Generic Information
APIXABAN
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
Anti-coagulants, Anti-platelet drugs, Fibrinolytics (Thrombolytics), Oral Anti-coagulants
Apixaban acts by inhibiting coagulation, and thus prevents development of blood clots. As a result of FXa inhibition, apixaban prolongs clotting tests such as prothrombin time (PT), INR, and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Changes observed in these clotting tests at the expected therapeutic dose, however, are small, subject to a high degree of variability, and not useful in monitoring the anticoagulation effect of apixaban.
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.
Combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors increase blood levels of apixaban. Reduce Apixaban dose or avoid coadministration. Simultaneous use of combined P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inducers reduces blood levels of apixaban: Avoid concomitant use
Active pathological bleeding. Severe hypersensitivity to Apixaban
Apixaban can cause a skin rash or severe allergic reaction.
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.
Overdose of Apixaban increases the risk of bleeding. In controlled clinical trials, orally administered apixaban in healthy subjects at doses up to 50 mg daily for 3 to 7 days (25 mg twice daily for 7 days or 50 mg once daily for 3 days) had no clinically relevant adverse effects. In healthy subjects, administration of activated charcoal 2 and 6 hours after ingestion of a 20-mg dose of apixaban reduced mean apixaban AUC by 50% and 27%, respectively. Thus, administration of activated charcoal may be useful in the management of apixaban overdose or accidental ingestion. An agent to reverse the anti-factor Xa activity of apixaban is available.
Apixaban can cause serious, potentially fatal, bleeding. Promptly evaluate signs and symptoms of blood loss. An agent to reverse the anti-factor Xa activity of apixaban is available.