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Anticoagulant bleeding — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardCardiovascular TherapeuticsAnticoagulant bleedingGPhC CRA

A patient taking rivaroxaban 20 mg daily reports black tarry stools, dizziness and increasing fatigue. What should the pharmacist advise?

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Correct answer: CSeek emergency care now for a suspected gastrointestinal bleed

Melena with systemic symptoms during anticoagulation can represent significant gastrointestinal bleeding and needs immediate assessment of haemodynamics, haemoglobin, renal function and anticoagulant timing. The patient should not self-adjust therapy or delay care for empirical gastroprotection.

Reference: BNF: rivaroxaban: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/rivaroxaban/