Two medicines, side by side
Apixaban vs rifampin
Apixaban is labeled for atrial fibrillation, blood clots (dvt and pe) and stroke prevention; rifampin has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of apixaban since 2012 and of rifampin since 1971. Pharmacies paid $5.52 per Eliquis 5 mg tablet and $0.679 per rifampin 300 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, apixaban is a factor xa inhibitor and rifampin a rifamycin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the apixaban FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 24, 2026); the rifampin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 11, 2026).
Highlights of the apixaban record
Apixaban (Eliquis) · label of April 24, 2026
(A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF ELIQUIS INCREASES THE RISK OF THROMBOTIC EVENTS (B) SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMA (A) PREMATURE DISCONTINUATION OF ELIQUIS INCREASES THE RISK OF THROMBOTIC EVENTS Premature discontinuation of any oral anticoagulant, including ELIQUIS, increases the risk of thrombotic events.
Used for
From the label: indicationsELIQUIS is a factor Xa inhibitor indicated: • to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. (1.1) • for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in adult patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 28, 2012
- Generic labelers
- 2 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $5.52 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the rifampin record
Rifampin (Rifadin) · label of February 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsIn the treatment of both tuberculosis and the meningococcal carrier state, the small number of resistant cells present within large populations of susceptible cells can rapidly become the predominant type. Bacteriologic cultures should be obtained before the start of therapy to confirm the susceptibility of the organism to rifampin and they should be repeated throughout therapy to monitor the response to treatment. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 21, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.679 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 14
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Apixaban label of April 24, 2026, Rifampin label of February 11, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do apixaban and rifampin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, apixaban is a factor xa inhibitor and rifampin a rifamycin antibacterial.
Half-life, in each label's words: Apixaban, “Apixaban has a total clearance of approximately 3.3 L/hour and an apparent half-life of approximately 12 hours …”; Rifampin, “In healthy adults, the mean biological half-life of rifampin in serum averages 3.35 ± 0.66 hours after a 600 mg oral …”
Only the apixaban label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: apixaban since 2019; rifampin since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Apixaban | Rifampin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Atrial fibrillation, Blood clots (DVT and PE), Stroke prevention | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | Factor Xa Inhibitor | Rifamycin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Apixaban is a selective inhibitor of FXa. It does not require antithrombin III for antithrombotic activity. Apixaban inhibits free and clot-bound FXa, and prothrombinase activity. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Apixaban has a total clearance of approximately 3.3 L/hour and an apparent half-life of approximately 12 hours following oral administration. | In healthy adults, the mean biological half-life of rifampin in serum averages 3.35 ± 0.66 hours after a 600 mg oral dose, with increases up to 5.08 ± 2.45 hours reported after a 900 mg dose. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 2012 | May 21, 1971 |
| First generic approved | December 23, 2019 | May 28, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 2 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $5.52 per tablet (Eliquis 5 mg tablet) | $0.679 per capsule (Rifampin 300 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -43% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 14 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 66,522 | 14,511 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to apixaban
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions