Eliquis (apixaban) tablets

Eliquis is a prescription anticoagulant (blood thinner) used for certain clot-related conditions. This page explains common uses, dosage basics, side effects, and handling notes, including options for cash-pay access without insurance. BorderFreeHealth supports prescription referral and Ships from Canada to US for eligible fills.

Use the sections below to understand what the medicine does, what to discuss with a prescriber, and what safety situations call for urgent care. Related resources are included for deeper reading, and the ordering steps are described in the access section. For similar therapies, the Cardiovascular hub can help compare options by condition and drug class.

What Eliquis Is and How It Works

Prescriptions are confirmed with the prescriber before dispensing.

This medicine contains apixaban, a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). It works as a factor Xa inhibitor (blocks a key clotting protein) to reduce the body’s ability to form clots. By lowering clot formation, the treatment may reduce the risk of stroke in some heart rhythm conditions and may help treat or prevent venous clots in the legs or lungs.

Anticoagulants affect normal clotting, so everyday choices matter. Any new symptom of unusual bleeding should be taken seriously. For a plain-language overview of how apixaban fits into clot prevention, see What Is Apixaban. For more detail on its mechanism and where it sits among blood thinners, review Apixaban Drug Class.

Who It’s For

Indications can include reducing stroke and systemic embolism risk in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), reducing the risk of recurrent DVT/PE after initial therapy, and preventing DVT after certain hip or knee replacement surgeries. These uses are diagnosis-specific and depend on clinical factors such as kidney function, bleeding risk, and other medicines.

Contraindications generally include active pathological bleeding and known serious hypersensitivity to the drug or ingredients. The Eliquis blood thinner is not appropriate for every clot scenario (for example, some valve-related conditions require different anticoagulation strategies). Condition hubs such as Atrial Fibrillation and Blood Clot DVT and PE can help organize related therapies and background reading by indication.

Dosage and Usage

Dosing is individualized by the prescriber and should follow the official label and clinical instructions. Many approved regimens use twice-daily dosing. For nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, a common schedule is 5 mg twice daily, with a reduced dose (2.5 mg twice daily) used in defined situations based on patient characteristics. For DVT/PE treatment, initial therapy may use a higher total daily dose for a short period, followed by a standard maintenance dose, and sometimes a lower dose for extended prevention.

Post-surgery prevention regimens also use twice-daily dosing for a set duration, depending on the procedure. Tablets can be taken with or without food, and consistent timing helps reduce missed doses.

Why it matters: Skipping doses can allow clot risk to rise, while doubling can raise bleeding risk.

For a label-aligned discussion of common schedules and administration considerations, see Apixaban 5 mg Dosage.

Strengths and Forms

This therapy is supplied as oral tablets. Common strengths include 2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets; the prescriber selects a strength based on indication and patient factors. Some treatment phases require taking more than one tablet to reach a prescribed dose, so the label directions on the pharmacy container should be followed carefully.

Eliquis 5 mg tablet and 2.5 mg tablet presentations may differ in shape, imprint, or packaging depending on the source and market. Availability can vary across partner pharmacies, and substitutions are not automatic for anticoagulants. When a refill is requested, verify that the tablet strength and directions match the most recent prescription and that any changes from a clinician are reflected in the updated order.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets at controlled room temperature and keep them in their original container until use. Protect the medicine from moisture and excessive heat, and keep it out of reach of children and pets. If a pill organizer is used, confirm that the tablets remain identifiable and protected from humidity.

Travel plans can create gaps in dosing if refills are delayed, so early planning is useful. Carry medicines in hand luggage when possible and keep a current medication list available for reference in emergencies.

Quick tip: Keep the labeled bottle with the tablets while traveling.

If tablets appear damaged, discolored, or exposed to water, contact a pharmacist for guidance rather than continuing use without confirmation.

Side Effects and Safety

The most important safety concern with any anticoagulant is bleeding. Common effects can include easy bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, heavier menstrual bleeding, or mild gastrointestinal upset. Because bleeding can occur internally, warning signs such as black or tarry stools, coughing or vomiting blood, severe headache, sudden weakness, or unexplained swelling should be treated as urgent.

Serious risks also include spinal or epidural hematoma (bleeding near the spinal cord) in people who receive neuraxial anesthesia or spinal procedures, especially when other bleeding-risk medicines are involved. Eliquis should not be stopped or restarted casually; interruption can increase clot risk, and restarting too soon after bleeding or surgery can be dangerous. Older adults and those with kidney or liver impairment may need closer clinical follow-up; see Anticoagulant Therapy Elderly for broader considerations.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Dispensing is handled by licensed Canadian partner pharmacies.

Interactions are most concerning when other therapies also increase bleeding risk or change apixaban levels. Examples include other anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, thrombolytics, many NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and some antidepressants that affect platelets. Strong combined inhibitors of CYP3A4 and P-gp (two common drug-handling pathways) may raise apixaban exposure, while strong inducers may lower it and reduce anticoagulant effect.

Medication lists should include prescriptions, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbal supplements. St. John’s wort, rifampin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin are commonly cited examples that can meaningfully affect levels.

Why it matters: OTC pain relievers may increase bleeding risk without obvious warning.

Clinical caution is also important around planned procedures, spinal injections, recent major bleeding, and pregnancy or breastfeeding, where benefit–risk decisions should be individualized by a healthcare professional.

Compare With Alternatives

Choosing an anticoagulant depends on the indication, kidney function, bleeding history, other medicines, and the ability to follow the dosing schedule. Eliquis is one brand of apixaban; some people may instead use the generic ingredient, depending on availability and prescriber preference. Another widely used DOAC is rivaroxaban, which has different dosing schedules for various indications.

Warfarin is an older anticoagulant that is effective for many conditions but typically requires INR monitoring and has more food and drug interactions. Injectable anticoagulants (such as low molecular weight heparins) may be used in specific settings such as peri-procedural bridging or pregnancy, depending on clinical judgment. For product comparisons within the same class, see Apixaban and Xarelto, then confirm the best fit with the prescribing clinician.

Pricing and Access

Out-of-pocket spending can vary based on tablet strength, quantity, and how the prescription is written (for example, a 30-day vs 90-day supply). People comparing the cost of eliquis often also look at the generic ingredient and at different dispensing quantities. When reviewing options, it helps to keep the prescribed dose and directions constant so comparisons are meaningful.

Cash-pay access is offered when insurance isn’t used.

BorderFreeHealth facilitates cross-border access by routing eligible prescriptions to Canadian partner pharmacies and coordinating verification steps. For those evaluating options without insurance, the page at Promotions may list occasional site-wide programs, when available, without changing the need for a valid prescription. Refill timing, address accuracy, and keeping prescriber details current can help avoid administrative delays.

Authoritative Sources

Official prescribing resources can clarify approved indications, boxed warnings, and interaction categories. When questions come up about procedures, missed doses, or bleeding symptoms, the label language and clinician guidance should be prioritized over informal advice.

The following references are useful starting points for non-promotional, evidence-based details:

• Drug details at Drugs@FDA overview
• Patient-friendly information at MedlinePlus

To proceed on the site, submit the prescription information and select prompt, express shipping during checkout.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.