Prescription medication · Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable)
fondaparinux
Also sold as Arixtra. This medicine can prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, or abdominal surgery.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 7,980
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 3
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
fondaparinux (Arixtra) is a prescription Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable), reported less often than most tracked drugs (7,980 FDA reports), with 3 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.
fondaparinux (Arixtra) is a prescription Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable). This medicine can prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, or abdominal surgery.
Fondaparinux is a drug that helps prevent and treat blood clots. It is given as an injection under the skin.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
fondaparinux is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. (US Agent eVenus Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Inc.).
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$17.08/unit
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, or abdominal surgery.
Common side effects
Bleeding
Key warnings
This medicine can cause bleeding around your spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap while taking it.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from fondaparinux's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Fondaparinux is a Factor Xa inhibitor. It works by blocking a substance in your blood called Factor Xa. Blocking Factor Xa helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 7,980 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for fondaparinux, by number of reports
- Anaemia
Anaemia
610 reports
- Haematoma
Haematoma
558 reports
- Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary Embolism
441 reports
- Haemorrhage
Haemorrhage
348 reports
- Haemoglobin Decreased
Haemoglobin Decreased
335 reports
- Death
Death
296 reports
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis
293 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
269 reports
- Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia
260 reports
- Pyrexia 240
Pyrexia
240 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 fondaparinux 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 fondaparinux sits
fondaparinux has more FDA adverse-event reports than 35% 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 fondaparinux; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 7,980 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
7,980
Reports Mentioning Death
1,436
18.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
4,235
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANAEMIA | 610 |
| 2 | HAEMATOMA | 558 |
| 3 | PULMONARY EMBOLISM | 441 |
| 5 | HAEMORRHAGE | 348 |
| 6 | HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED | 335 |
| 7 | DEATH | 296 |
| 8 | DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS | 293 |
| 9 | DYSPNOEA | 269 |
| 10 | THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 260 |
| 12 | PYREXIA | 240 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 234 |
| 14 | THROMBOSIS | 233 |
| 15 | VOMITING | 230 |
| 16 | DRUG INTERACTION | 228 |
| 17 | MUSCLE HAEMORRHAGE | 215 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This medicine can cause bleeding around your spine if you get an epidural or spinal tap while taking it. This bleeding can cause long-term or permanent paralysis. Tell your doctor if you are scheduled for a spinal procedure. Watch for signs of nerve damage like back pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your legs, or problems with bowel or bladder control. If you notice any of these symptoms, get medical help right away.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS In clinical studies performed with fondaparinux sodium, the concomitant use of oral anticoagulants (warfarin), platelet inhibitors (acetylsalicylic acid), NSAIDs (piroxicam), and digoxin did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of fondaparinux sodium. In addition, fondaparinux sodium neither influenced the pharmacodynamics of warfarin, acetylsalicylic acid, piroxicam, and digoxin, nor the pharmacokinetics of digoxin at steady state.
Mechanism: These drugs do not change how the body handles each other or how well they work to thin the blood.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS In clinical studies performed with fondaparinux sodium, the concomitant use of oral anticoagulants (warfarin), platelet inhibitors (acetylsalicylic acid), NSAIDs (piroxicam), and digoxin did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of fondaparinux sodium. In addition, fondaparinux sodium neither influenced the pharmacodynamics of warfarin, acetylsalicylic acid, piroxicam, and digoxin, nor the pharmacokinetics of digoxin at steady state.
Mechanism: These medicines do not interfere with each other's levels or how they function in the body.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS In clinical studies performed with fondaparinux sodium, the concomitant use of oral anticoagulants (warfarin), platelet inhibitors (acetylsalicylic acid), NSAIDs (piroxicam), and digoxin did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of fondaparinux sodium. In addition, fondaparinux sodium neither influenced the pharmacodynamics of warfarin, acetylsalicylic acid, piroxicam, and digoxin, nor the pharmacokinetics of digoxin at steady state.
Mechanism: These drugs do not have a significant impact on how the other is absorbed or used by the body.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking fondaparinux?
How will I know if I'm bleeding too much?
Can I take fondaparinux if I have kidney problems?
Will fondaparinux interact with my other medications?
How long will I need to take fondaparinux?
Can fondaparinux cause an allergic reaction?
What should I do before any surgery or dental procedure?
Can I drink alcohol while taking fondaparinux?
What if I accidentally inject too much fondaparinux?
Will fondaparinux make me feel tired?
What are the common side effects of fondaparinux?
Does fondaparinux interact with other medications?
What drug class is fondaparinux?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for fondaparinux?
Is fondaparinux currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable)
Other drugs grouped near fondaparinux - same-class peers and common alternatives.
apixaban
Eliquis
Apixaban (Eliquis) is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots.
Compare with fondaparinux →
aspirin
Bayer, Ecotrin
Aspirin is a common medicine used to relieve minor pain.
Compare with fondaparinux →
cilostazol
Pletal
Cilostazol is a medicine that helps improve walking distance in people with leg pain due to poor circulation.
Compare with fondaparinux →
clopidogrel
Plavix
Clopidogrel is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots.
Compare with fondaparinux →
dabigatran
Pradaxa
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Compare with fondaparinux →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for fondaparinux: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 7,980.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 17.99%.
- fluconazole Δ 0.01 pts · 67,703 reports · Azole Antifungal 17.99%death share
- doxepin Δ 0.14 pts · 9,780 reports · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) 17.85%death share
- pitavastatin Δ 0.17 pts · 3,148 reports · HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) 17.82%death share
- granisetron Δ 0.19 pts · 10,198 reports · 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist (Antiemetic) 18.19%death share
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FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for fondaparinux
The FDA label for fondaparinux (sold under brand names such as Arixtra) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Factor Xa Inhibitor (Injectable) class. This medicine can prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after hip fracture, hip replacement, knee replacement, or abdominal surgery. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Bleeding.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 7,980 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $17.08.
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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: September 10, 2021
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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