Why is Eliquis prescribed for coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Eliquis is a powerful anticoagulant that is prescribed to prevent stroke and potentially dangerous blood clots. The manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb assures that the risk of bleeding, typical for similar drugs, in the case of it is significantly lower. What is Eliquis used for coronavirus and when can it be prescribed?

Description

Eliquis (apixaban) is a prescription anticoagulant used to reduce the risk of strokes and blood clots in people with an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.

Doctors also prescribe the drug to people after knee or hip replacement surgery to prevent deep vein thrombosis. If left untreated, these blood clots can travel and settle in the arteries from the heart to the lungs. The life-threatening condition is called pulmonary embolism, or PE.

The drug works by blocking factor Xa (Stuart-Prower Factor), which is a key enzyme in the blood clotting process.

The drug is a representative of a new class of anticoagulants. This group also includes the drugs Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban). Experts warn that these medications can provoke potentially dangerous bleeding.

According to the instructions for the drug, the effect of taking Eliquis lasts for 24 hours after the last dose.

Dosage

Eliquis can be prescribed for coronavirus. It comes in 2.5 mg and 5 mg oral tablets. The standard dose for patients with atrial fibrillation is 5 mg 2 times a day.

For patients with any two of the following characteristics, a lower dose is recommended - on the order of 2.5 mg 2 times a day:

• if the patient's age is 80 or older;
• if its weight is about 60 kg or less;
• the level of creatinine in the blood is -1.5 mg / dl or higher.

The recommended dose for patients with DVT or PE is 10 mg 2 times a day for 7 days. After that, it is recommended to reduce the dose to 5 mg 2 times a day.

Patients who have been taking Apixaban for at least 6 months for the treatment of PE can continue to take 2.5 mg of the drug 2 times a day to reduce the risk of recurrent blood clots. If, for any reason, you do not take your dose at the scheduled time, try to take it as soon as possible. But don't double your dosage if you miss it.

The dosage for coronavirus and other diseases should be determined only by the attending physician. At the same time, he must determine how justified the use of such a medication is. If Eliquis is still prescribed, the patient should not stop taking the drug without medical supervision.

Common and serious side effects

More than 1% of patients taking the drug in clinical trials reported bleeding. In this case, you need to immediately consult a doctor and stop using Eliquis.

Small bruises can also be a minor side effect.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women are not advised to take Apixaban. The drug can potentially increase the risk of sudden bleeding.

Also, the instructions indicate that for the period of lactation, you need to either temporarily stop GV, or stop taking the drug.

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Warnings

Regulatory authorities, including those operating in America, have required Bristol-Myers to add 2 warnings to the packaging of the drug.

The first was to indicate an increased risk of blood clots in the spine in patients who undergo procedures for injecting certain drugs into this area of the body. The warning says the clots can potentially cause long-term or permanent paralysis.

The second warning informs patients that stopping Eliquis may lead to an increased risk of blood clots, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. The doctor recommends considering another course of anticoagulant treatment if they cancel Apixaban before the end of treatment for any reason other than pathological bleeding.

Drug interactions

Some medicines can interact with Eliquis and reduce its effectiveness, while others can put the patient at an increased risk of bleeding.

Drugs that can increase bleeding when taken with Apixaban:

• Aspirin or other medicines containing it;
• long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• any medicine containing heparin;
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft;
• serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as Cymbalta or Effexor;
• medicines used to prevent or treat blood clots, including other anticoagulants such as Coumadin or Xarelto.

Analogs

Due to the increased demand in your city, there may be a shortage of Eliquis. But oral direct factor Xa inhibitors include other drugs.

The main analogue is Rivaroxaban. This is a relatively new drug on the pharmaceutical market, but, unfortunately, its price is high - from 1915 to 13220 rubles.

Rivaroxaban is used in patients to prevent venous thromboembolism and its life-threatening complications. The drug is sold in pharmacies under the name Xarelto.

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Low molecular weight heparins

Low molecular weight heparins are anti-clotting drugs and work by neutralizing factor Xa. Among them are Enoxaparin, Nadroparin and Dalteparin.

Vitamin K antagonists

Among the drugs belonging to the group of vitamin K antagonists, there are Acenocoumarol and Warfarin. It is worth noting that Warfarin is one of the most commonly used anticoagulants by patients around the world.

Medicines that indirectly inhibit thrombin activity

Anticoagulants that act by inhibiting thrombin activity include unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins, and fondaparinux.

Drugs that directly inhibit thrombin activity

The route of administration of direct thrombin inhibitors differs depending on the active ingredient in the preparation. Lepirudin and Bivalirudin are used only parenterally, while Dabigatran, which is sold under the trade name Pradaxa, is used orally.

Outcomes

1. Research shows that the latest anticoagulant drugs work just as well as warfarin. Therefore, Eliquis and its analogues are prescribed to people infected with coronavirus if they have the corresponding risk factors.
2. Pradaxa and Xarelto are the most optimal solution if for some reason you are forced to look for an alternative to Eliquis.
3. Apixaban, on the basis of which Eliquis was created, is administered in fixed doses, does not require monitoring of the prothrombin index, interacts little with drugs, and does not require dietary restrictions. It carries a lower risk of bleeding compared to warfarin.