Information about the new oral anticoagulant Eliquis®

Article written by Pharmacist Bui Thi Thanh Ha - Clinical Pharmacist - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

On the market, Eliquis is very popular today, especially for people with blood clots. So, what should we pay attention to before using the drug?

Eliquis ® has the active ingredient apixaban, an oral anticoagulant that treats and prevents blood clot formation through direct inhibition of clotting factor Xa. Due to its convenience and the lack of frequent coagulation function tests to evaluate drug efficacy, Eliquis ® is tending to be more indicated in clinical practice.

You may be prescribed Eliquis ® in some cases to treat or prevent blood clots such as stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, prevention of deep vein thrombosis and Pulmonary embolism after knee or hip replacement surgery. Oral anticoagulants do not act directly on the blood clot, dissolving the clot, but creating favorable conditions for the clot to dissolve gradually or not to grow, reducing the risk of chronic thrombosis and other complications. other serious acute complications.

Dosage of Eliquis ® depends on the indication for use. You need to take the correct dose prescribed by your doctor. The dose may be adjusted according to renal function and should be used with more caution in elderly patients.
Usual dose can be from 2.5 to 5mg each time, taken 2 times / day. The duration of taking the drug depends on the indication to take the drug, you should not stop taking it on your own without consulting your doctor. In the case of use to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation, you need to take the drug for life.

The most important thing when using oral anticoagulants is to take the correct dose as directed by your doctor or pharmacist, do not stop taking it on your own, do not increase or decrease your dose without consulting your doctor
Medicines Anticoagulation generally increases the risk of bleeding. Not all patients experience these side effects. However, you need to be aware of signs of light bleeding such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bruises on the skin so that you can discuss it with your doctor during your visits. In case of heavy bleeding that is difficult to stop, you should immediately notify your doctor. You can tell your doctor right away if your urine is pink or red, your stools are black (like coffee grounds, a musty or unusual smell) or you see blood in your stools, or you're vomiting or coughing up blood. You should also talk to or tell your healthcare provider that you are taking Eliquis ® when you are about to have surgery, a procedure with a risk of bleeding, including tooth extraction, or when starting a sport that has a high risk of bleeding. high risk of bleeding. You should tell your doctor when you need to take other medications for any reason. Avoid prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, ketorolac, aspirin, etc. Safer choice for acute pain relief is paracetamol at a dose not exceeding 3000mg/day (when there is no monitoring of the patient). medical staff).
Although you don't need to have blood tests to measure drug levels or evaluate the effectiveness of drugs, you still need to have regular follow-up visits or appointments with your doctor to monitor the effectiveness, safety, and adjust the dose for your medicine. Fit.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, providing information counseling for patients who need to use anticoagulants such as Eliquis ® so that patients can better understand the drug as well as manage their own medication use. Understanding medication information as well as treatment adherence are key to ensuring drug effectiveness and healthier living with chronic diseases.