Eliquis

After knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery, the usual dose of Eliquis (Apixaban) is 2.5 mg twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening, about 12 hours apart). The first dose is usually taken 12 to 24 hours after surgery. After hip surgery, treatment will usually continue for up to 38 days. After knee surgery, treatment will usually continue for up to 14 days.

For stroke and clot prevention in people with atrial fibrillation, the usual dose is 5 mg twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening, about 12 hours apart). If you are older than 80 years of age, weigh less than 60 kg, or have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.

To treat DVT or pulmonary embolism, the recommended dose is 10 mg taken twice a day for 7 days. The dose is then reduced to 5 mg taken twice a day. Treatment is continued for at least 6 months.

After treating the blood clot, the recommended dose to continue to prevent DVT or pulmonary embolism is 2.5 mg taken twice a day. For a maximum effect from Eliquis (Apixaban), Eliquis (Apixaban) should be taken regularly, approximately 12 hours separating each dose.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Eliquis (Apixaban) may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. If you cannot swallow whole tablets, you may crush Eliquis (Apixaban) to a fine powder and mix it in water or applesauce. After it has been prepared in this manner, the dose of Eliquis (Apixaban) should be taken immediately.

It is important to take Eliquis (Apixaban) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking Eliquis (Apixaban) without checking with your doctor first.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Eliquis (Apixaban) at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause anemia (low red blood cells); it may reduce your blood clotting ability; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

2.5 mg
Each yellow, round tablet, with "893" marked on one side and "2 ½" on the other side, contains 2.5 mg of Eliquis (Apixaban). Nonmedicinal ingredients: tablet core: anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate; film coating: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and yellow iron oxide.

5 mg
Each pink, oval tablet, with "894" marked on one side and "5" on the other side, contains 5 mg of Eliquis (Apixaban). Nonmedicinal ingredients: tablet core: anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate; film coating: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and red iron oxide.

Do not take Eliquis (Apixaban) if you:

• are allergic to Eliquis (Apixaban) or any ingredients of the medication
• are bleeding actively (e.g., bleeding stomach ulcer) or have a medical condition that increases your risk of bleeding
• are taking certain medications such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, Voriconazole, posaconazole, or ritonavir
• are taking other anticoagulants such as Enoxaparin, Dalteparin, Fondaparinux, Warfarin, dabigatran, or Heparin (unless your doctor has decided to switch you to Eliquis (Apixaban))
• have a body lesion at risk of bleeding, including bleeding in the brain within the last 6 months
• have liver disease associated with an increased risk of bleeding

There may be an interaction between Eliquis (Apixaban) and any of the following:

• acetylsalicylic acid (Asa)
• aminosalicylic acid
• Aprepitant
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
• Bosentan
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• Clopidogrel
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• dabigatran
• Deferasirox
• Desipramine
• Dexamethasone
• Dipyridamole
• Dronedarone
• Edoxaban
• Enzalutamide
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• grapefruit juice
• heparin
• herbal products that can increase bleeding (e.g., cat's claw, chamomile, dong quai, garlic, ginger, ginseng)
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Lomitapide
• low-molecular-weight heparins (e.g., dalteparin, enoxaparin, Tinzaparin)
• lumacaftor
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• mifepristone
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• nefazodone
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., naproxen, Ibuprofen, diclofenac)
• Norfloxacin
• omega-3 fatty acids
• Obinutuzumab
• Oxcarbazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Prasugrel
• primidone
• progestins (e.g., Dienogest, Levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, Norethindrone)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Rivaroxaban
• St. John's wort
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine)
• siltuximab
• Tetracycline
• Ticagrelor
• ticlopidine
• Tocilizumab
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dabrafenib, Dasatinib, imatinib)
• vitamin E
• warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Eliquis (Apixaban). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Eliquis (Apixaban).

Increased bleeding risk: If you have any medical conditions that may cause an increased risk of bleeding, discuss with your doctor how Eliquis (Apixaban) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban), and whether any special monitoring is needed. These conditions include uncontrolled very high blood pressure; a problem with the blood vessels in the back of the eye called retinopathy; current or past ulcer of the stomach or intestines; recent stroke; or recent surgery of the brain, spinal column, or eye.

If you are taking medications to prevent blood clots (blood thinners; warfarin, Ticlopidine) or other medications that reduce blood clotting such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs; e.g., Diclofenac, Naproxen) or acetylsalicylic acid, discuss with your doctor whether any special monitoring is needed.

Heart valves: The safety and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban) have not been established for people with prosthetic heart valves or severe rheumatic heart disease. Eliquis (Apixaban) is not recommended for use by people with these conditions.

Kidney Disease: Eliquis (Apixaban) is not recommended for people with severely reduced kidney function or those who are receiving dialysis. If you have kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how Eliquis (Apixaban) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver disease: If you have liver disease, discuss with your doctor how Eliquis (Apixaban) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban), and whether any special monitoring is needed. Eliquis (Apixaban) is not recommended for people with severe liver problems.

Spinal or epidural catheters: Eliquis (Apixaban) should not be taken by people who have spinal or epidural catheters in place or for 5 hours after their removal. It should not be taken by people receiving pain medications through an epidural catheter.

Surgery: Inform all health care professionals involved in your care that you are taking Eliquis (Apixaban). Eliquis (Apixaban) may need to be stopped temporarily before dental or surgical procedures to reduce your risk of bleeding heavily during or after the procedure.

Pregnancy: The safety and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban) have not been established for pregnant women. Eliquis (Apixaban) is not recommended during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Eliquis (Apixaban), contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Eliquis (Apixaban) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Eliquis (Apixaban), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children and adolescents: The safety and effectiveness of Eliquis (Apixaban) have not been established for children and adolescents less than 18 years of age. Eliquis (Apixaban) is not recommended in this age group.

Seniors: People over the age of 75 are at an increased risk of bleeding. Report any unusual bruising or bleeding to your doctor immediately.

This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. This medication may be taken with or without food.