Eliquis - Medicines

1 Eliquis (elle-e-kuis)apixabanConsumer Medicine Information What is in this leafletThis leaflet answers some commonquestions about does not contain all the availableinformation. It does not take theplace of talking to your doctor Medicines have risks andbenefits. Your doctor has weighedthe risks of you taking Eliquis againstthe benefits it is expected to have you have any concerns abouttaking this medicine, ask yourdoctor or this leaflet with the may need to read it Eliquis is usedforWhat Eliquis doesThis medicine is used to: prevent blood clots in your veinsafter a hip or knee replacementsurgery. After an operation you are at anincreased risk of getting bloodclots. treat blood clots occurring in deepveins (Deep Vein Thrombosis[DVT]) and clots in your lungs(Pulmonary Embolism [PE]) andalso to prevent these fromrecurring.

2 Prevent stroke and blood clots ina condition called atrialfibrillation, which is a type ofabnormal heart rhythm. With atrial fibrillation, part of theheart does not beat the way itshould. This can lead to bloodclots forming and increase yourrisk of having a Eliquis worksThe active substance in Eliquis isapixaban. It belongs to a group ofmedicines called works by inhibiting a blood clotforming substance called Factor your doctor if you have anyquestions about why this medicinehas been prescribed for doctor may have prescribed itfor another medicine is not medicine is available only witha doctor's medicine is not expected toaffect your ability to drive a car oroperate in ChildrenThere is not enough information torecommend the use of this medicinein children and adolescents under theage of 18 you takeEliquisWhen you must not take itDo not take Eliquis if you have anallergy to: any medicine containing apixaban any of the ingredients listed at theend of this of the symptoms of an allergicreaction may include.

3 Shortness of breath wheezing or difficulty breathing swelling of the face, lips, tongueor other parts of the body rash, itching or hives on the skinDo not take Eliquis if you have, orhave had, any of the followingmedical conditions: any disease or injury to a bodyorgan that is actively bleeding orat high risk of bleeding ulcer in the stomach orbowel, recent bleeding in thebrain, cancer at high risk ofbleeding liver disease which leads to anincreased risk of bleeding severely reduced kidney doctor will determine yourkidney function a recent operation on the brain,spinal column or eye(s) recent brain or spine injury abnormalities of any bloodvessels that may lead to anincrease in bleeding any blood vessel abnormalities ofyour oesophagus or "gullet" any disease or injury to a bodyorgan that could lead tosignificant bleeding stomachulcers, bowel not take Eliquis if you aretaking the following Medicines .

4 Eliquis 1 Medicines for fungal ketoconazole, itraconazole,voriconazole or posaconazole,unless they are only applied to theskin anti-viral Medicines for HIV/AIDS ritonavir other Medicines to stop yourblood from clotting heparin,enoxaparin, warfarin, rivaroxabanor you are not sure whether youshould start taking this medicine, talkto your not take this medicine after theexpiry date printed on the pack orif the packaging is torn or showssigns of it has expired or is damaged, returnit to your pharmacist for you start to take itTell your doctor if you haveallergies to any other Medicines ,foods, preservatives or your doctor if you are 75 yearsor older or if you have or have hadany of the following medicalconditions which may lead to anincreased risk of bleeding.

5 A heart condition known asbacterial endocarditis type of stroke called"haemorrhagic stroke" blood disorders that affect yourability to form clots and stopbleeding recent or past ulcer of yourstomach or bowel moderate or mild kidney disease liver disease have a lung condition calledbronchiectasis have had a history of bleeding inyour lungs high blood pressure that is notcontrolled with doctor may decide to keep youunder closer your doctor if you have aprosthetic heart valve or severerheumatic heart disease, especiallymitral stenosis (problem with themitral valve in your heart).If you are having hip or kneereplacement surgery and youroperation involves a catheter orinjection into your spinal for epidural or spinalanaesthesia or pain reduction: tell your doctor immediately ifyou get numbness or weakness ofyour legs or problems with yourbowel or bladder after the end ofanaesthesia, because urgent careis your doctor if you arepregnant or plan to is not recommended for usein pregnant women.

