Foods to avoid while taking Eliquis

Key takeaways

• Eliquis is a medication that can help thin your blood. Certain foods or supplements may affect the function of the medication, so you should consider avoiding them.
• Combining Eliquis with grapefruit may raise the drug’s concentration in your body, increasing the risk of bleeding. Avoid grapefruit and juice while taking Eliquis to reduce this risk.
• Also consider limiting your consumption of certain herbal teas and supplements (like turmeric and ginger) when taking Eliquis, since they may also increase bleeding risk.

Overview

Eliquis is the brand-name version of the anticoagulant medication apixaban. A doctor may prescribe it to help prevent or treat blood clots.

Some foods and supplements can interact with Eliquis. For example, combining Eliquis with grapefruit can increase the concentration of the drug in your body, increasing your risk of bleeding.

Other foods may prevent the breakdown and absorption of Eliquis. This raises your risk of side effects or reduces the effects of the medication.

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Foods to avoid with Eliquis

If you take Eliquis, try to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can raise the levels of Eliquis in your body, increasing your risk of bleeding. There are no particular interactions between Eliquis and other citrus fruits like lemons.

Also consider limiting your consumption of certain herbal teas and supplements, such as turmeric and ginger, when taking Eliquis. This is because they may also increase the risk of bleeding.

Also, the supplement St. John’s wort may significantly decrease the effectiveness of Eliquis, raising your risk of developing blood clots.

Currently, there aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and Eliquis.

Still, alcohol may increase your risk of bleeding. Because both Eliquis and alcohol can cause bleeding, taking the drug with large quantities of alcohol may lead to this side effect.

If you regularly consume alcohol and you’re starting to take Eliquis, you might consider speaking with a doctor about what amount of alcohol is safe for you to drink while taking the medication.

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Foods to try with Eliquis

Many blood clotting disorders are inherited, so they may not always be preventable. But there may be ways to help prevent ever experiencing a blood clot. For example, eating a balanced diet may help prevent blood clots in people with blood clotting disorders. This can help support the function of medications like Eliquis.

Foods to incorporate in a balanced diet include:

• fruits and vegetables, and in particular, leafy green vegetables
• lean protein
• low fat dairy
• whole grains

Note that leafy greens, like broccoli and spinach, are rich in vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. And high amounts of vitamin K may lower the effectiveness of some blood thinners, like warfarin (Coumadin).

But, unlike warfarin, Eliquis is not considered to interact with vitamin K.

Other medications for blood clotting disorders

Other medications that can help prevent and treat blood clots include:

• warfarin (Coumadin)
• edoxaban (Lixiana)
• rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
• dabigatran (Pradaxa)

Most of these medications also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, increasing your risk of bleeding.

If you switch to a new blood thinner, ask a doctor or pharmacist whether any foods, supplements, or over-the-counter medications may interact with your new prescription.

Summary

Eliquis may interact with certain foods and supplements, such as grapefruit, turmeric, ginger, herbal tea, and St. John’s wort. These interactions may increase your bleeding risk or affect how well the medication works.

Eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may help lower your risk of heart disease and blood clots.

Other drugs, like warfarin, can also help prevent blood clots. For more information about your treatment options, talk with a doctor.

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