Is There a Generic for Eliquis?
Category: Drug Information
More than 8 million people in the U.S. take anticoagulant medications to help them avoid potentially fatal blood clots. Eliquis is among today’s most expensive blood thinners prescribed for these patients.
If your doctor has prescribed ongoing treatment with this brand-name pharmaceutical, the first question you should ask them is, ‘Is there a generic for Eliquis?’
Read on to find out how to save money on this life-saving medication.
About Eliquis
Eliquis (Apixaban) is a factor Xa inhibitor. The Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance developed the drug, and it has been on sale in the United States since 2012.
Eliquis is an FDA-approved pharmaceutical used to treat the following:
Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat unrelated to heart valve problems. It increases the risk of blood clots forming in the patient’s heart.
Eliquis helps prevent blood clots and strokes in these patients.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Eliquis helps dissolve blood clots that form in veins deep inside the body. DVTs most often occur in the patient’s arm or leg.
After initial treatment for DVT, continued use of Eliquis can prevent it from recurring.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot blocking blood flow to the lungs. It’s usually the result of a DVT being dislodged.
Preventing DVT After Surgery
Hip and knee replacement surgeries increase the risk of DVT forming. It’s advisable to take Eliquis after these surgeries.
Is There a Generic for Eliquis?
The active ingredient in Eliquis is apixaban. In 2019, the FDA approved two generics for Eliquis made from this ingredient.
Eliquis Generic Availability
Generic medications are created using the knowledge gained from research into brand medications. So, manufacturers can produce them at a much lower cost since they don’t need to pay for the extensive research and testing that goes into crafting a new drug.
Generic blood thinners are every bit as safe and effective as their brand-name equivalents.
At present, the manufacturer of Eliquis still has exclusive rights to make and sell apixaban under its label until 1 April 2028, so patients will need to wait a little longer before they can buy generic apixaban.
Eliquis Prescription Options
Eliquis is suited for oral administration and is available in tablets containing 2.5 mg and 5 mg of apixaban. These tablets have the following inactive ingredients:
- anhydrous lactose
- croscarmellose sodium
- magnesium stearate
- microcrystalline cellulose
- sodium lauryl sulfate
It is covered with a film coating that comprises:
- lactose monohydrate
- Hypromellose
- titanium dioxide
- triacetin
The 2.5 mg tablet coating contains yellow iron oxide, and the 5 mg tablet coating contains red iron oxide.
Doctors prescribe Eliquis as follows:
Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation
The recommended dose to reduce the risk of stroke and systematic embolism in these cases is 5 mg taken twice daily.
The recommended dose is 2.5 mg twice daily for patients with at least two of the following:
- Serum creatinine equal to or greater than 1.5 mg/dL
- Age greater than 80 years
- Weight greater than or equal to 60 kg.
Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis After Hip or Knee Surgery
In these cases, the recommended dose of Eliquis is two doses of 2.5 mg daily, with the first dose taken within 24 hours of surgery.
This is a temporary treatment and is recommended for 35 days after hip replacement surgery and 12 days after knee replacement surgery.
Treatment of DVT and PE
Eliquis should be taken at a dose of 10 mg twice a day for seven days and then 5 mg per day after that. To reduce the risk of DVT and PE recurring, patients should take 2.5 mg of Eliquis twice daily for at least six months.
Eliquis Pricing
Currently, Eliquis costs between $594 and $790 for a month’s supply. Medicaid and Medicare patients can expect to pay a copay between $30 and $44 per prescription.
You can’t enjoy Eliquis cost savings by taking a generic equivalent of this medication, but there are other ways to save on medications. You could:
- Ask your doctor about cost-effective alternatives
- Speak to a pharmacist about coupons and discounts
- Explore alternative health insurance options
- Shop at a Canadian online pharmacy
Alternatives to Eliquis
Eliquis was developed as an alternative to warfarin, and studies have shown that it is a more effective and less risky anticoagulant.
There are three other well-known medications with the same applications as Eliquis. They are:
Xarelto
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is the best-known alternative to Eliquis. Both drugs are suitable for treating blood clots in adults, but Xarelto is also used for treating children.
Dosages for both medications may vary, but Xarelto is usually taken once a day, while Eliqius is most often split into two doses daily. You can expect to pay similar prices for Xarelto and Eliquis.
Pradaxa
Pradaxa (Dabigatran) works by blocking thrombin, a clotting factor. It is prescribed in doses of 75 mg to 150 mg twice daily.
Treatment with Pradaxa commences four hours after surgery and continues for up to 35 days. It’s cheaper than both Eliquis and Xarelto, and a generic version has been available since 2022.
Unlike Eliquis, Pradaxa’s dosage doesn’t need to be adjusted for patients with liver problems, but it is known to cause more stomach issues than Eliquis.
Plavix
Plavix (clopidogrel) prevents platelets from forming clots and is prescribed to people who’ve already had a heart attack or stroke to help prevent a recurrence.
Patients usually take a loading dose of Plavix when they start treatment, followed by one dose daily. Plavix is often prescribed alongside low-dose aspirin.
Plavix is available in the same price range as Eliquis, but there is a generic version available.
Enjoy Good Health at More Affordable Prices
Always consult your doctor about generic alternatives at the time of prescription. They are best informed about the most suitable options for your specific condition.
Price Pro Pharmacy is a leading supplier of medications at the best prices and is committed to the good health of our clients. We can help you get the treatment you need at more affordable prices and help you stay informed about cheaper ways to purchase prescription medications.
Browse our blog for answers to questions like, ‘Is there a generic for Eliquis?’, or search our stock of medications for detailed information about these well-researched treatments.
Works Cited:
Order Canada Drugs & International Prescription Medication at Discount Prices
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-generics-eliquis
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/majority-55-percent-of-americans-taking-blood-thinners-indicate-they-fear-suffering-from-major-bleeding-73-percent-more-cautious-with-routine-activities-to-avoid-risk-301081396.html
