Pros & Cons
What are the pros and cons of Eliquis (apixaban)?
- Eliquis is a highly effective medication for reducing the risk of blood clots and stroke in atrial fibrillation patients.
- This medication can lower the risk of recurrent DVT and PE (blood clots in the leg and lung, respectively).
- Unlike other anticoagulants such as warfarin, you don’t need to have regular blood tests while taking Eliquis.
- Eliquis has fewer interactions with food compared to other anticoagulants.
- Eliquis is less likely to cause life-threatening or fatal bleeding problems than anticoagulants like warfarin.
- You need to take Eliquis twice a day. Other blood thinners like warfarin only need to be taken once a day.
- Taking Eliquis increases your bleeding risk (for example, cuts can take longer to stop bleeding).
- People with heart valve problems or prosthetic heart valves can’t take Eliquis.
- It is more difficult to reverse the effects of Eliquis in an emergency compared to anticoagulants like warfarin.
- This is an expensive medication. A low-cost Eliquis generic is not yet available.
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