Prescription medication · Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor)
apixaban
Also sold as Eliquis. Apixaban is used to lower the chance of stroke in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 62,650
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 12
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- $9.51
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
apixaban (Eliquis) is a prescription Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor), more reported than most tracked drugs (62,650 FDA reports), with 12 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
apixaban (Eliquis) is a prescription Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor). Apixaban is used to lower the chance of stroke in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$9.51/unit
Generic Available
Yes (3 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Apixaban is used to lower the chance of stroke in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.
Common side effects
Bleeding more easily (like nosebleeds or heavier periods), Bruising more easily
Key warnings
Apixaban has two important warnings.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from apixaban's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take apixaban exactly as your doctor tells you. For most people with atrial fibrillation, the usual dose is 5 mg twice a day. If you are older than 80, weigh less than 132 pounds, or have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe 2.5 mg twice a day. For DVT/PE treatment, you'll likely take 10 mg twice a day for 7 days, then 5 mg twice a day.
This is a plain-language summary of apixaban's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of apixaban's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of apixaban, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Then, continue taking it twice a day as usual. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
This is a plain-language summary of apixaban's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store apixaban at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 62,650 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for apixaban, by number of reports
- Irregular heartbeat
Irregular heartbeat
3,970 reports
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath
3,598 reports
- Stroke
Stroke
3,508 reports
- Blood clot
Blood clot
2,806 reports
- Heart problem
Heart problem
2,509 reports
- Death
Death
2,332 reports
- Fall
Fall
2,287 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
2,193 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
1,929 reports
- Low red blood cell count
Low red blood cell count
1,910 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for apixaban each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where apixaban sits
apixaban has more FDA adverse-event reports than 77% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is apixaban; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 62,650 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2005–2025.
Total Reports
62,650
Reports Mentioning Death
6,759
10.8% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
27,509
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATRIAL FIBRILLATION | 3,970 |
| 2 | DYSPNOEA | 3,598 |
| 3 | CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT | 3,508 |
| 4 | THROMBOSIS | 2,806 |
| 6 | CARDIAC DISORDER | 2,509 |
| 7 | DEATH | 2,332 |
| 8 | FALL | 2,287 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 2,193 |
| 10 | DIZZINESS | 1,929 |
| 11 | ANAEMIA | 1,910 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 1,768 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 1,679 |
| 14 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,673 |
| 16 | HEADACHE | 1,591 |
| 17 | COVID-19 | 1,555 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
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.
Mechanism: 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.
What to do: 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.
7.3 Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents Coadministration of antiplatelet agents, fibrinolytics, heparin, aspirin, and chronic NSAID use increases the risk of bleeding. 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. In ARISTOTLE, concomitant use of aspirin increased the bleeding risk on apixaban from 1.8% per year to 3.4% per year and concomitant use of aspirin and...
Mechanism: Aspirin and apixaban both thin the blood, and taking them together can nearly double your risk of having a bleeding event. This happens because both drugs make it harder for your blood to clot.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for bleeding while you are on both medications. Do not start or stop taking aspirin without first consulting your healthcare provider.
In ARISTOTLE, concomitant use of aspirin increased the bleeding risk on apixaban from 1.8% per year to 3.4% per year and concomitant use of aspirin and warfarin increased the bleeding risk from 2.7% per year to 4.6% per year.
Mechanism: Both medications are powerful blood thinners, and using them at the same time greatly increases the risk of dangerous bleeding. Combining these drugs makes it much more difficult for your body to stop any bleeding that starts.
What to do: Avoid taking these two blood thinners together unless your doctor tells you it is absolutely necessary. You will need frequent monitoring and blood tests to ensure your safety.
7.2 Combined P-gp Strong CYP3A4 Inducers Avoid concomitant use of apixaban tablets with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, St.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body break down apixaban too fast, which lowers the drug levels in your blood. This makes the medicine less effective at preventing dangerous blood clots.
What to do: Avoid taking these two medicines together. Talk to your doctor about using a different treatment.
7.2 Combined P-gp Strong CYP3A4 Inducers Avoid concomitant use of apixaban tablets with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, St.
Mechanism: Rifampin speeds up the process of removing apixaban from your body. This can leave you with too little medicine to prevent a stroke or blood clot.
What to do: Do not use these medications at the same time. Your healthcare provider will likely need to choose an alternative medicine.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I take aspirin with apixaban?
What should I do before surgery?
Can apixaban be reversed?
Will apixaban interact with other medicines I'm taking?
How long will I need to take apixaban?
Can I drink alcohol while taking apixaban?
What if I have kidney problems?
What are the signs of bleeding I should watch out for?
Can I get a rash from apixaban?
Does apixaban come in different strengths?
What are the common side effects of apixaban?
Does apixaban interact with other medications?
What drug class is apixaban?
Is apixaban safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor)
Other drugs grouped near apixaban - same-class peers and common alternatives.
aspirin
Bayer, Ecotrin
Aspirin is a common medicine used to relieve minor pain.
Compare with apixaban →
cilostazol
Pletal
Cilostazol is a medicine that helps improve walking distance in people with leg pain due to poor circulation.
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clopidogrel
Plavix
Clopidogrel is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots.
Compare with apixaban →
dabigatran
Pradaxa
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
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dalteparin
Fragmin
Dalteparin (Fragmin) is a type of blood thinner medicine.
Compare with apixaban →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for apixaban
The FDA label for apixaban (sold under brand names such as Eliquis) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Direct Oral Anticoagulant (Factor Xa Inhibitor) class. Apixaban is used to lower the chance of stroke in people with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Bleeding more easily (like nosebleeds or heavier periods), Bruising more easily.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 62,650 voluntary reports. The database also lists 12 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: June 15, 2021
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages