Product Details

What you need to know before you take Eliquis

Do not take Eliquis if: – you are allergic to apixaban or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6); – you are bleeding excessively; – you have a disease in an organ of the body that increases the risk of serious bleeding (such as an active or a recent ulcer of your stomach or bowel, recent bleeding in your brain); – you have a liver disease which leads to increased risk of bleeding (hepatic coagulopathy); – you are taking medicines to prevent blood clotting (e.g., warfarin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran or heparin), except when changing anticoagulant treatment, while having a venous or arterial line and you get heparin through this line to keep it open, or if a tube is inserted into your blood vessel (catheter ablation) to treat an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). 2 Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you take this medicine if you have any of the following: – an increased risk of bleeding, such as: – bleeding disorders, including conditions resulting in reduced platelet activity; – very high blood pressure, not controlled by medical treatment; – you are older than 75 years; – you weigh 60 kg or less; – a severe kidney disease or if you are on dialysis; – a liver problem or a history of liver problems; – This medicine will be used with caution in patients with signs of altered liver function. – if you have a prosthetic heart valve; – if your doctor determines that your blood pressure is unstable or another treatment or surgical procedure to remove the blood clot from your lungs is planned. Take special care with Eliquis – if you know that you have a disease called antiphospholipid syndrome (a disorder of the immune system that causes an increased risk of blood clots), tell your doctor who will decide if the treatment may need to be changed. If you need to have surgery or a procedure which may cause bleeding, your doctor might ask you to temporarily stop taking this medicine for a short while. If you are not sure whether a procedure may cause bleeding ask your doctor. Children and adolescents This medicine is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Other medicines and Eliquis Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines may increase the effects of Eliquis and some may decrease its effects. Your doctor will decide, if you should be treated with Eliquis when taking these medicines and how closely you should be monitored. The following medicines may increase the effects of Eliquis and increase the chance for unwanted bleeding: – some medicines for fungal infections (e.g., ketoconazole, etc.); – some antiviral medicines for HIV / AIDS (e.g., ritonavir); – other medicines that are used to reduce blood clotting (e.g., enoxaparin, etc.); – anti-inflammatory or pain medicines (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid or naproxen). Especially, if you are older than 75 years and are taking acetylsalicylic acid, you may have an increased chance of bleeding; – medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems (e.g., diltiazem); – antidepressant medicines called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or serotonin norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors. The following medicines may reduce the ability of Eliquis to help prevent blood clots from forming: – medicines to prevent epilepsy or seizures (e.g., phenytoin, etc.); – St John’s Wort (a herbal supplement used for depression); – medicines to treat tuberculosis or other infections (e.g., rifampicin). 3 Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before taking this medicine. The effects of Eliquis on pregnancy and the unborn child are not known. You should not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known if Eliquis passes into human breast milk. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before taking this medicine while breast-feeding. They will advise you whether to stop breast-feeding or to stop/not start taking this medicine. Driving and using machines Eliquis has not been shown to impair your ability to drive or use machines. Eliquis contains lactose (a type of sugar) and sodium If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine. This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially “sodiumfree”.