Plavix vs. Eliquis

• Are Eliquis and Plavix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Plavix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Eliquis?
• What is Plavix?
• What is Eliquis?
• What Drugs Interact with Plavix?
• What Drugs Interact with Eliquis?
• How Should Plavix Be Taken?
• How Should Eliquis Be Taken?

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) and Eliquis (apixaban) are anticoagulants (blood thinners) that inhibit aspects of blood clotting and are used to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Common side effects of Plavix include:

• easy bleeding and bruising;
• pain, redness, warmth, irritation, or skin changes where the medicine was injected;
• itching of your feet; or
• bluish-colored skin.

Thrombocytopenia, Eliquis-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and Eliquis-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT) are serious side effects of Eliquis.

Common side effects of Eliquis include:

• skin rash,
• allergic reactions,
• fainting, nausea, and
• anemia.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Eliquis including easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), bleeding from wounds or needle injections, any bleeding that will not stop; heavy menstrual periods; headache, dizziness, weakness, feeling like you might pass out; red, pink, or brown urine; black or bloody stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness (especially in your legs and feet); or loss of movement in any part of your body.

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a thienopyridine class of drug that inhibits platelet aggregation and thus inhibits aspects of blood clotting used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral vascular disease and some stroke (ischemic type) patients. Plavix is available in generic form.

Eliquis (apixaban) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that reduces blood clotting and reduces the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Plavix may interact with other blood thinners, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Plavix may also interact with armodafinil, modafinil, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, gemfibrozil, isoniazid, cancer medications, stomach acid reducers, antifungals, HIV medications, or seizure medications.

Eliquis may interact with blood thinners and heparin, antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungals, antithrombotics, bone marrow stimulants, bosentan, conivaptan, cyclosporine, dextran, heart or blood pressure medications, hepatitis C medications, HIV/AIDS medications, imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, salicylates (such as aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, and others), seizure medications, St. John's wort, thrombopoietic growth factors, or vasodilators.

Plavix is supplied as 75 and 300 mg tablets. For acute coronary syndrome with a non-ST elevation MI, the initial recommended dose is 300 mg, followed by a 75 mg dose per day; for ST elevation MIs, the initial and continuing dose is 75 mg per day. The recommended dose is 75 mg per day for patient with a history of MI, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. Many doctors may choose to add an aspirin per day along with the Plavix dose in both non-ST elevation and ST elevation MIs as well as to stroke and peripheral vascular disease patients.

The recommended dose of Eliquis for most patients is 5 mg taken orally twice daily.

The recommended dose of Eliquis is 2.5 mg twice daily in patients with at least two of the following characteristics:

• age ≥ 80 years
• body weight ≤ 60 kg
• serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL