Eliquis Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Eliquis (apixaban) is a popular direct oral anticoagulant medication. It’s a brand-name only medication that’s used to treat and prevent blood clots. If you’re prescribed Eliquis, you’ll take it by mouth.

Unlike the older anticoagulant (blood thinner) warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), one unique feature of Eliquis is that it doesn’t require regular blood testing to check how well it works. This helps simplify your medication regimen — which is especially helpful if you’re juggling multiple medications.

In this guide, we’ll cover typical Eliquis dosages in adults. But remember that you should always take the dosage recommended by your healthcare provider. They may have you take a different dose of Eliquis.

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What’s the typical Eliquis dosage for adults?

Eliquis comes as 2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets. Conveniently, the typical Eliquis dosage for adults is either 2.5 mg or 5 mg by mouth twice daily. You can take your doses with or without food. 

Some people have difficulty swallowing tablets. In this case, Eliquis tablets may be crushed and mixed with water, apple juice, or applesauce before taking them. Eliquis tablets may also be crushed and mixed in 60 mL of water to be taken through a nasogastric tube.

Note: Eliquis is only FDA approved for adults; it’s not approved for kids or adolescents. Your specific Eliquis dosage and length of treatment will also depend on why you’re taking it. 

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a health condition where the heart beats abnormally. This can cause blood to collect in the heart’s upper chamber, which can lead to blood clots. Blood clots may potentially travel from the heart to the brain, causing a stroke. Eliquis aims to prevent this.

The typical Eliquis dosage for adults with atrial fibrillation — specifically nonvalvular atrial fibrillation — is 5 mg by mouth twice daily. But you may receive 2.5 mg in certain situations, depending on your age, body weight, and kidney health. Your healthcare provider will decide what Eliquis dosage is best for you.

Blood clots in your vein

Blood clots in your vein (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) usually happen in your lower leg or thigh. Some people may experience pain, swelling, or redness of the skin. But it’s also possible that people with DVT may have no symptoms at all.

A common cause of DVT is a major surgery involving the hip or legs. This is because right after surgery, people usually are less active. Other risk factors for DVT include conditions like pregnancy or cancer, oral birth control pills, and smoking. 

Eliquis can help treat and prevent DVT with a few different dosages.

Generally, Eliquis for DVT prevention after hip or knee replacement surgery is started 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. And how long you’ll take it will depend on the type of surgery you received. If you had hip replacement surgery, the recommended duration of treatment is 35 days. If you had knee replacement surgery, the recommended duration is 12 days. 

If you’re taking Eliquis to reduce the risk of DVT occurring again, it should be taken for at least 6 months to lower your risk of a stroke or blood clots. And for some people, it will be a lifelong treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about how long you’ll need Eliquis.

Blood clots in your lungs

Blood clots in your vein can break off and travel to the lungs, leading to a serious condition called pulmonary embolism (PE). This can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and a fast heart rate. Eliquis is approved to treat and prevent PE.

The typical Eliquis dosage for PE treatment is 10 mg by mouth twice daily for 7 days, followed by 5 mg twice daily for at least 6 months.

If you’re taking Eliquis to reduce the risk of PE occurring again, your dosage will be different. The typical dosage for Eliquis to reduce the risk of PE recurrence is 2.5 mg by mouth twice daily. But you’ll likely take this lower dosage after taking the higher 5 mg dose for about 6 months of PE treatment.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

Yes. People who have kidney problems may need a lower Eliquis dosage. And it should be avoided altogether with certain medical conditions, like artificial heart valves, antiphospholipid syndrome, and certain types of abnormal bleeding. 

You should also avoid taking Eliquis if you have an upcoming spinal procedure — such as a spinal tap or epidural — as this can increase your risk of bleeding in your spine. As a precaution, your healthcare provider may also have you temporarily stop taking Eliquis 2 days before a surgery to lower your risk of severe bleeding.

Dosage for people with kidney problems

Eliquis leaves your body when you pee. If you have kidney problems, your healthcare provider might start you at a lower dose so the kidneys don’t have to work as hard to process Eliquis. If they don’t lower your dose, Eliquis could build up in your body and lead to extra side effects.

Dosage for people with liver problems

There are no dose adjustments for people with mild liver problems. However, there’s limited data about Eliquis dosages for people living with moderate liver problems. If you have moderate liver problems, your healthcare provider can help determine what dose is best for you.

If your liver problems are severe, you should avoid taking Eliquis altogether.

Drug interactions

Eliquis has many drug interactions. Some interactions make Eliquis less effective, while others cause higher amounts of Eliquis in your body. This can increase your bleeding risk. Some interactions may lead to a dosage adjustment to account for potential risks.

Some of the most common Eliquis interactions include:

• Other blood thinners like rivaroxaban (Xarelto) 

• Antiplatelets like aspirin

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like escitalopram (Lexapro)

• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like duloxetine (Cymbalta)

• Rifampin (Rifadin)

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol)

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Other medications may also interact with Eliquis. Make sure to give your healthcare provider a complete list of medications and supplements you take before starting Eliquis. They can check to see if you’re at risk of any Eliquis interactions.

What happens if you miss a dose of Eliquis?

If you forget to take your dose of Eliquis, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual scheduled time. Be sure not to double up on doses to make up for a missed Eliquis dose.

What should you do if you take too much Eliquis?

If you take too much Eliquis, side effects are more likely to happen. This is because Eliquis can cause serious bleeding if you take too much. Common signs of bleeding include:

• Unexplained bruising under the skin

• Blood in the urine

• Blood in the stool, or black tarry stool

• Vomiting blood

If you think you took too much Eliquis, contact your healthcare provider right away. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They can recommend supportive care measures to help address your symptoms and guide you through the situation. But if you’re experiencing severe side effects, go to the nearest emergency room. You may receive an Eliquis reversal medication called Andexxa (andexanet alfa).

How to save on Eliquis

There are ways to save on Eliquis, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Eliquis’ patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for Eliquis using a savings card from the manufacturer.

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Written by:

Nikki Javit, PharmD

Nikki Javit, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist with certifications in international travel medicine, immunization delivery, and pharmacogenomics. She received her bachelor’s of science in biology from Indiana University Bloomington and her doctor of pharmacy degree from Butler University.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

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