apixaban vs ketoconazole

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Side-by-side comparison of apixaban and ketoconazole. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

( 7.2 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Combined P-gp Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors For patients receiving apixaban 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily, the dose of apixaban should be decreased by 50% when coadministered with drugs that are combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir) [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3) ].

Drug Class
apixaban Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor)
ketoconazole Azole Antifungal
Type
apixaban Prescription
ketoconazole Over-the-Counter
Summary
apixaban

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.

ketoconazole

Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine. It treats a fungal infection on your skin.

What It Treats
apixaban

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.

ketoconazole

This shampoo treats tinea versicolor, a fungal infection. This infection can cause patches on your skin that are lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. These patches may appear on your trunk, neck, arms, and upper thighs.

How It Works
apixaban

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.

ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus. This helps to clear up the infection.

Common Side Effects
apixaban
  • Bleeding more easily (like nosebleeds or heavier periods)
  • Bruising more easily
ketoconazole

No common side effects listed.

FAERS Reports
apixaban
  • Atrial Fibrillation 3,970
  • Dyspnoea 3,598
  • Cerebrovascular Accident 3,508
  • Thrombosis 2,806
  • Cardiac Disorder 2,509
ketoconazole
  • Fatigue 929
  • Pruritus 902
  • Nausea 834
  • Rash 802
  • Diarrhoea 760
Serious Warnings
apixaban

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.

ketoconazole

You should not use this shampoo if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any of the other ingredients.

Pregnancy
apixaban

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.

ketoconazole

It is not known if ketoconazole shampoo can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This apixaban vs ketoconazole Comparison

apixaban is classified in the Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor) drug class, while ketoconazole sits within the Azole Antifungal class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, apixaban has 16,391 submissions while ketoconazole has 4,227. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to ketoconazole blocks the enzymes and proteins that normally clear apixaban from your body. this can cause the level of apixaban in your blood to rise too high.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for apixaban or ketoconazole.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.