Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Effient vs. Xarelto

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Prasugrel (Effient) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) are both blood thinners, but they work in different ways and are used for different conditions. Prasugrel is a P2Y12 inhibitor that prevents platelets from clumping together, mainly used for people who have had a stent placed after a heart attack. Xarelto is a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that blocks factor Xa, a protein involved in blood clotting, and is used to treat and prevent various types of blood clots, including those in the legs and lungs, and to lower the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation. Prasugrel is available as a generic, while Xarelto is only available as a brand-name medication. Prasugrel is typically taken once a day, whereas Xarelto's dosing can vary from once to twice a day depending on the condition being treated. Both medications carry a risk of bleeding and have a higher risk of heart attack if stopped suddenly.

  • Prasugrel (Effient)
    Xarelto (rivaroxaban)
  • Prasugrel (Effient)
    Xarelto (rivaroxaban)

  • Summary of Effient vs. Xarelto

    Summary for P2Y12 inhibitor
    Prescription only

    Prasugrel (also known by its brand name Effient) is a medication that's used as a blood thinner to prevent blood clots in people who have a stent placed in their heart after a heart attack. This medication is also available as a lower-cost generic tablet. The dose is taken once per day. Since prasugrel (Effient) is a blood thinner, an important warning to note is that the medication can make it easier for you to bleed or bruise. Other side effects can include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and headache.

    Summary for Direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC)
    Prescription only

    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.

  • Indications of Effient vs. Xarelto

    Indications for
    •Prevention of blood clot problems in people who received a stent after a heart attack
    Indications for

    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

  • Pros and Cons of Effient vs. Xarelto

    Pros and Const for P2Y12 inhibitor
    Pros
    •Works well at preventing clots
    •Works better than clopidogrel (Plavix) to lower your risk of complications after a heart attack
    •Taken by mouth once per day
    •Available as a lower-cost generic
    Cons
    •Has a higher risk of bleeding than clopidogrel (Plavix)
    •Only used for people who have a stent in their heart
    •Not recommended for people age 75 years and older because of the higher risk of bleeding
    •Shouldn't use for people with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack ((TIA or "mini-stroke")
    Pros and Const for Direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC)
    Pros
    •No regular blood monitoring required
    •Available as a tablet or liquid that's taken by mouth
    •Approved for both children and adults
    Cons
    •Most common side effect is bleeding
    •Not easily reversible in life-threatening bleeds
    •Can interact with many medications

  • Common Side Effects of Effient vs. Xarelto

    Common Side Effects for
    •High blood pressure (8%)
    •High cholesterol (7%)
    •Headache (6%)
    •Bleeding of any kind (5%)
    •Back pain (5%)
    •Shortness of breath (5%)
    •Nausea (5%)
    •Dizziness (4%)
    •Cough (4%)
    •Low blood pressure (4%)
    •Fatigue (4%)
    Common Side Effects for

    Adults

    •Any bleeding (Up to 28%)

    Children

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

  • Warnings of Effient vs. Xarelto

    Common Side Effects for
    •Bleeding
    •Risk of heart attack if stopped suddenly or too early
    •Blood-clotting problem called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
    •Allergic reaction
    Common Side Effects for
    •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

  • Prices with our coupons for Effient vs. Xarelto

    Learn more about Prasugrel
    Learn more about Xarelto

Compare other Heart Attack and Atrial Fibrillation drugs

Effient vs BrilintaEffient vs EliquisEffient vs XareltoPlavix vs EffientAggrenox vs XareltoAspirin vs EliquisAspirin vs XareltoBrilinta vs HeparinClopidogrel vs EliquisDabigatran vs EliquisEliquis vs BrilintaEliquis vs CoumadinEliquis vs PradaxaEliquis vs WarfarinEliquis vs XareltoHeparin vs EliquisHeparin vs XareltoIbuprofen vs PlavixJantoven vs EliquisLovenox vs EliquisLovenox vs XareltoPlavix vs EliquisPlavix vs XareltoPradaxa vs XareltoSavaysa vs EliquisTrental vs EliquisXarelto vs BrilintaXarelto vs CoumadinXarelto vs SavaysaXarelto vs Warfarin
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.