Eliquis, made simple.
Eliquis is a common blood thinner. It is also one of the most confusing medicines for patients. This guide explains what it does, how to take it the right way, and what to watch for. A Mississippi pharmacist who fills Eliquis every day wrote it for you.
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print this guide for your fridgeWhat Eliquis is and why your doctor gave it to you
Eliquis is a blood thinner. Its other name is apixaban. It is the same medicine.
Doctors usually give it for one of two reasons.
- An irregular heartbeat, called AFib. When the heart beats in an uneven way, blood can sit still and form a clot. That clot can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Eliquis lowers that risk.
- A blood clot, or the risk of one. If you had a clot in your leg or your lung, Eliquis treats it and helps stop another one. It is also used after some hip or knee surgeries.
The simple version: Eliquis makes your blood less likely to form a dangerous clot. That protects you from a stroke. It also means a cut takes a little longer to stop bleeding. So it asks you to be a little careful. This guide shows you how.
How Eliquis works
Your body uses a tiny part of your blood, called Factor Xa, to start a clot. Think of it like a key that starts the clotting.
Eliquis blocks that key.
When the key is blocked, your blood does not start a clot as easily. That is good. It stops dangerous clots. It also means that when you get a cut, the bleeding takes a little longer to stop. That is not the medicine going wrong. That is the medicine doing its job.
Your dose
Eliquis comes in two sizes. Your doctor picks your size and your pharmacist checks it. They choose based on your age, your weight, and how well your kidneys work.
Many people with AFib take one pill in the morning and one at night, about 12 hours apart. Some people take the smaller size, also twice a day.
This is important: your doctor and your pharmacist decide your dose. This page will not tell you what dose to take. What this page will tell you is why your dose matters. Eliquis does not have a regular blood test that fixes the dose, the way the older blood thinner warfarin does. So your dose is the main thing keeping you safe. If you are not sure your dose is right, ask your pharmacist. That is exactly the kind of question we answer at Fairview.
Timing, and what to do if you miss a dose
Eliquis works for about 12 hours. If you miss a dose or take it late, there is a window of time where you have less protection. For people with AFib, that window has real stroke risk.
The rule: take Eliquis at the same two times every day. Pick times that are easy to remember, like breakfast and dinner.
If you miss a dose:
- If it is still the same day, take it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed. Just take the next one.
- Never take two doses at once to catch up.
- If you are not sure what to do, call your pharmacist.
Side effects, what is normal and what is not
Normal. This is the medicine working.
- You bruise more easily than before.
- Small cuts take a little longer to stop bleeding.
- You bleed a little longer after the dentist.
Call your doctor if you see:
- Bruising that is large or strange.
- Pink, red, or dark brown pee.
- Black or tar colored stool.
- Coughing up or throwing up blood.
- Feeling dizzy, weak, or very tired.
- A bad headache, or one that will not go away.
Go to the emergency room right away if:
- You fall or hit your head, even if you feel fine. Eliquis can cause bleeding around the brain that you cannot feel at first.
- A cut will not stop bleeding after you press on it hard for 10 minutes.
- You have a sudden bad headache, trouble seeing, or trouble talking. These can be signs of a stroke.
What to be careful with
This part is the one patients are told about the least. It is one of the most important.
Some medicines make you bleed more easily when you take them with Eliquis. The most common ones are over the counter pain pills like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Aspirin too, unless your doctor told you to take it. Some other prescription medicines and some supplements can also change how Eliquis works.
The simple rule: before you start any new medicine, a prescription, an over the counter pill, or a supplement, tell your pharmacist you take Eliquis. Every single time.
For pain, acetaminophen (the medicine in Tylenol) is usually a safer choice than Advil or Aleve when you are on Eliquis. Ask your pharmacist what is right for you.
At Fairview, every Eliquis patient has these warnings saved in their file. When a new prescription comes in, we check it. When you ask us about an over the counter pill, we check it. That is not extra. That is just how we take care of you.
What it costs
The cost is different for every person, because every insurance plan is different.
Here is the honest way to find your price. If you pay cash, call Fairview and we will give you a price for your situation. If you have private insurance, there may be a coupon or a savings program from the maker of the drug that helps lower your cost, and we will check if one is available for you. The best step is to let a pharmacist look at your plan. We do this for every patient.
Do not let cost make you skip doses. Call us first. There is almost always something we can do.
There is also a generic version of many medicines. The generic is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if a generic is a good fit for you.
What should be checked
Eliquis does not need the regular blood test that warfarin needs. That is one good thing about it. But it still needs some checking.
Your doctor should check, now and then:
- How well your kidneys work.
- How well your liver works.
- Your blood count, to look for slow bleeding.
- Big changes in your weight.
Your pharmacist should, now and then:
- Look at your whole medicine list for new problems.
- Make sure your dose still fits you.
- Ask if you have had any bleeding.
- Check that you are taking it twice a day, every day.
At Fairview, we keep an eye on our Eliquis patients. If a refill is late, we call you. If a new medicine is added that does not mix well with Eliquis, we call you before you take it.
Special situations
Before surgery or the dentist.
Tell the surgeon or dentist that you take Eliquis. Then call the doctor who gave you Eliquis. Get clear instructions on when to stop it and when to start again, if you need to stop at all. Never stop Eliquis on your own. Stopping with no plan opens a window of stroke risk. You can also call Fairview and we will make sure the plan makes sense.
If you fall or hit your head.
If you take Eliquis and you hit your head, get checked by a doctor or the emergency room, even if you feel fine. Eliquis can cause slow bleeding around the brain. You might feel okay for hours. A quick scan can check for it. Tell the staff: I take Eliquis, also called apixaban. That changes how they help you right away.
Travel.
Keep Eliquis in your carry on bag, never in a checked bag. Bring extra in case of delays. Carry a card with your medicines, your dose, your doctor, and Fairview's phone number. If you cross time zones, ask your pharmacist how to keep your 12 hour spacing.
Older adults.
People over 75 on Eliquis need a little extra care. Kidneys change with age. More medicines mean more chances for a bad mix. Falls are more likely. Taking Advil or Aleve for arthritis is common and risky with Eliquis. A weekly pill pack, regular check ins, and family who understand the medicine all help. At Fairview, our older Eliquis patients are some of the patients we watch most closely.
How Fairview helps Eliquis patients
When you fill Eliquis at Fairview, here is what you get. This is normal care for us, not something extra.
At your first fill:
- We check all your medicines, every prescription, supplement, and over the counter pill, against Eliquis.
- We give you a simple list of what to avoid.
- We make sure your dose fits what we know about your age, weight, and kidneys.
- We tell you what to do if you fall, bleed, or need surgery.
At every refill:
- We check your file for any new medicines.
- We check that you are refilling on time.
- We answer any new questions before you leave.
On our own, without being asked:
- If a refill is late, we call you.
- If we see a problem, we call your doctor.
- If there is important news about Eliquis, we tell you.
- We check your cost at every fill to make sure you are paying the best price for your plan.
Questions people ask about Eliquis
Yes. The generic is called apixaban. It is the same medicine. Ask your pharmacist if it is a good fit for you and what it would cost on your plan.
Related guides
Have a question about your Eliquis? Ask a pharmacist who knows it well.
You just learned more about Eliquis than most patients are ever told. If something made you wonder, ask us. And if you want a pharmacy that gives every Eliquis patient this kind of care, Fairview is here. Moving your prescription to us takes one phone call.