Key takeaways:
Eliquis (apixaban) is a prescription medication that treats and prevents certain blood clots.
The typical Eliquis dosage in adults is 2.5 mg to 5 mg by mouth twice daily. Your dosage and length of treatment can vary depending on your health condition or situation.
There are ways to save on Eliquis. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access Eliquis for as little as $10 per month. A patient assistance program is also available.
Eliquis (apixaban) is a popular direct-acting oral anticoagulant medication. It’s a brand-name medication that’s used to treat and prevent blood clots. If you’re prescribed Eliquis, you’ll take it by mouth twice daily.
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 professional. They may have you take a different dose of Eliquis than described below.
Note: This article focuses on adult Eliquis dosages. But certain kids can also take it to treat and prevent blood clots in the veins. It's FDA approved for this use in children from birth onward — but only after they’ve received at least 5 days of another blood thinner. Your child’s healthcare team will determine the best Eliquis dosage for them based on their body weight.
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, you can crush Eliquis tablets and mix them with water, apple juice, or applesauce before taking them. You can also crush Eliquis tablets and mix them in 60 mL (2 oz) of water to administer them through a nasogastric tube.
What’s more, Eliquis is now approved as a 0.15 mg sprinkle capsule and 0.5 mg tablet for oral suspension (liquid). These two formulations are generally meant for children.
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 twice daily in certain situations, depending on your age, body weight, and kidney health. Your healthcare professional 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 DVT risk factors include being pregnant, having cancer, taking oral birth control pills, and smoking.
Eliquis can help treat and prevent DVTs with a few different dosages.
Use | Eliquis dosage |
|---|---|
DVT prevention after hip or knee replacement surgery | 2.5 mg twice daily |
Treatment of DVT (for at least 6 months) | 10 mg twice daily for 7 days, followed by 5 mg twice daily |
Lowering the risk of DVT (after initial treatment for 6 months) | 2.5 mg twice daily |
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.
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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 professional 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, certain people may take a lower Eliquis dosage based on their age, other health conditions they have, and/or other medications they take.
In certain situations, Eliquis should be avoided altogether. People living with artificial heart valves, antiphospholipid syndrome, or certain types of abnormal bleeding should not take Eliquis.
You should also avoid taking Eliquis if you have an upcoming spinal procedure — like a spinal tap or epidural — as it can increase your risk of bleeding in your spine. As a precaution, your healthcare professional may also have you temporarily stop taking Eliquis 1 to 2 days before a surgery to lower your risk of severe bleeding.
Eliquis dosage for older adults
If you’re at least 80 years and weigh 132 lbs (60 kg) or less, your healthcare professional may recommend a lower Eliquis dose to help reduce your bleeding risk. They may also adjust your dose based on your kidney health or other medications you take.
A likely Eliquis dosage for older adults in this case is 2.5 mg twice daily, but your prescriber will make the final call on how much you should take.
Eliquis dosage for people with kidney problems
Eliquis leaves your body when you pee. If you have kidney problems, your healthcare professional 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.
Eliquis 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 professional can help determine what dose is best for you.
If your liver problems are severe, you should avoid taking Eliquis altogether.
Eliquis dosage for 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 clopidogrel (Plavix)
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 team 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 and symptoms 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 professional right away. You can also contact Poison Control online or at 1-800-222-1222. They can recommend supportive care measures to help address your symptoms and guide you through the situation.
If you’re experiencing severe side effects, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
How to save on Eliquis
There are ways to save on Eliquis, which is available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.
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. The manufacturer also offers a 30-day free trial for certain people.
Save by paying with cash: If you don’t have insurance and are paying cash for Eliquis, you may be able to pay $346 for a 30-day supply through the manufacturer’s direct-to-consumer home-delivery program.
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 charge.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Eliquis tablets can be split in half. Some people do this to adjust their dose or save on cost. You should only do this, though, if your prescriber or pharmacist has instructed you to.
Crushing the tablets is another option if you have trouble swallowing pills. You can crush Eliquis and mix it with water, apple juice, or applesauce. Just be sure to take the full mixture right away; don’t prepare it in advance or try to store it for later use.
Eliquis is usually taken twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening — about 12 hours apart. This schedule helps keep a steady amount of the medication in your body. If you occasionally need to take your doses closer together due to a busy day, it shouldn’t be a huge deal. Just don’t make it a regular habit. If you frequently have trouble sticking to the 12-hour schedule, check in with your prescriber to talk through possible options.
Yes, Eliquis tablets can be split in half. Some people do this to adjust their dose or save on cost. You should only do this, though, if your prescriber or pharmacist has instructed you to.
Crushing the tablets is another option if you have trouble swallowing pills. You can crush Eliquis and mix it with water, apple juice, or applesauce. Just be sure to take the full mixture right away; don’t prepare it in advance or try to store it for later use.
Eliquis is usually taken twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening — about 12 hours apart. This schedule helps keep a steady amount of the medication in your body. If you occasionally need to take your doses closer together due to a busy day, it shouldn’t be a huge deal. Just don’t make it a regular habit. If you frequently have trouble sticking to the 12-hour schedule, check in with your prescriber to talk through possible options.
The bottom line
Most adults taking Eliquis (apixaban) take 1 tablet (2.5 or 5 mg) by mouth twice daily. Your recommended Eliquis dosage and length of treatment depend on what you’re taking it for. And if you have kidney or liver problems, you may need a lower dosage. It’s important to take your medication exactly as prescribed. This will help you get the most out of your Eliquis and avoid unnecessary side effects.
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References
E.R. Squibb & Sons. (2025). Eliquis- apixaban tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Estrada, E. (n.d.). What is Eliquis (apixaban)? Poison Control.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (n.d.). Read this important information before taking: Eliquis (apixaban).
MedlinePlus. (2022). Antiphospholipid syndrome.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Spinal and epidural anesthesia.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Lumbar puncture (spinal tap).
MedlinePlus. (2025). Apixaban.
