Eliquis is a drug that contains the active ingredient called apixaban. It is part of the class of medications known as anticoagulants. The medicine works to stop blood clots from developing by blocking the formation of Factor Xa, which is a key part of the blood clotting process.
Eliquis is used by adults:
to stop the formation of a blood clot in the heart of patients who have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and at least one other risk factors. Clots of blood can break and move to the brain , leading to a stroke , or other organs, and hinder the normal flow of blood to the organ (also called an embolism in the system). A stroke could be life-threatening and requires urgent medical care.
for treating blood clots that have formed in blood vessels in your legs (deep vein thrombosis) as well as in the blood vessels in your lung (pulmonary embolism) as well as to stop blood clots from returning to the blood vessels in your lungs and/or legs.
Click here for the Eliquis patient assistance program.
You are allergic to apixaban, or any other ingredient in this medication (listed at section 6);
You are bleeding heavily;
You have a condition in one of your organs which increases the possibility of bleeding that is serious (such as an active or recent ulcer in your stomach or the bowel, or recent bleeding in the brain);
You have a liver condition that increases the chance for bleeding (hepatic coagulopathy);
You are taking medications to stop the formation of blood clots (e.g. warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban or heparin) and not you are changing your anticoagulant therapy, you have a venous or arterial line, and you receive the drug heparin in order to maintain its open, or if a tube has been placed into your vein (catheter ablation) to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
Consult your physician or pharmacist before you start taking this medication If you suffer from one of the following conditions:
An higher risk of bleeding for example:
bleeding disorders, which include conditions that cause a decrease in platelet activity;
extremely high blood pressure uncontrolled by medical treatment;
If you are over 75 years old;
you weigh 60kg or less.
A severe kidney condition or when you are on dialysis;
A liver issue or an underlying history of liver issues;
This medication should be used with caution for patients who have symptoms of a deficiency in liver function.
If you are wearing an artificial heart valve
If your doctor decides the blood pressure is instabil or if a different treatment or surgical procedure to eliminate the blood clots from your lungs is scheduled.
Be extra careful with Eliquis
If you suspect that you suffer from a condition known as antiphospholipid syndrome (a condition in the immune system which can cause greater risk for blood clots) inform your doctor who will determine if your treatment should be altered.
If you are required to undergo surgery or undergo a procedure that could result in bleeding, your physician may ask you to temporarily stop taking the medicine for a brief period. If you’re not sure the procedure could cause bleeding , consult your physician.
This medication is not recommended for children or adolescents younger than 18 years old.
Inform your physician, pharmacist or nurse if you’re taking, recently took or are likely to take any other medications.
Certain medicines can increase Eliquis’ effects. Eliquis and others may reduce the effects of Eliquis. Your doctor will determine whether you should be treated by Eliquis while taking these medications and how closely you need to be observed.
The following medications may enhance Eliquis’ effects Eliquis as well as increase the risk of bleeding that is not desired:
Certain medicines to treat fungal infections (e.g. ketoconazole, etc. );
Certain antiviral medications to treat HIV or AIDS (e.g. Ritonavir, for instance);
Other medicines are also used to decrease the risk of blood clotting (e.g. Enoxaparin, enoxaparin etc. );
anti-inflammatory or pain medications (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid and naproxen). Particularly, if you’re older than 75 and taking acetylsalicylic acid and naproxen, you could be at risk of an increased risk of bleeding;
medications to treat high blood pressure or heart issues (e.g. diazem, diltiazem);
antidepressants, also known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors , or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
The following medications may decrease Eliquis’ ability to Eliquis to prevent blood clots from developing:
medications to treat epilepsy or seizures (e.g. Phenytoin, etc. );
St John’s Wort (a herbal supplement for depression);
medications to treat tuberculosis or other diseases (e.g. Rifampicin, for example).
If you are expecting or breastfeeding, and you think you might be pregnant or planning to have an infant, consult your physician, pharmacist or nurse for advice prior to taking this medication.
Effects of Eliquis on the pregnancy as well as the unborn baby are not yet known. It is not recommended to take this medication if you are expecting a baby. Consult your physician immediately if you fall pregnant while using this medication.
It is unclear whether Eliquis is absorbed into the human milk of a mother. Consult your physician, pharmacist or nurse for advice prior to breastfeeding while taking this medication. They can advise you on whether or not to stop breastfeeding or to stop or not start taking this medication.
Eliquis has not been proven to affect your ability to operate machines or drive.
If you’ve been informed by your physician that you are allergic to certain sugars, consult your physician prior to taking this medication.
The medicine is less than 1 mg sodium (23 mg) per tablet, which is to say that it is essentially “sodium-free”.
Make sure to take the medicine precisely as your doctor or pharmacist has instructed you to. Consult your physician or pharmacist in case you’re not sure.
Take the tablet and swallow it with drinking a glass of water. Eliquis can be consumed with or without food.
Make sure to take the pills at regular time each day for the most effective treatment effects.
