What is Eliquis and what is it used for?

Eliquis contains the active substance apixaban and belongs to a group of medicines called anticoagulants. This medicine helps to prevent blood clots from forming by blocking Factor Xa, which is an important component of blood clotting. It is available as a tablet.

Eliquis is used in adults:

• To prevent blood clots (venous thromboembolic events (VTE)) from forming after hip or knee replacement operations. After an operation to the hip or knee the patient may be at a higher risk of developing blood clots in their leg veins. This can cause the legs to swell, with or without pain. If a blood clot travels from the leg to the lungs, it can block blood flow to the lungs causing breathlessness, with or without chest pain. This condition (pulmonary embolism) can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

• To prevent a blood clot from forming in the heart in patients with an irregular heart beat (non-valvular atrial fibrillation) and at least one additional risk factor. Blood clots may break off and travel to the brain and lead to a stroke or to other organs and prevent normal blood flow to that organ (also known as a systemic embolism). A stroke can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

• To treat blood clots in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and to prevent blood clots from re-occurring in the blood vessels of the legs and/or lungs.

Eliquis is co-promoted with Bristol Myers-Squibb.

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

Reference Information

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. One of the ways they do this is by producing evidence-based guidance. See what guidance they offer about Eliquis.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU). The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU. See what guidance they offer about Eliquis.

Medicines in Northern Ireland fall under the remit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) whilst medicines in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) fall under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following the UK leaving the European Union. These agencies are responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies.

If you would like to see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for Eliquis please follow these links:

Great Britain
Eliquis (apixaban)

Northern Ireland
Eliquis (apixaban)

Pfizer is unable to provide advice on personal medical matters. Please consult your doctor or other relevant health professional for specific, health-related advice and support.

If you get any side effects when taking this or any other medicine, talk to your doctor or other relevant health professional e.g. pharmacist, nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the packaging leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search the Google Play or Apple App Store for MHRA Yellow Card. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.