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Eliquis Dosage

Generic name: apixaban 2.5mg
Dosage form: tablet, film coated
Drug class: Factor Xa inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 17, 2025.

Recommended Dose in Adult Patients

Reduction of Risk of Stroke and Systemic Embolism in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS for most patients is 5 mg taken orally twice daily.

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS is 2.5 mg twice daily in patients with at least two of the following characteristics:

age greater than or equal to 80 years
body weight less than or equal to 60 kg
serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dL

Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Hip or Knee Replacement Surgery

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS is 2.5 mg taken orally twice daily. The initial dose should be taken 12 to 24 hours after surgery.

In patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, the recommended duration of treatment is 35 days.
In patients undergoing knee replacement surgery, the recommended duration of treatment is 12 days.

Treatment of DVT and PE

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS is 10 mg taken orally twice daily for the first 7 days of therapy. After 7 days, the recommended dose is 5 mg taken orally twice daily.

Reduction in the Risk of Recurrence of DVT and PE

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS is 2.5 mg taken orally twice daily after at least 6 months of treatment for DVT or PE.

2.2 Recommended Dose in Pediatric Patients

Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) and Reduction in the Risk of Recurrent VTE in Pediatric Patients

The recommended dose of ELIQUIS is based on the patient’s weight, see Table 1. Adjust the dose according to weight-tier as treatment progresses. Initiate ELIQUIS treatment for pediatric patients from birth to less than 18 years of age following at least 5 days of initial anticoagulation therapy. Individualize duration of overall therapy after careful assessment of the treatment benefit and the risk for bleeding.

Table 1: Dose Recommendation in Pediatric Patients from Birth to less than 18 Years of Age for the Treatment of VTE and Reduction in the Risk of Recurrent VTE

Days 1-7

Days 8 and beyond

Presentation

Body weight

(kg)

Dosing schedule

Dosing schedule

Powder in Capsule 0.15 mg

For pediatric use

2.6 to less than 4

0.3 mg twice daily

0.15 mg twice daily

Tablet 0.5 mg

For pediatric use

4 to less than 6

1 mg twice daily

0.5 mg twice daily

6 to less than 9

2 mg twice daily

1 mg twice daily

9 to less than 12

3 mg twice daily

1.5 mg twice daily

12 to less than 18

4 mg twice daily

2 mg twice daily

18 to less than 25

6 mg twice daily

3 mg twice daily

25 to less than 35

8 mg twice daily

4 mg twice daily

Tablets 2.5 mg and 5 mg

greater than or equal to 35

10 mg twice daily

5 mg twice daily

ELIQUIS is not recommended for use in pediatric patients less than 2.6 kg because ELIQUIS was not studied in these patients.

Missed Dose

If a dose of ELIQUIS is not taken at the scheduled time, the dose should be taken as soon as possible on the same day and twice-daily administration should be resumed. The dose should not be doubled to make up for a missed dose.

Temporary Interruption for Surgery and Other Interventions

ELIQUIS should be discontinued at least 48 hours prior to elective surgery or invasive procedures with a moderate or high risk of unacceptable or clinically significant bleeding. ELIQUIS should be discontinued at least 24 hours prior to elective surgery or invasive procedures with a low risk of bleeding or where the bleeding would be non-critical in location and easily controlled. Bridging anticoagulation during the 24 to 48 hours after stopping ELIQUIS and prior to the intervention is not generally required. ELIQUIS should be restarted after the surgical or other procedures as soon as adequate hemostasis has been established.

Converting from or to ELIQUIS

Switching from warfarin to ELIQUIS: Warfarin should be discontinued and ELIQUIS started when the international normalized ratio (INR) is below 2.0.

Switching from ELIQUIS to warfarin: ELIQUIS affects INR, so that initial INR measurements during the transition to warfarin may not be useful for determining the appropriate dose of warfarin. One approach is to discontinue ELIQUIS and begin both a parenteral anticoagulant and warfarin at the time the next dose of ELIQUIS would have been taken, discontinuing the parenteral anticoagulant when INR reaches an acceptable range.

Switching from ELIQUIS to anticoagulants other than warfarin (oral or parenteral): Discontinue ELIQUIS and begin taking the new anticoagulant other than warfarin at the usual time of the next dose of ELIQUIS.

Switching from anticoagulants other than warfarin (oral or parenteral) to ELIQUIS: Discontinue the anticoagulant other than warfarin and begin taking ELIQUIS at the usual time of the next dose of the anticoagulant other than warfarin.

Combined P-gp and Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors

For adult patients receiving ELIQUIS doses of 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily, reduce the dose by 50% when ELIQUIS is coadministered with drugs that are combined P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir).

In patients already taking 2.5 mg twice daily, avoid coadministration of ELIQUIS with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Administration Options

Adult and pediatric patients weighing greater than or equal to 35 kg.

For patients who are unable to swallow whole tablets, 5 mg and 2.5 mg ELIQUIS tablets may be crushed and suspended in water, 5% dextrose in water (D5W), or apple juice, or mixed with applesauce and promptly administered orally. Alternatively, ELIQUIS tablets may be crushed and suspended in 60 mL of water or D5W and promptly delivered through a 12 French nasogastric tube.

Following administration of the dose, the nasogastric tube should be flushed with an additional 20 mL of water or D5W.

Crushed ELIQUIS tablets are stable in water, D5W, apple juice, and applesauce for up to 4 hours.

Pediatric patients weighing less than 35 kg.

Capsules

The 0.15 mg ELIQUIS SPRINKLE capsule must be opened, and the entire contents sprinkled in water or infant formula, mixed, and administered as described in the Instructions for Use (IFU). The liquid mixtures should be administered within 2 hours. Do not swallow capsule.

Tablets for oral suspension

The 0.5 mg ELIQUIS tablet in a packet for oral suspension should be mixed with water, infant formula, apple juice, or apple sauce as described in the IFU. The liquid mixtures with water, infant formula or apple juice should be administered within 2 hours and the mixture in apple sauce should be administered immediately. Each packet is for single use only. For pediatric patients who have difficulty swallowing, the liquid mixture can be delivered through a 5 French, 6.5 French or 12 French nasogastric tube or gastrostomy tube. See IFU.

Frequently asked questions

See also:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.