Indications - Apixaban is a factor Xa inhibitor indicated: To reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation For the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery For the treatment of DVT and PE, and for the reduction in the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial therapy
Dosage & Administration - Reduction of risk of stroke and systemic embolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: The recommended dose: 5 mg orally twice daily. In patients with at least 2 of the following characteristics: age greater than or equal to 80 years, body weight less than or equal to 60 kg, or serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dL, the recommended dose is 2.5 mg orally twice daily. Prophylaxis of DVT following hip or knee replacement surgery: The recommended dose is 2.5 mg orally twice daily. Treatment of DVT and PE: The recommended dose is 10 mg taken orally twice daily for 7 days, followed by 5 mg taken orally twice daily. Reduction in the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial therapy: The recommended dose is 2.5 mg taken orally twice daily.
Side Effects - Apixaban can cause a skin rash or severe allergic reaction.
Contraindications - Active pathological bleeding. Severe hypersensitivity to Apixaban
Others - Pregnancy & Lactation Pregnancy Category B. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Apixaban in pregnant women. Treatment is likely to increase the risk of hemorrhage during pregnancy and delivery. Apixaban should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the mother and fetus. Treatment of pregnant rats, rabbits, and mice after implantation until the end of gestation resulted in fetal exposure to apixaban, but was not associated with increased risk for fetal malformations or toxicity. No maternal or fetal deaths were attributed to bleeding. Increased incidence of maternal bleeding was observed in mice, rats, and rabbits at maternal exposures that were 19, 4, and 1 times, respectively, the human exposure of unbound drug, based on area under plasma-concentration time curve (AUC) comparisons at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 10 mg (5 mg twice daily). Nursing Mothers: It is unknown whether apixaban or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Rats excrete apixaban in milk (12% of the maternal dose). Women should be instructed either to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue Apixaban therapy, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.