This article explains how Xarelto and Eliquis are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about Xarelto and Eliquis if you’d like more information about these drugs.
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Cost of Xarelto and Eliquis
As with the cost of other medications, the cost of Xarelto and Eliquis can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy they’re purchased from
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for Xarelto and this coupon page for Eliquis. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
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Questions about Xarelto and Eliquis
Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about Xarelto and Eliquis.
Can I switch from Xarelto to Eliquis?
It depends on a few factors.
Xarelto and Eliquis share some approved uses, but they have different ones too. Whether it’s okay to switch from one medication to another depends on whether the other medication is approved for your condition.
Another factor to consider is if you have other medical conditions. For example, if you have a kidney condition such as chronic kidney disease, Eliquis may be safer for you than Xarelto.
If you’re taking Xarelto or Eliquis and are interested in switching medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more.
Are Xarelto and Eliquis safe for older adults?
It depends on your specific health situation. This decision is ultimately up to you and your doctor.
Older adults (age 65 years and older) were included in studies of Xarelto and Eliquis. In studies of Xarelto, older adults were more likely to experience bleeding as a side effect compared with younger adults. Older adults were also more likely to experience a blood clot than younger adults. On the other hand, rates of bleeding and blood clots were similar across young and older adults in studies of Eliquis.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about whether Xarelto or Eliquis is safe for you to take.
How do Xarelto and Eliquis compare with warfarin?
Xarelto, Eliquis, and warfarin (Jantoven) are all anticoagulants (drugs that prevent blood clots from forming) prescribed to help treat blood clots and prevent certain risks.
One key difference is that people with an artificial heart valve can safely take warfarin. But Xarelto and Eliquis are not approved for use in people with an artificial heart valve.
Another key difference is that warfarin requires frequent blood testing to make sure the level of the drug in your system isn’t too high or too low. Even a small change in the drug level can cause problems. For example, having even slightly too much warfarin in your system raises your risk of bleeding. This means your doctor may need to frequently adjust your warfarin dose based on certain factors, such as if you get an infection (even a mild one). On the other hand, you won’t need blood testing while taking Xarelto and Eliquis. And it’s unlikely that your dose of Xarelto or Eliquis will be adjusted that frequently, if at all.
Finally, unlike Xarelto and Eliquis, warfarin is a generic medication. Generic medications tend to cost less than brand-name medications. Xarelto and Eliquis currently aren’t available as generic versions.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about how different anticoagulants compare.
Between Xarelto and Eliquis, is one a better treatment for blood clots?
Doctors may prescribe either Xarelto or Eliquis to help treat blood clots and lower certain risks. In studies, Xarelto and Eliquis were both effective for this purpose.
That said, these medications differ in some ways. For instance, Eliquis is always taken twice per day. Xarelto may be taken once or twice per day, depending on certain factors. And Eliquis may be safer for you than Xarelto if you have a kidney condition.
Keep in mind that your results from taking Xarelto or Eliquis may differ from those seen in studies.
Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors.
Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.
Side effects of Xarelto and Eliquis
Xarelto and Eliquis may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed below. Serious side effects of Xarelto and Eliquis are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed below. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.
This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for Xarelto and Eliquis. You can also check out these articles about Xarelto side effects and Eliquis side effects.
Mild side effects
Below are some of the mild side effects reported with Xarelto and Eliquis:
| Xarelto | Eliquis | |
| nausea | ✓ | |
| bruising more easily than usual | ✓ | ✓ |
| pain in the back or belly | ✓ | |
| fatigue | ✓ | |
| mild allergic reaction* | ✓ | ✓ |
* An allergic reaction is possible with Xarelto, but this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. Allergic reactions with Xarelto have occurred in people after the drug was approved for use.
Serious side effects
Below are serious side effects reported with Xarelto and Eliquis:
| Xarelto | Eliquis | |
|---|---|---|
| bleeding, which can be life threatening in extreme cases | ✓ | ✓ |
| depression, anxiety, or other mood changes | ✓ | |
| serious allergic reaction* | ||
| boxed warning: increased risk of blood clots if stopping treatment early† | ✓ | ✓ |
| boxed warning: risk of blood clots in your spine with spinal procedures† | ✓ | ✓ |
* An allergic reaction is possible with Xarelto, but this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. Allergic reactions with Xarelto have occurred in people after the drug was approved for use.
† For details about this side effect, see the “Warnings for Xarelto and Eliquis” section below.
With a lot of drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from Xarelto or Eliquis, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Generic versions
Below is information about whether Xarelto or Eliquis is available in a generic version.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.
