The new blood thinner Eliquis has been marketed as a miracle worker, but it can lead to dangerous bleeding episodes.

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

Eliquis is advertised to do the following:

• Reduce the risk of stroke due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation
• Decrease the risk of DVT blood clots after hip or knee replacement surgery
• 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 the new blood thinner 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.

In the event of surgery or an accident, there is no Eliquis reversal agent, which means the likelihood of bleeding out is much higher.

Research shows that while a certain dose of Eliquis might work well for some patients, that same dose might be too low to effectively stop a blood clot from forming in other patients. Even worse, that identical dose could lead to an Eliquis fatal bleeding episode in yet another patient.

Signs of Bleeding Issues with New Blood Thinner Eliquis

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

Because there is no Eliquis reversal agent, a patient who takes the new blood thinner Eliquis and starts to have uncontrollable bleeding can receive little help from a doctor.

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

Eliquis Had Rough Ride Through FDA Approval

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.”

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

No Eliquis Reversal Agent

New blood thinner 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.

Pradaxa, which blocks the formation of thrombin to begin with, now has a reversal agent known as Praxbind.

Neither Xarelto nor Eliquis have reversal agents that exist.

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