Apixaban

• Apixaban is used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in patients suffering from irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) after hip or knee replacement surgery.
• It is used to treat blood clotting in the veins, (usually in the legs and lungs) which increases the risk of stroke.

When should one not use Apixaban

• If you are allergic to apixaban.
• If you take medicines like warfarin, heparin to prevent blood clotting.
• If you suffer from a bleeding disorder.
• If you suffer from a liver disease associated with an increased risk of bleeding.
• If you have a disease in an organ of the body that may increase the risk of bleeding like recent bleeding in your brain on spinal injury, active or a recent ulcer of the stomach or intestine.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Nausea
• Bruising or swelling
• Nosebleed
• Anaemia

Other General Warnings

• You suffer from any pre-existing medical condition such as bleeding disorder, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, weak immune system, etc.
• You are going to have blood tests (like a clotting test).
• You are going to have surgery or a procedure that may cause bleeding
• You have an artificial heart valve implanted into the heart.
• You suffer from a disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks normal proteins in the blood.
• You had an injection into the spinal column for anaesthesia or pain reduction, there are chances of a long term or permanent paralysis. So caution is required for such patients.
• You are above 75 years of age.
• Your weight is below or equal to 60kgs.
• Apixaban is not recommended for use in patients below the age of 18 years.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines affect the way Apixaban works, or the medicine itself reduces the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Inform the physician about the medicines, supplements, or herbals you are taking or might take to avoid possible interaction.
• Apixaban is not recommended for patients being treated with antifungal medicines like ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole, anti-HIV medicines like ritonavir, anti-tuberculosis medicine like rifampicin, medicines used to treat epilepsy like phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, Antidepressants like paroxetine, fluoxetine, diazepam as it may affect the efficacy of Apixaban.
• Concomitant use of anticoagulants like warfarin and pain killer medicines like acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin or other strong painkillers, increases the risk of bleeding.
• Other medicines like diltiazem, verapamil (used to treat blood pressure), enoxaparin, clopidogrel (used as an anticoagulant) must be used with caution along with Apixaban.

Overdose

Missed a Dose