Factor X inhibitors include the drugs rivaroxaban and apixaban and are used in the clinical setting to prevent the formation of blood clots. In this mnemonic video, I will teach you an easy way to remember everything you need to know about Factor X inhibitors for the NCLEX. Let's get started. For today's scene, we're at the video game store where an exciting new Xbox game is being released. This game has received the highest rating possible, 10 out of 10. Unfortunately, a series of events has caused me, the video game store worker, to punch this sign out of anger.
We'll talk more about why I got so upset in a minute, but first, focus on my punching of the 10 out of 10 rating here. You see, this picture is our symbol for the drug class factor 10A inhibitors. Get it?
The 10 on the sign is getting hit? Just like these drugs cause clotting factor 10 to get blocked? Now that we've anchored ourselves to the factor 10A inhibitors, Let's move on to cover the key drug names you should know.
So what made me punch this sign? Well, let's start from the top here. I was in the process of finishing a custom Xbox order.
Let this Xbox connect you to the fact that all Factor Xa inhibitors end in the suffix Xaban. Xbox for the Xaban drugs. This should be easy to tie back to the Factor Xa inhibitors because the mechanism is literally spelled in the name itself. You know the letters X-A in Zaban literally stands for factor 10A, and these drugs literally ban or block factor 10A.
You read me? Some drugs that you might see are Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, and Edoxaban. In the hospital, you may hear these called by their brand names Xarelto, Eloquis, and so on. But remember that NCLEX will always use the generic name. So let's get it straight, an Xbox for the drug ending Zaban.
Got it? This custom Xbox order required me to paint the Xbox red. Before painting the box, I obviously mixed the red paint with paint thinner.
I mean, nobody wants an Xbox with clumpy paint. This paint thinner ensures that the paint stays nice and smooth. You know, thinning out red paint reminds me a lot of blood thinners, which is exactly what Factor Xa inhibitors are.
In other words, drugs like apixaban and rivaroxaban work as anticoagulants to prevent blood clots from forming. Clinically, these are used to prevent clots in people who suffer from clotting conditions like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolisms. These drugs may also be used to prevent clots in people with atrial fibrillation. You know, since an afib blood pools in the quivering atria of the heart, which can induce clot formation.
It's worth noting that anticoagulants, like factor Xa inhibitors, are used to help prevent future clots. It isn't a clot buster. meaning these drugs don't do much in emergency situations with existing clots.
But they're great for preventing blood clots. As I was painting the Xbox and mixing in the paint thinner, I cut my hand on the sharp edge of the can. My hand is now bleeding everywhere, and the pain and frustration caused me to lash out and punch the 10 out of 10 poster.
By the way, my bleeding hand is here to remind you that Factor Xa inhibitors can cause bleeding as a side effect. which makes sense when you think about how you are inhibiting clotting factor X. Stopping blood from clotting obviously increases the risk of bleeding. I do want to note that when taken as directed, factor Xa inhibitors achieve a steady therapeutic level and therefore have a lower bleeding risk than most other anticoagulants. As such, the factor Xa inhibitors don't require coagulation panel monitoring, unlike warfarin and heparin.
But it's still a good idea to tell your patients to avoid other medications that can cause bleeding, like NSAIDs. Patients should also be counseled to report any signs of bleeding to their provider. This includes things like blood in their urine or stool, coughing or vomiting blood, or dizziness and weakness from low blood pressure.
Alright, that's everything we've got on the Factor Xa inhibitors. Let's quickly summarize what we've learned here. Factor Xa inhibitors are a group of drugs easily recognizable by their Zaban endings, like apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban.
Factor Xa inhibitors are blood thinners, meaning they are used to prevent blood clots from forming, helping to treat people who suffer from deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or atrial fibrillation. As an anticoagulant, these drugs have the side effect of increasing the risk of bleeding. I'm going to stick around to see if this game is really worth its 10 out of 10 rating, but I'll let you get on with your studying. Thanks for stopping in, and I'll see you in the next video!
I'll see you next time.