SN instructed patient about the Eliquis, also known as Apixaban is an anticoagulant. “ANTI” means against and “COAGULANT” refers to the clotting of blood. Apixaban is a medicine ordered by your doctor to prevent harmful blood clots from forming. It does not dissolve existing clots. Sometimes apixaban is referred to as a “blood thinner”, but it does not actually thin your blood. Apixaban is commonly prescribed to people with a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of a clot forming in the heart. A clot in the heart can dislodge and cause a stroke. The role of apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation is to prevent formation of a clot in the heart and lower the risk of stroke. Tell your doctor right away if you have these side effects: Unusual bleeding: Vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, Bleeding from cuts that do not stop with pressure, Frequent bleeding from Coughing up blood gums, Nose bleeds, Black or red tarry stools, Bruises that appear without injury, blood in your urine, excessive vaginal bleeding / menstrual flow, Weakness, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting Itching or hives, Swelling in your face, hands, mouth, or throat Difficulty breathing or chest tightness.
SN instructed patient and caregiver that Apixaban ( Eliquis ) is a anticoagulant for the treatment of venous thromboembolic events. It is indicated for the following: to lower the risk of stroke and embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis ( DVT ) prophylaxis. DVT's may lead to pulmonary embolism ( PE ) in knee or hip replacement surgery patients, treatment of both DVT and PE, to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT and PE after initial therapy. Apixaban can increase the risk of bleeding and may cause serious, potentially fatal, bleeding. Concurrent use with drugs affecting hemostasis ( e.g. other anticoagulants, heparin, aspirin and other antiplatelet drugs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) can further increase the risk of bleeding.