What Causes Extreme Anxiety And Panic Attacks After Taking Xarelto?

Posted on Thu, 10 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 Answered on

Thu, 1 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My father was started on xarelto about a month ago. He has not been himself almost immediately since starting it. He is extremely anxious, and it has gotten worse. He now believes he is having panic attacks and is afraid to go anywhere. The anxiety comes on and he says he can't explain it but just has to walk away from the situation. He also can't sleep. I believe it is the medicine. He was put on it thinking he might have heart surgery but the surgeon advised him not to as opposed to the cardiologist. He has no symptoms requiring the surgery however will need a valve replacement when he does have symptoms. He is 84 and in wonderful sharp until this ? Side effect. Can he get off this med, get a lower dose or be changed to another blood thinner?

Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Xarelto does not produce the said symptoms. He can change the blood thinner

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM. Xarelto has not been known to produce the anxiety and mental changes you describe, however, since you say that the changes started when he was placed on the medication, yes it is very possible and advisable to change blood thinners, he can go to the more traditional warfarin/coumadin which has been used for decades and has a very great efficacy and its side effect profile is largely known. I hope this helps and good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D