Patients should heed Eliquis bleeding precautions because the blood thinner can cause fatal stomach and brain bleeds.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer manufacture Eliquis, generically known as apixaban.

Eliquis is advertised to do the following:

1. reduce the risk of stroke due to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
2. Decrease the risk of DVT blood clots after hip or knee replacement surgery
3. Treat blood clots in the veins of the legs/lungs and reduce risk of recurrence.

They have marketed the new drug as superior to older blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin) because Eliquis is touted as a once daily oral medication that does not need patient monitoring like Coumadin does.

Coumadin can have its anticoagulant effects reversed by introducing vitamin K.

Eliquis Bleeding Precautions

Consult a doctor immediately if you exhibit any of the following symptoms of bleeding problems:

• Easy bruising or unusual bleeding from the nose, mouth, vagina or rectum
• Unstoppable bleeding from wounds or needle injections
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Headache, dizziness, weakness, faintness
• Red, pink or brown urine
• Black or bloody stools
• Coughing up blood or substance resembling coffee grounds
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness of muscles, particularly in the legs or feet
• Loss of movement of any part of the body

The Eliquis website states, “…bleeding can be more serious and rarely may lead to death…”

Anyone who takes aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or other anticoagulants should pay extra attention to Eliquis bleeding precautions.

Eliquis Clinical Trial Criticized

An Eliquis clinical trial known as ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thrombotic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) was widely criticized. There were accusations of alleged cover-ups, unreported serious adverse events (including one death), and patients who received the wrong medication.

The FDA said that the drug’s clinical trial issues showed problems that demonstrated a “pattern of inadequate trial conduct and oversight.”

The clinical trial conducted in China was riddled with inaccuracies, according to the FDA. Patient names and dates were incorrect, and the translation from Chinese to English reports did not align with each other.

In December 2012, the FDA approved Eliquis despite the Eliquis bleeding precautions, after deciding that a number of other clinical trial results adequately showed the drug’s effectiveness.

Eliquis works a lot like two other new anticoagulants, Xarelto and Pradaxa. All of these new drugs interfere with the blood-clotting process. Eliquis and Xarelto block the Factor Xa enzyme during the coagulation process, which prevents protein thrombin from forming.

Xarelto and Eliquis bleeding precautions need to be taken seriously because neither has an antidote.

The FDA rejected an Eliquis and Xarelto antidote in December 2015, saying the agency needs more information before approving the medication known as AdexXa by Portola Pharmaceuticals.

The other new blood thinner Pradaxa has an antidote called Praxbind.

If you or someone you know has taken Eliquis and suffered bleeding side effects, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturers.