Which blood thinner is safer Eliquis or Xarelto?

Asked by: Favian Kutch  |  Last update: September 27, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (75 votes)

In routine care, Eliquis was found to be both more effective and safer than Xarelto. As patients, we should pay particular attention to the fact that Eliquis had significantly lower incidence of major bleeding (gastrointestinal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage) than Xarelto (12.9 vs 21.9 events).

Which is safer Eliquis and Xarelto?

Xarelto is more likely to cause bleeding problems in older adults (ages 65 years and older) than in younger people. Eliquis is not known to have an age-related risk of bleeding. The side effects of Eliquis in older adults are generally the same as in younger people.

Which blood thinners have the least side effects?

Direct oral anticoagulants, or DOACs, have been found to be safer than warfarin for patients with atrial fibrillation. A new study published in November 2022 in Annals of Internal Medicine found apibaxan to be the safest blood thinner among DOACs, including dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban.

Why choose Xarelto over Eliquis?

Eliquis may be the better choice if you have kidney problems. If you have trouble remembering to take your medications, a DOAC that you can take once a day (like Xarelto) may be a better option than a DOAC that's taken twice a day (like Eliquis). Only Xarelto is FDA approved for certain uses in children.

Can I switch from Eliquis to Xarelto?

When switching from Eliquis to Xarelto you should stop taking Eliquis and then start taking Xarelto at the time your next dose of Eliquis is due. Do not take Eliquis and Xarelto at the same time. This is the standard advice given when switching from one DOAC to another DOAC.

Side-effects to taking blood thinners

39 related questions found

Why is CVS dropping Eliquis?

The ACC articles says that CVS pointed to medical specialty guidelines, including atrial fibrillation guidelines issued jointly by the ACC, the American Society of Hematology and Heart Rhythm Society in 2019 as justifying the decision to drop Eliquis off of its formularies.

Why is Xarelto better than other blood thinners?

Xarelto is one of the newer blood thinners. It has the advantage of a simple dosing, and it does not need to be monitored with blood tests. It also has fewer interactions with food and other medications.

Which is more expensive Eliquis or Xarelto?

Upon market entrance, Xarelto's list price was $218 for a month's supply, and Eliquis' list price was $250. As of January 2022, the list prices for a month's supply of Xarelto and Eliquis are $516 and $529, respectively.

Is Xarelto better than Eliquis head to head?

In routine care, Eliquis was found to be both more effective and safer than Xarelto. As patients, we should pay particular attention to the fact that Eliquis had significantly lower incidence of major bleeding (gastrointestinal bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage) than Xarelto (12.9 vs 21.9 events).

What is the healthiest blood thinner?

The ACC instead recommends warfarin for people with mechanical heart valves. The FDA also notes that dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban are less likely to cause hemorrhagic stroke than warfarin. They also have other benefits: fewer drug interactions.

Which blood thinner is easiest on your kidneys?

DOACs are a novel type of blood thinner that require less monitoring and are easier to take than VKAs like warfarin. They've been shown to work as well – if not better – at preventing strokes with fewer side effects. DOACs also appear safer than VKAs in patients with early stage kidney disease.

Is Eliquis hard on kidneys?

In clinical trials, some people taking Eliquis reported having blood in their urine, which could be a sign of bleeding in the kidneys.

What foods to avoid while on Eliquis?

You should avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, marmalades, limes, and pomelos while you are taking Eliquis®.

Can you get a blood clot on Xarelto?

Blood clots. Even though Xarelto lowers your risk of having blood clots, it's still possible to have a blood clot while you're taking the drug. In fact, Xarelto has boxed warnings for blood clots. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What are common side effects of Eliquis?

Serious Eliquis side effects include:
  • Joint pain or swelling.
  • Heavy vaginal bleeding.
  • Red or black, tarry stools.
  • Red, pink or brown urine.
  • Swelling of the face or tongue.
  • Severe or uncontrollable bleeding from an injury.
  • Coughing up or vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
  • Chest pain or tightness.

How common are brain bleeds with Xarelto?

Treatment-emergent ICH occurred in 26 (0.4%) of the 6784 patients treated with XARELTO, representing an incidence rate of 0.4 per 100 PY (95% CI: 0.3–0.6). See Table: Causes of Treatment-Emergent Adjudicated Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Does Eliquis make you tired?

Tiredness wasn't reported in clinical studies of Eliquis. However, tiredness can be a symptom of blood loss or anemia, which are possible side effects of Eliquis. If you have tiredness while taking Eliquis, talk with your doctor. They may check you for any symptoms of internal bleeding.

Is 5mg of Eliquis a lot?

The typical Eliquis dosage for adults with atrial fibrillation — specifically nonvalvular atrial fibrillation — is 5 mg by mouth twice daily. But you may receive 2.5 mg in certain situations, depending on your age, body weight, and kidney health.

How much does Eliquis cost under Medicare?

Medicare. Patients who have prescription insurance through Medicare pay, on average, $44 per month. And 5 out of 10 ELIQUIS patients pay $30 or less. Low-Income Subsidy patients may pay $0 to $10.35 per month through the Social Security Administration's Extra Help4 program.

What medicine can replace Eliquis?

There are also several newer blood thinners available now, including Eliquis® (apixaban), Pradaxa® (dabigatran), Xarelto® (rivaroxaban), and Savaysa® (edoxaban). For people who need an alternative, there are heart procedures that can effectively reduce the risk of stroke.

Why is Eliquis so high?

Brand name drugs cost more than the generic versions. At present, since the generic drug apixaban is not available in the U.S., American consumers have to buy brand name Eliquis and pay more for their prescriptions.

Why does Xarelto cause leg pain?

People who undergo a spinal procedure while taking an anticoagulant like Xarelto have an increased risk of developing a spinal epidural hematoma. While rare, spinal or epidural blood hematomas can form rapidly and cause severe pain at the site locally while also radiating through the lower back and to the legs or arms.

What are the chances of having a stroke while on blood thinners?

El-Chami, MD, a heart specialist at Emory Healthcare. While the likelihood of a major bleed from taking an anticoagulant is 2%-3% on average, the risk of stroke is higher. On average, the chance of having a stroke is 5% each year among people with AFib.