Apixaban Side Effects
For the Consumer
Applies to apixaban: oral tablet
Along with its needed effects, apixaban may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking apixaban:
Rare- Blood in the eyes
- blood in the urine
- bloody or black, tarry stools
- bruising or purple areas on the skin
- confusion
- constipation
- coughing up blood
- decreased alertness
- difficulty swallowing
- dizziness
- fainting
- fast heartbeat
- headache
- hives, itching, skin rash
- joint pain or swelling
- nausea and vomiting
- nosebleeds
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- redness of the eye
- severe stomach pain
- shortness of breath
- tightness in the chest
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to apixaban: oral tablet
General
The most common adverse events were related to bleeding. Common adverse reactions were anemia, hemorrhage, and nausea.[Ref]
Hematologic
Very common (10% or more): Minor bleed (11.7%)
Common (1% to 10%): Anemia postoperative, clinically relevant nonmajor bleed, hemoglobin decreased, anemia, hemorrhage
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Postprocedural hemorrhage, hemoglobin decrease of 2 g/dL or more, transfusion of 2 units or more red blood cells, fatal bleed, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic anemia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Bleed at critical site[Ref]
Patients with diabetes had more bleeding events than non-diabetic subjects. Hemorrhage includes hematoma, and vaginal and urethral hemorrhage. Postprocedural hemorrhage includes postprocedural hematoma, wound hemorrhage, vessel puncture site hematoma, and catheter site hemorrhage.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (14.1%)
Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain upper, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastritis, gastroenteritis, toothache, gingival bleeding, rectal hemorrhage, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal hemorrhage (including hematemesis and melena),
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Major gastrointestinal bleed, hematochezia, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage, hematemesis, melena, anal hemorrhage, occult blood positive, occult blood, intra-abdominal hemorrhage, mouth hemorrhage
Rare (less than 0.1%): Retroperitoneal hemorrhage[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Common (1% to 10%): Hypotension, peripheral edema, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, tachycardia, cardiac failure congestive, palpitations, thrombosis, angina pectoris, bradycardia, blood pressure increased, procedural hypotension, unstable angina, tachycardia[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, fatigue, syncope, ischemic stroke, vertigo
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Somnolence, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, major intracranial bleed, brain hemorrhage, other intracranial or intraspinal hemorrhage (including subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and spinal hematoma)
Frequency not reported: Stroke[Ref]
Local
Common (1% to 10%): Hematoma, wound hemorrhage, wound secretion
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Incision-site hemorrhage, operative hemorrhage, traumatic hematoma, injection site hematoma, vessel puncture site hematoma, application site bleeding, traumatic hemorrhage[Ref]
Ocular
Common (1% to 10%): Cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, eye hemorrhage
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Major intraocular bleed, periorbital hematoma, conjunctival hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage
Frequency not reported: Ocular hemorrhage[Ref]
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis, dyspnea, epistaxis, bronchitis, cough, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, pneumonia, sinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infection, hemoptysis, dyspnea exertional, respiratory tract infection
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea
Rare (less than 0.1%): Pulmonary embolism, respiratory tract hemorrhage (including pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, laryngeal hemorrhage, and pharyngeal hemorrhage)[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Procedural pain (10.3%)
Common (1% to 10%): Pyrexia, chest pain, fall, asthenia, blood creatine phosphokinase increased, pain, body temperature increased, laceration, chest discomfort, tooth extraction
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Herpes zoster[Ref]
Genitourinary
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, menorrhagia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): vaginal hemorrhage, metrorrhagia, menometrorrhagia, genital hemorrhage, blood urine present, red blood cells urine positive, abnormal vaginal hemorrhage, urogenital hemorrhage[Ref]
Renal
Common (1% to 10%): Hematuria, blood creatinine increased, renal failure[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, back pain, pain in extremity, osteoarthritis, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, arthritis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Muscle hemorrhage, joint swelling[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Gout, diabetes mellitus, blood glucose increased, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, decreased appetite[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity (including drug hypersensitivity such as skin rash and anaphylactic reaction such as allergic edema)[Ref]
Hepatic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Transaminases increased, AST increased, ALT increased, gamma-glutamyl transferase increased, liver function test abnormal, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood bilirubin increased[Ref]
Psychiatric
Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, depression
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety[Ref]
Dermatologic
Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, contusion, rash, cellulitis, ecchymosis, erythema, blister
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin hemorrhage, petechiae, skin rash[Ref]
Oncologic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Basal cell carcinoma[Ref]
References
1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
2. "Product Information. Eliquis (apixaban)." Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Inc, Montreal, IN.
3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.
More about apixaban
- Side Effects
- During Pregnancy
- Dosage Information
- Drug Interactions
- Support Group
- En Español
- 68 Reviews – Add your own review/rating
- Drug class: factor Xa inhibitors
Consumer resources
Other brands: Eliquis