Here’s a summary about generics of Xarelto and Eliquis:
| Xarelto | Eliquis | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | rivaroxaban | apixaban |
| Available as a generic | no | no |
Uses of Xarelto and Eliquis
Here’s a summary of Xarelto’s and Eliquis’s approved uses:
| Xarelto | Eliquis | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved uses | • lower the risk of blood clots or stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation • treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot in your leg • treat pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot in your lung • lower your risk of getting another DVT or PE after having one • prevent DVT or PE following a knee or hip replacement surgery • prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in people hospitalized or recently hospitalized and at risk of blood clots • lower the risk of blood clots in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) • lower the risk of certain heart problems, including heart attack or stroke, in people with coronary artery disease (CAD) • lower the risk of blood clots in children with congenital heart disease following the Fontan procedure | • lower the risk of blood clots or stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation • treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot in your leg • treat pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot in your lung • lower your risk of getting another DVT or PE after having one • prevent DVT or PE following a knee or hip replacement surgery |
| Prescribed to | adults and certain children* for certain uses | adults |
* Xarelto is also available in a powdered form that can be mixed with water for children who are not able to swallow tablets.
If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether Xarelto or Eliquis is an option to consider.
Dosage of Xarelto and Eliquis
Below is dosage information for the conditions that both Xarelto and Eliquis are prescribed to treat and help prevent. To find detailed dosage information for all conditions that Xarelto and Eliquis treat or help prevent, see these articles about Xarelto dosage and Eliquis dosage.
Below are dosages provided by the drugmakers of Xarelto and Eliquis. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
Xarelto’s dosage
Below is a summary of Xarelto’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | How it’s taken | Recommended dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| lower the risk of blood clots or stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation | by mouth | 15–20 mg | taken once per day |
| treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot in your leg | by mouth | 15 mg twice daily for the first 21 days, then 20 mg once a day | — |
| treat pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot in your lung | by mouth | 15 mg twice daily for the first 21 days, then 20 mg once a day | — |
| lower the risk of getting another DVT or PE after having one | by mouth | 10 mg | taken once per day |
| prevent DVT or PE following a knee or hip replacement surgery | by mouth | 10 mg | taken once per day |
Eliquis’s dosage
Below is a summary of Eliquis’s recommended dosages in adults. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | How it’s taken | Recommended dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| lower the risk of blood clots or stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation | by mouth | 5 mg | taken twice per day |
| treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot in your leg | by mouth | 10 mg for 7 days, then 5 mg | taken twice per day |
| treat pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot in your lung | by mouth | 10 mg for 7 days, then 5 mg | taken twice per day |
| lower the risk of getting another DVT or PE after having one | by mouth | 2.5 mg | taken twice per day |
| prevent DVT or PE following a knee or hip replacement surgery | by mouth | 2.5 mg | taken twice per day |
Warnings for Xarelto and Eliquis
Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.
Some people should not take Xarelto or Eliquis, and others should use either medication with caution.
Warnings for Xarelto and Eliquis are summarized below. Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Boxed warnings for Xarelto and Eliquis
Xarelto and Eliquis have boxed warnings about the following risks. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To learn more about these warnings, read below. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Increased risk of blood clots if stopping treatment early. Stopping any anticoagulant treatment early, including Xarelto or Eliquis, raises your risk of blood clots. Because of this risk, do not stop taking either medication unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so. At the beginning of treatment with Eliquis or Xarelto, your doctor should discuss how long you can expect to take the drug. Some people need to take anticoagulants long term, but others will take them for a shorter period of time.
Risk of blood clots in your spine with spinal procedures. If you’re taking Xarelto or Eliquis, there’s a higher risk of blood clots in your spine with certain spinal procedures. These clots are known as spinal hematomas and can cause paralysis in extreme cases. Because of this risk, doctors will avoid giving injections into your spine if you’re taking either drug unless there are no other options and you must have the injection. In this case, they’ll monitor you closely for spinal blood clots.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warnings above, Xarelto and Eliquis have other warnings. These are summarized in the table below.
| Xarelto | Eliquis | |
|---|---|---|
| heart valve replacement | ✓ | ✓ |
| active bleeding | ✓ | ✓ |
| bleeding condition, such as hemophilia | ✓ | ✓ |
| kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease | ✓ | |
| liver condition, including liver cirrhosis | ✓ | ✓ |
| antiphospholipid syndrome | ✓ | ✓ |
| allergic reaction to either drug or any of their ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed | ✓ | ✓ |
You can view more detailed articles about Xarelto and Eliquis if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for Xarelto and Eliquis.
What to ask your doctor
If you’re trying to decide whether Xarelto or Eliquis is better for you, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best option.
Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Are there reasons why one drug would be prescribed over the other?
- Do I have any health factors that make Eliquis or Xarelto a better fit?
- Would Eliquis or Xarelto interact with any other drugs I’m taking?
- What should I do if I miss a dose of either Eliquis or Xarelto? Would I have to restart treatment?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.