If you are having difficulty swallowing the tablet completely consult your physician about alternative ways to take Eliquis. The tablet can be crushed and then mixed with water, or 5 percent sugar in water or Apple juice, or puree of apples, prior to taking it.
The tablets should be crushed with the help of a mortar and pestle.
Place the entire powder into a container that is suitable for it, then mix it with some e.g., 30 milliliters (2 tablespoons) or water, or any of the other liquids listed in the previous paragraphs to create a mixture.
Drink the mixture.
Clean the mortar and pestle you used to crush the tablet as well as the container using a small amount of water or any of the different liquids (e.g., 30 milliliters) and then take a sip of the liquid.
If you are in need of it, your physician could also prescribe an crushed Eliquis tablet mixed with 60 milliliters of water or 5 percent glucose in water, via the Nasogastric tube.
To stop the formation of a blood clot in the heart of patients who have an irregular heartbeat or at the very least an other risk factors.
The recommended dosage includes one tablet Eliquis 5 mg once every day.
The recommended dosage for a tablet is Eliquis 2.5 mg once every day if:
You have a severely degraded kidney function.
Two at least two of these applies to you:
Your blood test results indicate low kidney function (value in serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dL (133 micromole/L) or more);
You are aged 80 or older.
Your weight should be 60kg or less.
The recommended dosage is two tablets twice per day, for instance one tablet in the morning and another at night.
Your doctor will determine the length of time you have to continue treatment for.
For treating blood clots in the veins of your legs , and blood clots that form in the blood vessels in your lungs.
The recommended dosage includes two tablet of Eliquis 5 mg twice per every day for the first seven days, such as two tablets in the morning and two at night.
After 7 days, the recommended dosage will be one tablet Eliquis 5 mg twice per day, for instance, first thing in the morning, and one at night.
To prevent blood clots from returning after 6 months of treatment
The recommended dosage for adults is one tablet Eliquis 2.5 mg twice per day, for instance one tablet in the morning and the other in the evening.
Your doctor will determine the length of time you have to continue treatment for.
Your doctor may alter the anticoagulant medication as follows:
Switching between Eliquis to anticoagulant medications
Stop taking Eliquis. Begin treatment with anticoagulant medications (for instance, heparin) at the time that you took the next tablet.
Switching from anticoagulant medications to Eliquis
Stop taking anticoagulant medications. Begin treatment with Eliquis when you will have the subsequent dose of the anticoagulant medication and continue with the treatment as usual.
Transitioning from treatment with anticoagulants that contain Vitamin K antagonist (e.g. warfarin, for example) to Eliquis
Stop taking the medication that contains an antagonist to vitamin K. Your doctor will need to take blood tests and tell you when you should begin taking Eliquis.
Switching from Eliquis to an anticoagulant medication containing vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin, for instance).
If your physician advises you that you must begin taking the medication that contains an antagonist to vitamin K keep taking Eliquis for at least two days following your first dose of the medication that contains an antagonist to vitamin K. Your doctor will need to take blood tests and tell you when you should stop taking Eliquis.
If your heartbeat is irregular and needs to be brought back to normal using a procedure known as cardioversion, you should take this medication at the time your doctor has you take it that you should, in order to avoid blood clots from the blood vessels of your brain as well as other blood vessels throughout your body.
Inform your doctor right away if you’ve taken more than the recommended dose of Eliquis. Bring the medication pack with you even if you have no tablets remaining.
If you are taking more Eliquis than the recommended amount there is an greater chance of bleeding. If bleeding does occur during surgery, blood transfusions, or other treatments that alter the anti-factor Xa effect could be necessary.
Dose the medication as when you remember it and:
Take the subsequent doses of Eliquis at the same time as usual;
Then continue as usual.
If you’re not sure what to do, or been unable to take more than one medication, talk to your pharmacist, doctor or nurse.
Don’t discontinue taking this medication without consulting your physician first, as the chance of developing a blood clot may be greater when you stop treatment too in the early hours.
If you have additional concerns regarding the use of this medication, consult your pharmacist, doctor or nurse.
Like all medications that are prescribed, this one can trigger adverse effects, but not everyone experiences them. The most frequent adverse effect that this medication can cause is bleeding, which could be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
The following adverse effects can be observed if you use Eliquis to stop the formation of a blood clot in the heart of patients who have an irregular heartbeat or at the very least an other risk factors.
Common adverse reactions (may be affecting up to one of 10 people)
Bleeding can include:
In your eyes;
In your stomach or bowel;
From your rectum
blood in the urine
by your nose;
Remove your gums
The swelling and bruising may be a problem;
Anaemia that can cause fatigue or pallor;
A low blood pressure can cause you to feel faint or be able to feel more alert;
Nausea (feeling sick);
The results of blood tests could reveal:
an increase in gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT).