6 Your doctor candiscuss with you the risks andbenefits your doctor if you are breast-feeding or intend to is not recommended duringbreast-feeding. You should notbreast-feed and take Eliquis at thesame time. The active ingredient inEliquis may be present in breast milkand poses a bleeding risk to the and your doctor should decide ifyou will take Eliquis or you have not told your doctorabout any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking other medicinesTell your doctor or pharmacist ifyou are taking any othermedicines, including: all prescription Medicines all Medicines , vitamins, herbalsupplements or natural therapiesyou buy without a prescriptionfrom a pharmacy, supermarket,naturopath or health food Medicines may be affected byEliquis or may affect how it may need different amounts ofyour Medicines , or you may need totake different Medicines .

7 Your doctorwill advise your doctor or pharmacist ifyou are taking any of thefollowing: Medicines used to treat fungalinfections such as ketoconazole(Nizoral ), itraconazole(Sporanox ), voriconazole(Vfend ) and posaconazole(Noxafil ) anti-viral Medicines for HIV/AIDS ritonavir (Norvir ) rifampin or rifampicin (Rifadin ) Medicines to treat epilepsy suchas phenytoin (Dilantin ),carbamazepine (Tegretol ),phenobarbitone St John's wort Medicines to treat depressionsuch as sertraline, citalopram andvenlafaxine Medicines used to treat pain andinflammation including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) such as naproxen(Naprosyn ) or aspirin (Aspro ) other Medicines used to preventblood clots such as enoxaparin(Clexane ), clopidogrel(Iscover , Plavix ), heparin,fondaparinux (Arixtra ),bivalirudin (Angiomax )

8 ,rivaroxaban (Xarelto ),dabigatran (Pradaxa ),dipyridamole (Persantin ) quinidine verapamil diltiazem amiodarone the antibiotic, clarithromycin.(Not all brand names are given aboveso check with your doctor orpharmacist).Your doctor and pharmacist havemore information on Medicines to becareful with or avoid while takingthis 2 How to take EliquisFollow all directions given to youby your doctor or may differ from theinformation contained in this you do not understand theinstructions on the box, ask yourdoctor or pharmacist for much to takeYour doctor will tell you how manytablets you need to take each you are having hip or kneereplacement surgeryThe recommended dose is one tablet taken twice a you have blood clotsThe recommended dose to treatblood clots is two 5 mg tablets takentwice a day for 7 days.

9 Then one 5 mgtablet taken twice a recommended dose to preventblood clots that recur is one mgtablet taken twice you have atrial fibrillationThe recommended dose is normallyone 5 mg tablet taken twice a recommended dose is one tablet taken twice a day if youmeet any two of the following: are 80 years or older weigh 60 kilograms or under have reduced kidney to take itSwallow the tablet(s) whole with afull glass of you are unable to swallow thetablet(s) whole, follow the stepsbelow to crush the tablet(s). This willhelp make sure that all of the crushedtablet(s) will be taken. use a mortar and pestle or asimilar device to crush thetablet(s) transfer the powder to adrinking glass or a small bowl when using water, 5% dextrosein water or apple juice:-add a small amount of water/5% dextrose in water/applejuice (30 mL) to the mortar andpestle/device and stir-transfer the water/5% dextrosein water/apple juice to thedrinking glass-mix the powder with the water/5% dextrose in water/applejuice and drink right away-rinse the glass with a smallamount of water/5% dextrosein water/apple juice and drinkright away.

10 When using apple sauce:-mix the powder with a smallamount of apple sauce (30 g) ina small bowl and eat with aspoon right away-add a small amount of water(30 mL) to the mortar andpestle/device and stir-transfer the water to the bowland drink right away-rinse the bowl and the spoonwith a small amount of waterand drink right necessary, your doctor may alsogive you the crushed tablet(s) mixedin 60 mL of water or 5% dextrose inwater, through a nasogastric does not matter if you take thismedicine before or after to take itTake the first tablet as directed byyour you are having hip or kneereplacement surgery it is usual tostart taking your tablets 12 to 24hours after your your medicine at about thesame time each it at the same time each daywill have the best effect.