Anticoagulation – Being on long-term anticoagulation medication rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) or apixaban (Eliquis®)
Advice for patients prescribed rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) or apixaban (Eliquis®) medication.
How should I take the medication?
It is important that you follow instructions from your doctor and ensure that you do not miss or stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking first with your doctor.
What if I forget to take my medication?
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto®)
If you are taking Xarelto® (ONCE a day):
Apixaban (Eliquis®)
If you are taking Eliquis® (TWICE a day):
Do I need to change my diet?
If you are taking Xarelto® or Eliquis® there are no dietary restrictions.
What if I need to take another new medication as well as Xarelto® or Eliquis®?
Please tell the prescribing doctor you are on anticoagulant medication and check with your pharmacist when you are dispensed new medications. Only a small number of medications interact with Xarelto® or Eliquis®.
What should I do if I experience bleeding or bruising?
Any bleeding more than minor should be reported to your doctor promptly.
This includes bruising without contact, nose bleeds, bleeding when brushing your teeth, blood in the bowel motion, or heavy periods (women).
Increased bruising after contact, and slightly longer time to stop bleeding after injury or blood tests, is expected when being on anticoagulant medication.
What if I need to have surgery or a procedure?
Xarelto® and Eliquis® are anticoagulant medications that may need to be temporarily stopped for a procedure or surgery. Please take advice from the doctor or dentist performing the procedure/surgery, your GP, or your treating Haematologist.
- Recommendations for management of these medications, can be found in: “New oral anticoagulants: a practical guide on prescription, laboratory testing and peri-procedural/bleeding management” Internal Medicine Journal 44(2014), (Table 6). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/imj.12448.
Healthcare professionals seeking advice on management of your anticoagulant medication before or after surgery or a procedure, should contact your Haematologist directly
What should I do if I accidentally take too much medication?
If you take too much (overdose):
- Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre to seek advice:
Australia: 13 11 26 or New Zealand: 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766 - Or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much anticoagulant medication.
Further Questions?
The information presented in this fact sheet is intended as a general guide only.
Patients should seek further advice and information about management of long-term use of anticoagulation medication rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) or apixaban (Eliquis®) and their individual condition from their treating haematologist or doctor.
