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Pradaxa vs. Eliquis

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to help prevent and treat blood clots in adults and children. It's approved for certain conditions, including atrial fibrillation (AFib), where it lowers the risk of stroke. The medication comes as oral capsules and oral pellets that you take by mouth once or twice a day, depending on your condition. Common side effects include stomach upset and bleeding. If serious bleeding occurs, another medication called Praxbind (idarucizumab) can quickly reverse its blood-thinning effects.

Adults:

• Lower the risk of stroke and blood clots in certain people with atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Treat blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) - after 5 to 10 days of treatment with an injectable blood thinner
• Lower the risk of DVT and PE from happening again in those who finished treatment
• Prevent DVT or PE after hip replacement surgery

Children (3 months and older):

• Treat blood clots - after 5 days of treatment with an injectable blood thinner
• Lower the risk of blood clots from happening again in those who finished treatment

• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Bleeding

• Higher risk of blood clots from stopping too early
• Bleeding around the spine (after certain spinal procedures)
• Risk of bleeding
• Not for people with mechanical heart valves
• Interactions with other medications
• Not for people with antiphospholipid syndrome

Eliquis (apixaban) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to prevent and treat blood clots. It can lower the risk of serious conditions like stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE). The medication comes as a tablet or liquid and is taken by mouth twice a day. Common side effects include bleeding and bruising. Although generic versions have been approved by the FDA, they might not be available until 2026.

Adults:

• Lower the risk of stroke or blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not caused by a heart valve problem
• Treat blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis (DVT)) or lungs (pulmonary embolism (PE))
• Prevent DVT and PE after knee or hip replacement surgery
• Lower the risk of DVT or PE coming back after treatment

Children:

• Treat blood clots and lower the risk of new clots in children from birth and older

Adults:

• Any bleeding (up to 15%)

Children:

• Any bleeding (up to 36%)
• Headache (16%)
• Vomiting (14%)

• Higher risk of blood clots if stopped too early
• Paralysis in the spine
• Bleeding
• Not recommended in people with prosthetic heart valves
• Not recommended in people with antiphospholipid syndrome