Key takeaways
Eliquis (apixaban) and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) are both anticoagulants used to prevent and treat blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). They also help prevent blood clots related to atrial fibrillation (AFib). However, they belong to different medication classes. Eliquis is a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that works by blocking factor Xa, while warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist that prevents blood clots by blocking vitamin K. Eliquis is typically taken twice daily, whereas warfarin is taken once daily with the dose adjusted based on your international normalized ratio (INR). Eliquis does not require regular blood work to monitor its effectiveness, unlike warfarin, which requires frequent INR checks. Warfarin has a lower-cost generic version available, while Eliquis is only available as a brand-name product. Common side effects of both medications include bleeding and bruising. Eliquis has fewer food and drug interactions compared to warfarin, which requires you to be consistent with your intake of vitamin K-rich foods.