Common adverse effects (may be affecting up to one in 100 individuals)
Bleeding:
within your brain or your spinal column
In your mouth, or in your spit when you cough;
through your abdomen, or through the vagina;
Blood that is bright and red in the stool;
bleeding that occurs after the operation such as swelling and bruising, bleeding of liquid or blood from the incision (wound release) and injection sites;
from a haemorrhoid;
tests that show blood in the stool or urine;
A lower number of platelets found in blood (which could affect the clotting process);
The results of blood tests could reveal:
an abnormally low level of liver function
an increase in certain liver enzymes.
An increase in bilirubin an enzyme that breaks down red blood cells. This may cause yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Acute skin rash;
Itching;
Hair loss;
Allergy reactions (hypersensitivity) that can cause: swelling of the lips, face tongue, mouth and/or throat, and breathing difficulties. Consult your physician immediately when you notice one of the symptoms listed above.
Rare adverse reactions (may be affecting up to one of 1,000)
Bleeding:
in your lungs or throat;
into the abdominal cavity.
into a muscle.
Rare adverse negative effects (may be affecting up to one of 10,000 people)
Skin rash that can form blisters that look like small target (central dark spots, surrounded by a lighter area with a dark ring at the edges) (erythema multiforme).
Unknown (frequency cannot be calculated using the data available)
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) that can cause skin rashes or flat, pointed circular, red spots on the skin’s surface, or in bleeding.
The adverse reactions listed below are common when you take Eliquis to stop or treat recurrence of blood clots that form in the veins of your legs as well as blood clots that form in the blood vessels in your lungs.
Common adverse reactions (may be affecting up to one of 10 people)
Bleeding can include:
by your nose;
Remove your gums
urine with blood;
The swelling and bruising may be a problem;
In your stomach, in your bowel, and from your rectum;
in your mouth.
via the vagina
Anaemia that can cause fatigue or pallor;
A lower number of platelets found in blood (which could affect the clotting process);
Nausea (feeling sick);
Acute skin rash;
The results of blood tests could reveal:
an increase in gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
Common adverse negative effects (may be affecting up to one in 100 individuals)
A low blood pressure can cause you to feel faint or experience a rapid heartbeat;
Bleeding:
In your eyes;
In your mouth, or in your spit after coughing;
Blood that is bright/red in the stool;
tests that show blood in the stool or urine;
bleeding that occurs after any surgery such as swelling and bruising, bleeding of liquid or blood from the incision (wound release) as well as the injection area;
from a haemorrhoid;
into a muscle;
Itching;
Hair loss;
Allergy reactions (hypersensitivity) that can cause: swelling of the lips, face mouth, tongue, throat, and breathing difficulties. Consult your physician immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
The results of blood tests could reveal:
an abnormally low level of liver function
an increase in certain liver enzymes.
An increase in bilirubin an enzyme that breaks down red blood cells. This may cause yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Rare adverse reactions (may be affecting up to one of 1,000)
Bleeding:
within your brain or your spinal column
in your lungs.
Unknown (frequency cannot be calculated using the data available)
Bleeding:
through your abdomen or into through the abdominal cavity.
Skin rash that can form blisters that look like small target (central dark spots, surrounded by an area that is lighter, and a an elongated dark band around the edges) (erythema multiforme);
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) that can cause skin rashes or pointed flat, red, circular spots on the skin’s surface, or in bleeding.
If you experience any side reactions, consult your pharmacist, doctor, or nurse. This includes any potential adverse effects that are not mentioned in this document. It is also possible to report side adverse effects directly (see the details below). By reporting side effects , you can provide more details about the safety of this medication.
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
or look up MHRA Yellow Card or search for MHRA Yellow Card in Google Play or Apple App Store. Google Play or Apple App Store
Make sure this medicine is away from the from the reach of children.
Do not take this medication until the expiry date, which is listed on the carton as well as on the blister following expiration. The expiry date is the day that is the end of that month.
This medication does not need any specific storage conditions.
Don’t dispose of any medications in the form of household or wastewater waste. Ask your pharmacist for instructions on how to dispose of medicines that you do not use anymore. These steps will help safeguard the environment.
The active ingredient is the apixaban. Each tablet has 5 mg of apixaban.
Other ingredients include:
Tablet base Lactose (see the section 2 “Eliquis includes lactose (a kind of sugar) and sodium”) microcrystalline cellulose and the sodium croscarmellose (see the section 2 “Eliquis is a source of lactose (a kind of sugar) and sodium”) sodium laurilsulfate, magnesium Stearate (E470b);
Film coat Lactose monohydrate (see section 2 “Eliquis includes lactose (a kind of sugar) and sodium”) (E464), hyperromellose (E464), titanium dioxide (E171) triacetin, ferrous oxide red (E172).
The tablets coated with film are pink, oval (9.73 millimeters in size) and rectangular (9.5 x 5.16 millimeters) and are marked by “894” to one end as well as “5” 5 on the opposite side.
They are available in blisters cartons of 14, 20, 28, 56 60, 168, and 200 coated tablets.
Unit dose blisters packed in cartons of 100×1 film coated tablets that can be delivered to hospitals are also available.