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Aspirin vs. Xarelto

Aspirin is an over-the-counter NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that helps lessens inflammation. It's used to help lower fevers and relieve pain from minor injuries in people 12 years of age and older. A lower dose of aspirin is also commonly used for heart protection in certain adults who are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This medication most often comes as pills that are taken by mouth. Aspirin side effects include heartburn and stomach upset.

• Pain relief from minor aches and pains, such as from headaches, muscle pain, toothache, menstrual cramps, and arthritis
• Fever
• Heart protection (lower the risk for heart attack or stroke) in certain adults - low-dose aspirin (81 mg per day) only

• Stomach irritation (e.g., heartburn, stomach upset)

• Stomach irritation, stomach bleeding, and stomach ulcers
• Kidney problems
• Reye's syndrome in children
• Harm to an unborn baby
• Severe allergic reactions and skin reactions
• Different aspirin strengths available

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a prescription blood thinner used to prevent and treat blood clots. It can lower the risk of serious problems like stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or pulmonary embolism (PE). It's comes as a tablet or liquid and is taken by mouth. Your dose depends on why you're taking it, so it could be once or twice a day. The most common side effect is bleeding, which can sometimes be serious or life-threatening. Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is available as both a brand-name and a generic medication.

Adults:

• Lower the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not caused by a heart valve problem
• Treat blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis (DVT)) or lungs (pulmonary embolism (PE))
• Lower the risk of DVT or PE coming back after treatment
• Prevent DVT and PE after knee or hip replacement surgery
• Prevent blood clots in people in the hospital or recently released who are at high risk
• Lower the risk of serious heart problems, like heart attack or stroke, in people with coronary artery disease (CAD), taken with aspirin
• Lower the risk of blood clots and related problems in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), taken with aspirin

Children:

• Treat blood clots and lower the risk of new clots in children from birth to under 18 years old
• Prevent blood clots in children 2 years and older with congenital heart disease (CHD) after a Fontan procedure

Adults

• Any bleeding (Up to 28%)

Children

• Any bleeding (36%)
• Cough (16%)
• Vomiting (14%)
• Stomach virus (13%)
• Rash (9%)

• Higher risk of blood clots if stopped too early
• Paralysis in the spine
• Bleeding
• Interactions with other medications
• Risk of pregnancy-related bleeding
• Not recommended in people with prosthetic heart valves
• Not recommended in people with antiphospholipid syndrome