What is ELIQUIS (Apixaban)?
ELIQUIS is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people who have atrial fibrillation.
It is not known if ELIQUIS is safe and effective in children.
What is the most important information I should know about ELIQUIS?
ELIQUIS can cause serious side effects. These serious side effects include:
- People with atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat) are at an increased risk of forming a blood clot in the heart, which can travel to the brain, causing a stroke, or to other parts of the body. ELIQUIS lowers your chance of having a stroke by helping to prevent clots from forming. If you stop taking ELIQUIS, you may have increased risk of forming a clot in your blood. Do not stop taking ELIQUIS without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. Stopping ELIQUIS increases your risk of having a stroke.
- ELIQUIS may need to be stopped, if possible, prior to surgery or a medical or dental procedure. Ask the doctor who prescribed ELIQUIS for you when you should stop taking it. Your doctor will tell you when you may start taking ELIQUIS again after your surgery or procedure. If you have to stop taking ELIQUIS, your doctor may prescribe another medicine to help prevent a blood clot from forming
- ELIQUIS can cause bleeding which can be serious and rarely may lead to death. This is because ELIQUIS is a blood thinner medicine that reduces blood clotting. You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take ELIQUIS and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding, including:
- Aspirin or aspirin-containing products
- Long-term (chronic) use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Warfarin sodium (COUMADIN, JANTOVEN)
- Any medicine that contains heparin
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Other medicines to help prevent or treat blood clots
- While taking ELIQUIS: You may bruise more easily, and It may take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop
- Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding when taking ELIQUIS:
- Unexpected bleeding, or bleeding that lasts a long time.
- Bleeding that is severe or you cannot control.
- Red, pink, or brown urine
- Red or black stools (looks like tar)
- Cough up blood or blood clots
- Vomit blood or your vomit looks like coffee grounds
- Unexpected pain, swelling, or joint pain
- Headaches, feeling dizzy or weak
- ELIQUIS can cause a skin rash or severe allergic reaction. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Trouble breathing or wheezing
- Swelling of your face or tongue
- Feeling dizzy or faint
How should I take ELIQUIS?
- Take ELIQUIS exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
- Take ELIQUIS twice every day with or without food.
- Do not change your dose or stop taking ELIQUIS unless your doctor tells you to.
- If you miss a dose of ELIQUIS, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take more than one dose of ELIQUIS at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
- Your doctor will decide how long you should take ELIQUIS. Do not stop taking it without first talking with your doctor. Stopping ELIQUIS may increase your risk of having a stroke.
- If you take too much ELIQUIS, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
- Call your doctor or healthcare provider right away if you fall or injure yourself, especially if you hit your head. Your doctor or healthcare provider may need to check you.
Important Safety Information
ELIQUIS is not for patients with artificial heart valves.
- ELIQUIS is a blood thinner medicine that reduces blood clotting. You may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take ELIQUIS and take other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding.
- Do not take ELIQUIS if you currently have certain types of abnormal bleeding.
- Do not take ELIQUIS if you have had a serious allergic reaction to ELIQUIS.
- It is not known if ELIQUIS passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take ELIQUIS or breastfeed. You should not do both.
- Ask you doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ELIQUIS will harm your unborn baby.
Ask your healthcare provider if you do not know.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ELIQUIS?
Before you take ELIQUIS, tell your doctor if you:
- Have kidney or liver problems
- Have any other medical condition
- Have ever had bleeding problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ELIQUIS will harm your unborn baby.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ELIQUIS passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take ELIQUIS or breastfeed. You should not do both.
- Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking ELIQUIS. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed ELIQUIS for you, before you have any surgery, medical or dental procedure.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some of your other medicines may affect the way ELIQUIS works. Certain medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or stroke when taken with ELIQUIS.
General information about _________
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use ELIQUIS for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ELIQUIS to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
What are the ingredients in ELIQUIS?
Active ingredient: Apixaban.
Other ingredient: Anhydrous lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, sodium lauryl sulfate, and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and yellow iron oxide (2.5 mg tablets) or red iron oxide (5 mg tablets).