Apixaban tablets Eliquis

Authored by Helen Allen, 19 Oct 2016

Patient is a certified member of
The Information Standard

Reviewed by:
Dr John Cox, 19 Oct 2016

You will have been prescribed apixaban either to treat a harmful clot that has formed in a blood vessel, or to prevent one from forming.

The usual dose is one tablet taken twice a day, morning and evening.

The most common side-effects are bleeding (such as nosebleeds) and anaemia.
Type of medicineA factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant
Used forTo prevent or treat harmful blood clots
Also called (UK and USA)Eliquis®
Available asTablets

Apixaban works by preventing your blood from clotting as quickly or as effectively as normal. It does this by blocking a substance in your blood, called 'factor Xa', which is involved in the development of blood clots.

Sometimes, harmful blood clots can form in the blood vessels of your legs, lungs, brain or heart, and cause a blockage. This is more likely to happen if you have had surgery, or if you have a fast irregular heartbeat. For many years, a medicine called warfarin has been commonly used to help protect against this. However, people who take warfarin need to have regular blood tests to measure how quickly their blood clots. This often means that the dose of warfarin can change quite frequently. Apixaban works in a slightly different way to warfarin, so people who take apixaban do not need to have regular blood tests.

Apixaban is prescribed to treat blood clots causing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. You may also be prescribed apixaban to help protect against recurrent blood clots, or if you have a certain type of irregular fast heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking apixaban it is important that your doctor knows:

  • If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
  • If you have any medical problems that increase your risk of bleeding, or if you have recently had surgery.
  • Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about apixaban and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.
  • Take apixaban exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is taken twice a day, preferably in the morning and the evening. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which strength of tablet is right for you as there are two strengths of apixaban available - 2.5 mg and 5 mg. This information will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you.
  • Apixaban can be taken either with or without food. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablet whole, you can crush the tablet and then mix it with 30 ml (two tablespoons) of water or apple juice, or alternatively, add it to some apple puree. Swallow the mixture as soon as it has been made up.
  • The length of the course of treatment will depend upon why you are taking the tablets, but it will either be for a few weeks, or long-term. If you have had hip or knee surgery, you will be asked to continue taking apixaban for a certain number of weeks. If you are taking it to protect you from blood clots developing (such as if you have atrial fibrillation), you will be asked to continue to take it over a longer period of time.
  • If you take any medicines that you have bought without a prescription, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with apixaban. This is because some medicines, such as aspirin and some anti-inflammatory painkillers, can interfere with it.
  • If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. This is because it may become necessary for you to stop taking apixaban for a day or so.


Bleeding (such as nosebleeds) or bruisingIf this continues or becomes troublesome, let your doctor know
Anaemia (which could make you feel very tired)Your doctor will check for this
Feeling sickTry taking your doses with something to eat







If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

Further reading and references


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