking an anticoagulant like Xarelto increase their risk of suffering from an adverse bleeding event by taking or higher doses of NSAID painkillers.

Xarelto Side Effects

This is not the first time a medical study has linked the use of Xarelto with instances of bleeding problems and other health risks. Since gaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as an anticoagulant drug treatment in 2011, Xarelto became the premier blood thinning treatment for patients who underwent a knee or hip replacement surgery and were later diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. It was even predicted to surpass more traditional forms of anticoagulants, such as Coumadin (also known as Warfarin).

However, over the course of 2014, a slew of medical and consumer reports were published, claiming that patients suffered from several dangerous, and often fatal, Xarelto side effects.

Some Xarelto side effects that you or a loved one may experience include:

• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pulmonary bleeding
• Abdominal bleeding
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Brain hemorrhaging
• Abnormal liver function
• Reduced platelet levels
• Dizziness
• Hemorrhaging in the eyes
• Low blood pressure
• Nose bleeds
• Rectal bleeding
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Bruising
• Edema

Many individuals are now filing Xarelto wrongful death lawsuits or joining Xarelto class action lawsuits to seek compensation and punitive damages from Bayer and Janssen for themselves or loved ones who have suffered uncontrollable bleeding that has led to permanent injury and even death.