Mixing Xarelto & Alcohol

Side Effects of Mixing Xarelto & Alcohol

Because alcohol is also a blood thinner, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and taking a blood thinner such as Xarelto can be a dangerous combination. The following side effects should be understood, and alcohol use should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor before beginning Xarelto.

In addition to the effects alcohol has on thinning the blood, specific individuals should proceed with caution before combining alcohol and Xarelto. If you have a problem with your liver or kidneys, these organs will impact how they metabolize the blood thinner. If the blood becomes too thin, it will put a person at serious risk for life-threatening complications.

Signs of Serious Bleeding From Alcohol & Xarelto:

• Blood in urine or stool.
• Coughing up blood.
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes.
• Abnormal bruising that grows in size.
• Severe headaches.

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms.

Increased Risk of Internal Bleeding

Alcohol is known as a blood thinner. When you are taking substances to thin your blood, it is less likely to thicken, which makes it more difficult for blood clots to form. Blood thinners can be dangerous because of an increased risk of severe bleeding during an accident or injury.

Additionally, when using alcohol and Xarelto, one is at a greater likelihood of experiencing internal bleeding. Excessive alcohol use can cause peptic ulcers, leading to pain, irritation, and bleeding.

One study concluded that a person who drank more than 5 drinks each day had 6.3 times more significant risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Signs of possible gastrointestinal bleeding include black tarry stool, bright red blood in vomit, cramps in abdomen, dark or bright red in stool, dizziness, tiredness, shortness of breath, and vomit that looks like coffee grounds. 

You should seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. Although gastrointestinal bleeding is treatable if detected early, it can lead to severe complications and is life-threatening if ignored.

Increased Risk of Liver Damage

It is already well known that alcohol use can damage the liver over time. Combining both substances to excess increases the risk of liver damage and chronic liver disease if not treated.

Why do these substances impact the liver? Because it is the liver’s job to flush out toxins before entering the bloodstream. When we chronically use alcohol and other substances like Xarelto, we put the liver in overdrive by trying to clean out the additional toxins from our system.

This overuse of the liver leads to damage and possible disease if long-term issues continue over time.

There are signs and symptoms to look for possible liver damage or disease. The sooner you can diagnose liver damage, the more quickly you can receive treatment and have a better chance of recovering.

Common Signs of Liver Damage:

• Significant fatigue and exhaustion.
• Unexplained weight loss and lack of appetite.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.

Reversing liver damage is not always possible; however, if you notice signs of potential liver damage, there may be ways to reduce the symptoms if you seek treatment early. According to the American Liver Foundation, abstaining from alcohol is the most effective approach to reversing or reducing liver disease progression.