How do I stop and start Eliquis for surgery?
Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to stop and restart Eliquis (apixaban) if you need to have surgery. In general, treatment with Eliquis should be paused at least 48 hours before elective surgery or procedures that carry a moderate to high risk of bleeding. For surgery or procedures with a low risk of bleeding or where the bleeding would be easily controlled, it should be stopped 24 hours in advance. Additionally, Eliquis should be stopped 72 hours before neuraxial anesthesia.
Your healthcare provider may recommend stopping treatment sooner if you have kidney problems, since the medication might last longer in your system. Do not stop taking Eliquis without consulting your healthcare provider. Doing so could put you at risk for blood clots, which can raise your risk for life-threatening medical problems like a stroke.
When can I restart Eliquis after surgery?
Eliquis may be restarted after surgery once bleeding has stopped. Most people can typically restart Eliquis within 1-3 days. Your healthcare provider will let you know when it is safe for you to start taking Eliquis again.
When determining whether or not to pause your anticoagulation treatment with Eliquis, your healthcare provider will weigh the risks of bleeding from your surgery with the risks of blood clot formation.
This is not all the information you need to know about Eliquis (apixaban) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.
References
Douketis, J. D., et. al. 2024. Perioperative Management of Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants. In: JAMA. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.12708
Eliquis [package insert]. Updated September 2021. E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. Accessed 10/29/24 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e9481622-7cc6-418a-acb6-c5450daae9b0
Moster, M., et. al. 2022. Perioperative Guidelines on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Agents: 2022 Update. In: Current Anesthesiology Reports. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-021-00511-z
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There is not a special diet that you should follow while you are taking Eliquis (apixaban). However, some foods and drinks can interact with it that you should be aware of. Grapefruit, pomelos, and certain teas are some examples of foods you should avoid while on Eliquis. Continue reading
6 Eliquis Side Effects You Need to Know About
Eliquis (apixaban) is a prescription blood thinner medication that belongs to the drug class called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Unlike older blood thinners like warfarin, Eliquis works by directly targeting and blocking factor Xa, a crucial protein in the blood clotting process. This targeted approach reduces the likelihood of blood forming dangerous clots while offering several advantages over traditional anticoagulant therapy, such as warfarin. Although Eliquis is generally well tolerated, we discuss six side effects that you should be aware of.
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Xarelto (rivaroxaban) and Eliquis (apixaban) are novel anticoagulants that make blood less likely to clot (also called thinning the blood). Both belong to the class of medicines known as factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors and they are two of the most popular blood thinners on the market. Either one may be used to reduce the risk of stroke or treat and prevent blood clots in conditions such as DVT. Continue reading
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