Apixaban

Uses of Apixaban

Apixaban belongs to a group of medicines called Factor Xa inhibitors. It’s a type of drug that helps prevent strokes in people with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation. 

Apixaban is also given after hip or knee surgery to stop blood clots in the legs from moving to the lungs. Additionally, it treats existing blood clots in the legs or lungs and lowers the chance of them happening again. Overall, it’s a versatile drug for dealing with blood clot-related issues.

Precautions and Warnings

Apixaban increases the risk of severe or fatal bleeding, especially when taken with certain medications, including some over-the-counter drugs.

In addition, taking apixaban could increase the chances of a dangerous blood clot forming near the spinal cord. If such a clot occurs, it could lead to long-term paralysis, which means being unable to move certain parts of the body. 

Dosage

Apixaban dosage can vary based on the condition being treated. Consider the following:

For Atrial Fibrillation, the standard dosage for most patients is 5 mg orally twice daily.

For Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), the usual dosage is 10 mg, taken orally twice a day for the initial 7 days. Afterward, the dosage is lowered to 5 mg, taken orally twice daily for the remaining treatment period, which usually spans over 6 months.

After hip replacement surgery, the recommended dosage is 2.5 mg orally twice daily. This should begin 12 to 24 hours post-surgery and continue for a total of 35 days.

Similarly, for knee replacement surgery, the advised dosage is 2.5 mg orally twice daily, starting within 12 to 24 hours post-surgery and continuing for 12 days.

Side Effects

Common side effects:

• Easy bruising
• Unusual bleeding 
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Red, pink, or brown urine
• Black or bloody stools
  

Severe side effects:

• Signs of an allergic reaction
• Symptoms of a spinal blood clot, including tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness, particularly in the legs and feet