If your patients are using essential oils and xarelto, nurse practitioners need to be aware of the possible drug interactions. Otherwise, the patient could be putting themselves at risk of serious medical complications.
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is a medication used to prevent and treat blood clots in adults and some children. It can be used to treat a wide range of conditions including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Xarelto is an anticoagulant and works by blocking the enzymes in your body that break down blood clots. It also helps your body to form new clots when they are needed.
Like other medications, Xarelto can interact with some foods, supplements, and vaccines. These interactions can increase your risk of side effects such as bleeding and bruising. Some of these interactions may also affect your treatment plan.
It is important to inform your doctor about any other medications and supplements that you are taking before you start Xarelto. Especially if you are taking any antiepileptic drugs, as Xarelto and these medicines may interact with each other. This may cause you to have more seizures or other side effects of your epilepsy medication.
You should avoid grapefruit and all products containing grapefruit while taking Xarelto. This is because the medication can interact with a chemical in grapefruit called tyramine that can raise your blood pressure and levels of triglycerides, which are fats in your blood. Having too much triglycerides in your blood can lead to a dangerous condition called hepatic encephalopathy.
Xarelto is not recommended for use by people with a liver disease. Depending on the severity of your liver disease, your doctor may recommend other anticoagulants that are safer for you. It is also not known whether Xarelto is safe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
If you have an artificial heart valve, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe Xarelto for you. It has not been tested in people with artificial heart valves, and it is not known if the medicine will interact with them.
Most anticoagulant medications, including warfarin, interact negatively with high-vitamin K rich foods such as leafy greens, kale, broccoli, and brussel sprouts. These foods contain vitamin K, which your body uses to help your blood clot.
However, Xarelto is different because it does not require vitamin K to work. This means it is less likely to interact with these foods.
While Xarelto does not interact with most vitamins, it can interact with omega-3 fatty acids, which are technically a supplement. You should talk to your doctor before taking any omega-3 fatty acid supplements while on Xarelto.
Xarelto has not been reported to interact with any vaccines, but it is always best to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any other medications and supplements you are taking before getting a vaccination.
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant-based chemicals that can irritate your nose, mouth, and throat when inhaled or applied topically. This can be especially problematic for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you are planning on using essential oils, you should consult a healthcare professional to ensure that they will not interfere with your medication or other treatments.
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