Apixaban🔊

What is Apixaban for?

Apixaban belongs to a class of medications called factor Xa inhibitors. It works by blocking the clotting factors and hence slows down the process of blood clot formation. It can be used to prevent or treat blood clots from different causes. You may be prescribed Apixaban after hip or knee replacement or for the prevention of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heart rhythm). It can also be used to treat venous thrombosis (blood clot formed within a vein).

How to use it?

Apixaban is taken by mouth as tablets. The usual adult doses for different uses are listed as follows:

For prevention of blood clot after hip or knee replacement: 2.5 mg twice daily, usually starting 12-24 hours after the operation

For prevention of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation: 5 mg twice daily

For treating blood clot (venous thrombosis): start with 10 mg twice daily for 7 days. Then, continue with 5 mg twice daily.

Lower doses of Apixaban are frequently used in the elderly, people with low body weight, and in people with reduced kidney function.

What are the side effects of Apixaban? 

The most common side effect of Apixaban is bleeding. You must tell your doctor if you notice any signs of bleeding like unexplained bruises and nose or gum bleeds, as well as signs of internal bleeding like blood in your urine or stool.

Where to buy Apixaban in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, Apixaban is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.