Lovenox vs. Arixtra

• Are Arixtra and Lovenox the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lovenox?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Arixtra?
• What Is Lovenox?
• What Is Arixtra?
• What Drugs Interact with Lovenox?
• What Drugs Interact with Arixtra?
• How Should Lovenox Be Taken?
• How Should Arixtra Be Taken?

Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium) and Arixtra (fondaparinux) are blood thinners (anticoagulants) used to prevent blood clots.

Lovenox is typically used to prevent blood clots that cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to blood clots in the lungs. Lovenox is also used to prevent blood vessel complications in people with certain types of angina (chest pain) or heart attacks called non-Q-wave myocardial infarction or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Arixtra is used to prevent blood clots, often in people undergoing certain surgical procedures.

Common side effects of Lovenox include:

• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• fever,
• swelling in your hands or feet, or
• injection site reactions (swelling, pain, bruising, or redness).

Common side effects of Arixtra include:

• injection site reactions (mild bleeding, rash, itching, pain bruising, redness, and swelling),
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• skin rash,
• headache,
• swelling of the hands/feet, or
• fever.

Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium) Injection is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) used to prevent blood clots that are sometimes called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to blood clots in the lungs. A DVT can occur after certain types of surgery, or in people who are bed-ridden due to a prolonged illness. Lovenox is also used to prevent blood vessel complications in people with certain types of angina (chest pain) or heart attacks called non-Q-wave myocardial infarction or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Arixtra (fondaparinux) is an inhibitor of the blood clotting Factor X and is used to prevent blood clots, often in people undergoing certain surgical procedures. Arixtra should be used with extreme caution in people who have other medical conditions that cause an increased bleeding risk.

Lovenox may interact with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other medicines to prevent blood clots.

Lovenox may also interact with dextran.

Arixtra may interact with dextran, abciximab, eptifibatide, ticagrelor, tirofiban, alteplase, reteplase, tenecteplase, urokinase, anagrelide, cilostazol, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, eltrombopag, oprelvekin, prasugrel, romiplostim, ticagrelor, ticlopidine, argatroban, bivalirudin, dabigatran, lepirudin, dalteparin, enoxaparin, rivaroxaban, heparin, tinzaparin, warfarin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or salicylates such as aspirin and others. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

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

The recommended dose of Lovenox 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

The recommended dose of Arixtra is 2.5 mg administered by subcutaneous injection.