apixaban vs clopidogrel
Side-by-side comparison of apixaban and clopidogrel Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
APPRAISE-2, a placebo-controlled clinical trial of apixaban in high-risk, post-acute coronary syndrome patients treated with aspirin or the combination of aspirin and clopidogrel, was terminated early due to a higher rate of bleeding with apixaban compared to placebo.
Recommendation: Use this combination only if specifically directed by your doctor and watch for any signs of unusual bruising or bleeding. Your healthcare provider should monitor you very closely.
Eliquis
Plavix
Apixaban (Eliquis) is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots. It is used to lower the risk of stroke and other serious problems caused by blood clots.
Clopidogrel is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots. It is used to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Apixaban is used to lower the chance of stroke in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. It also prevents blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) that can happen after hip or knee replacement surgery. Apixaban is also used to treat DVT and lung clots (pulmonary embolism or PE), and to prevent them from coming back.
Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attack and stroke in adults. It is for people who have had a recent heart attack or stroke. It is also for people with peripheral arterial disease (poor circulation). Clopidogrel can also help people with chest pain or certain heart problems.
Apixaban is a type of drug called a factor Xa inhibitor. It works by blocking a substance in the blood that helps clots form. This helps to keep your blood flowing smoothly.
Clopidogrel keeps blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. It blocks a substance that causes platelets to clump. This helps blood flow more freely through your body.
- • Bleeding more easily (like nosebleeds or heavier periods)
- • Bruising more easily
- • Bleeding
- Irregular heartbeat 3,970
- Shortness of breath 3,598
- Stroke 3,508
- Blood clot 2,806
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 2,693
- Shortness of breath 9,917
- Heart attack 9,461
- Tiredness 8,476
- Bleeding in the stomach or intestines 8,205
- Feeling sick to your stomach 7,878
Apixaban has two important warnings. First, stopping apixaban too early can raise your risk of blood clots. Don't stop taking it without talking to your doctor. Second, if you have spinal anesthesia or a spinal puncture while taking apixaban, you could get a blood clot around your spine, which can cause long-term paralysis.
This drug may not work well for people with certain genes. If you have two copies of a certain gene, clopidogrel may not prevent clots as well. Your doctor may consider a different medicine for you.
Apixaban is not recommended during pregnancy because it may increase the risk of bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking apixaban if you are breastfeeding. You may need to stop taking the drug or stop nursing.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Clopidogrel may increase bleeding during labor and delivery. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This apixaban vs clopidogrel Comparison
apixaban is classified in the Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor) drug class, while clopidogrel sits within the Antiplatelet Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, apixaban has 16,575 submissions while clopidogrel has 43,937. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medicines prevent blood clots in different ways, and using them together significantly increases your risk of serious bleeding. clinical trials were even stopped early because this combination caused too much bleeding.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between apixaban and clopidogrel — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.