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Apixaban

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Apixaban, Eliquis

  • See Also
  1. Direct Oral Anticoagulant
  2. Anticoagulation
  3. Rivaroxaban
  4. Edoxaban
  5. Fondaprinux
  6. Dabigatran
  7. Heparin
  8. Warfarin
  • Mechanism
  1. Oral direct Xa inhibitor
  2. Factor Xa is the first step in the Common Clotting Cascade
  • Indications
  1. Venous Thromboembolism or its prophylaxis
  2. Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (not FDA approved)
  3. Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (stroke prevention with CHADS Score 2 or more)
    1. First-line alternative to Warfarin
    2. Poor INR control on Warfarin
    3. Barriers to INR monitoring
    4. Warfarin Drug Interactions
  • Contraindications
  1. Acute bleeding
    1. Initial studies suggest less bleeding risk than Warfarin
  2. Mechanical Heart Valves or valvular Atrial Fibrillation
    1. Use Warfarin instead
  3. Severe hepatic Impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
  4. Pregnancy or Lactation
  5. Obesity with BMI>40 kg/m2 is no longer an absolute contrindication for Apixaban
    1. Use Shared Decision Making in Anticoagulation selection for VTE treament
  • Precautions
  1. Emergent Reversal of Anticoagulation (e.g. Hemorrhage)
    1. Consider Prothrombin Complex Concentrate, activated PCC or recombinant Factor VIIa
    2. Andexxa is no longer available in the U.S. as of 2025
  2. Increased stroke risk if stopped abruptly without other Anticoagulation in nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
  3. Apixaban (Eliquis) may be used in Stage 5 CKD (gfr <15 ml/min) or Hemodialysis (unlike other DOACs)
    1. However, Exercise caution
  • Pharmacokinetics
  1. Half-Life: 8-15 hours (12 hour mean)
  2. Oral Bioavailability: 58%
  3. Onset: 3-4 hours
  1. Standard dose
    1. Apixaban (Eliquis) 5 mg twice daily
  2. Half-dose indications (2.5 mg twice daily)
    1. See Renal Dosing below
  1. Renal Dosing does not apply
  2. Venous Thromboembolism Treatment
    1. Initial: 10 mg orally twice daily for 7 days
    2. Maintenance: 5 mg orally twice daily
    3. Prevention of recurrence: 2.5 mg orally twice daily
  3. Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis after Surgery
    1. Hip Replacement: 2.5 mg orally twice daily for 35 days
    2. Knee Replacement: 2.5 mg orally twice daily for 12 days
  4. Acute Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (not FDA approved)
    1. Take 5 mg orally twice daily (until Platelet Counts return to normal)
    2. If thrombosis is present, start with 10 mg orally twice daily for 1 week
  1. Applies only to Atrial Fibrillation (not to Venous Thromboembolism)
  2. Renal Dosing (2.5 mg orally twice daily) is indicated if at least 2 of the following criteria are present
    1. Serum Creatinine >=1.5 mg/dl or higher
    2. Age >=80 years old
    3. Weight <=60 kg (or <132 lb)
  3. References
    1. https://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_eliquis.pdf
  • Drug Interactions
  1. Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 inducers
    1. Rifampin (also induces P-Glycoprotein)
    2. Phenytoin
    3. Carbamazepine
    4. Phenobarbital
  2. P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors
    1. Ketoconazole
    2. Itraconazole
    3. Voriconazole
    4. Ritonavir
    5. Conivaptan
    6. Clarithromycin
    7. Dronedarone
    8. Verapamil
  3. Other Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents
    1. Aspirin and other antiplatelet agents (e.g. Clopidogrel)
    2. NSAIDs
  • Safety
  1. Unknown Safety in Pregnancy
  2. Unknown Safety in Lactation
  • Resources
  1. Apixaban (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=095a08ac-cf0e-497e-a682-ddef38d6b29c
  • References
  1. (2014) Presc Lett 21(11): 61
  2. Granger (2011) N Engl J Med 365(11): 981-92 [PubMed]
  3. Connolly (2011) N Engl J Med 364(9): 806-17 [PubMed]
  4. Wilbur (2017) Am Fam Physician 95(5): 295-302 [PubMed]
  5. Wigle (2019) Am Fam Physician 100(7): 426-34 [PubMed]