Savaysa, the brand name for edoxaban, is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). It’s used to help prevent blood clots and strokes in certain people with atrial fibrillation. This medication can also treat blood clots. The dose is typically one 60 mg tablet by mouth once daily, but it might be lower if you have kidney problems. Since it’s a blood thinner medication, Savaysa (edoxaban) can raise your chance of bleeding as a side effect. As of early 2025, there's no FDA-approved generic version available yet.
Prevention of stroke and blood clots in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF)
Treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after 5 to 10 days of therapy with an injectable blood thinner
Savaysa (edoxaban) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). It works by stopping a protein called factor Xa. Factor Xa helps your body make clots.
By blocking factor Xa, Savaysa (edoxaban) helps prevent blood clots from forming. This lowers the risk of having blood clots that can lead to other problems like a stroke.
When it’s used for treating a blood clot, Savaysa (edoxaban) helps make sure the clot doesn’t get bigger.
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Oral medication that's only taken once a day
Can take with or without food and doesn't interact with any specific foods
Doesn't require frequent blood tests to check how well it’s working and how safe it is
Not for people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) whose kidneys work too well
Not recommended if you have artificial heart valves or certain problems with your heart valves
Doesn't have an antidote (an option to reverse serious bleeding)
Follow your prescriber or pharmacist’s directions when switching between blood thinners. For example, you might switch from warfarin (Coumadin) to Savaysa (edoxaban), or from Savaysa (edoxaban) to another blood thinner. They’ll tell you when to stop the old blood thinner and when to start the new one. This makes sure there aren’t any gaps in your treatment to lower your risk for blood clots or a stroke.
Take Savaysa (edoxaban) with or without food at the same time every day. Taking the medication the same way and time every day can help you remember to take it since it becomes a part of your daily routine.
To make sure you don’t get a clot, don’t stop taking Savaysa (edoxaban) without instructions from your prescriber. And always call the pharmacy for refills ahead of time so that you don’t run out of medication at home.
Savaysa (edoxaban) can cause easy bleeding or bruising. Although not common, also be sure to watch out for signs of more serious bleeding. This can include frequent nosebleeds, confusion, coughing up blood, severe vomiting, or having dark, tarry stool. If you’re worried about any bleeding or think it’s serious, get immediate medical help.
If you miss your dose of Savaysa (edoxaban), take it as soon as you remember as long as it's the same day. If it's the next day, skip the missed dose and wait to take the medication when you usually do. Never double up on doses because it raises your risk of bleeding.
Make sure all your healthcare professionals (HCPs), dentists, and surgeons know you're taking Savaysa (edoxaban). This medication can make it more likely for you to bleed during a procedure. So your HCP might tell you to stop taking Savaysa (edoxaban) for a short time before the procedure. Then, they’ll give you instructions on how to start your blood thinner again. This can include a transition period with an injectable blood thinner like enoxaparin (Lovenox).
Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before starting any medications. This includes common over-the-counter (OTC) medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin. These medications can make you bleed more easily. Taking them together with Savaysa (edoxaban) can raise the risk of serious bleeding.
Talk to your prescriber if you’re taking Savaysa (edoxaban) and become pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There’s not enough information to know if this medication is safe during pregnancy. Your prescriber will probably suggest an injectable anticoagulant, like enoxaparin (Lovenox), that’s safer to use while pregnant.
It’s not recommended to breastfeed while taking Savaysa (edoxaban). There haven’t been any studies about the medication in people who are breastfeeding or the effects it could have on an infant. But there’s a potential for serious harm to the infant, like serious bleeding. Talk to your prescriber about the best options for you.
Savaysa (edoxaban) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Excellent kidney function (filtration rate that’s greater than 95 mL/min) | Younger age
People with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a creatinine clearance greater than 95 mL/min shouldn’t take Savaysa (edoxaban). In studies, these people had a higher risk of having a stroke while taking Savaysa (edoxaban) than those who took warfarin (Coumadin).
Creatinine clearance is a measure of kidney function. It describes how quickly your kidneys filter things out of your blood. This includes medications like Savaysa (edoxaban). The higher the creatinine clearance, the faster your kidneys filter things out. When the body gets rid of Savaysa (edoxaban) too quickly, the medication might not work as well. This can raise the risk of blood clots.
Your prescriber will check your kidney function before you start Savaysa (edoxaban). They might also check whenever they think it’s necessary during treatment. Be sure to get any blood work done as instructed to make sure Savaysa (edoxaban) is safe for you.
Don't stop taking Savaysa (edoxaban) before your prescriber tells you to. If you do, you could be at a higher risk for a stroke or heart attack, especially if you have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Talk to your prescriber first if you want to stop taking this medication or switch to a different blood thinner.
Risk factors: Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other medications that increase risk of bleeding | People at higher risk of bleeding | People with kidney or liver problems
Savaysa (edoxaban) can raise the risk of bleeding. Sometimes, bleeding can be serious or life-threatening. The risk is higher if you take Savaysa (edoxaban) with other medications that also make bleeding more likely. Signs of serious bleeding can include intense pain, feeling very weak, fast breathing, bloody vomit, or bloody stool. If you have any of these signs, get medical help right away.
It's very important that all your healthcare professionals and the emergency medical team know you're taking Savaysa (edoxaban). You might also want to wear a medical alert bracelet that says you take this medication. This helps medical staff know how to respond in an emergency even if you can’t communicate with them. There are ways to treat bleeding caused by Savaysa (edoxaban) in an emergency. But it doesn’t have an antidote like some other blood thinners do.
Risk factors: Spinal puncture (spinal tap) | Getting anesthesia in or around the spine (spinal or epidural anesthesia) | Using a spinal catheter after surgery | History of spinal surgery | Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other blood thinners
Tell your care team that you’re taking a blood thinner like Savaysa (edoxaban) before you have back surgery or any kind of spinal procedure. They’ll consider the risks and benefits for you. Blood thinners can make it more likely for you to bleed around your spinal cord during a spinal tap or epidural. This bleeding could cause paralysis. Call your prescriber right away if you feel pain, tingling, burning, numbness, weakness, or have trouble urinating. These could be signs of a spinal cord problem.
Savaysa (edoxaban) isn’t recommended for people with triple-positive antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune condition that can make it more likely to form clots. People with APS might be more likely to have another clot when taking blood thinners like Savaysa (edoxaban) compared to those taking warfarin (Coumadin).
The typical dose is one 60 mg tablet by mouth once a day.
Some people might need to take a lower dose (one 30 mg tablet once a day). This includes people who have kidney problems. For treating blood clots, it also includes people who weigh 132 lbs or less and people who take certain medications.
Active bleeding
Prevention of stroke and blood clots in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF)
Treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after 5 to 10 days of therapy with an injectable blood thinner
Prevention and treatment blood clots in the veins
Prevention and treatment blood clots linked to atrial fibrillation (AFib) or heart valve replacement
Prevention of more blood clots and to lower risk of death after a heart attack
Lower the risk of stroke and 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))
Lower the risk of DVT or PE coming back after treatment
Prevent blood clots in people in the hospital or recently released who are at high risk
Lower the risk of serious heart problems, like heart attack or stroke, in people with coronary artery disease (CAD), taken with aspirin
Lower the risk of blood clots and related problems in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), taken with aspirin
Treat blood clots and lower the risk of new clots in children from birth to under 18 years old
Prevent blood clots in children 2 years and older with congenital heart disease (CHD) after a Fontan procedure
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