Two medicines, side by side
Apixaban vs ticagrelor
Apixaban and ticagrelor are both labeled for stroke prevention. Drugs@FDA records approvals of apixaban since 2012 and of ticagrelor since 2011. Pharmacies paid $5.52 per Eliquis 5 mg tablet and $0.253 per ticagrelor 90 mg tablet (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 ticagrelor a p2y12 platelet inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the apixaban FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 24, 2026); the ticagrelor FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 7, 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 ticagrelor record
Ticagrelor (Brilinta) · label of May 7, 2026
BLEEDING RISK
BRILINTA, like other antiplatelet agents, can cause significant, sometimes fatal bleeding ( 5.1 , 6.1 ).
Do not use BRILINTA in patients with active pathological bleeding or a history of intracranial hemorrhage
( 4.1 , 4.2 ).
Do not start BRILINTA in patients undergoing urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) ( 5.1 ,
6.1 ).
If possible, manage bleeding without discontinuing BRILINTA.
Used for
From the label: indicationsBRILINTA is a P2Y 12 platelet inhibitor indicated • to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or a history of MI. For at least the first 12 months following ACS, it is superior to clopidogrel. BRILINTA also reduces the risk of stent thrombosis in patients who have been stented for treatment of ACS. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 20, 2011
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.253 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Apixaban label of April 24, 2026, Ticagrelor label of May 7, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do apixaban and ticagrelor differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, apixaban is a factor xa inhibitor and ticagrelor a p2y12 platelet inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Apixaban, “Apixaban is a selective inhibitor of FXa.”; Ticagrelor, “Ticagrelor and its major metabolite reversibly interact with the platelet P2Y 12 ADP-receptor to prevent signal transduction and platelet activation.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: apixaban since 2019; ticagrelor since 2018 (Drugs@FDA).
| Apixaban | Ticagrelor | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Atrial fibrillation, Blood clots (DVT and PE), Stroke prevention | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, Stroke prevention |
| Pharmacologic class | Factor Xa Inhibitor | P2Y12 Platelet Inhibitor |
| 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. | Ticagrelor and its major metabolite reversibly interact with the platelet P2Y 12 ADP-receptor to prevent signal transduction and platelet activation. Ticagrelor and its active metabolite are approximately equipotent. |
| 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 28, 2012 | July 20, 2011 |
| First generic approved | December 23, 2019 | September 4, 2018 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 2 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $5.52 per tablet (Eliquis 5 mg tablet) | $0.253 per tablet (Ticagrelor 90 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -43% | -43% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 66,522 | 31,712 |
| 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