What is Eliquis?
Eliquis is a prescription medication containing Apixaban, a blood thinner classified as an anticoagulant. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer are the two co-marketing pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and market brand-name Eliquis; they were given approval to market Eliquis for the first time in 2012. Since then, Eliquis has grown massively in popularity. With more than 8 million prescriptions in 2017, it became the 93rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States. Apixaban, when in the form of Eliquis, is an oral medication that undergoes metabolism by multiple enzymes mainly located in the liver. It is then eventually excreted out of the body with help from the kidneys and bile with a half-life that ranges from 9-14 hours. Eliquis comes in tablet form in two strengths; 2.5 and 5 mg. We carry both strengths, available with a valid prescription, at My Drug Center.
What is Eliquis used for?
Eliquis is approved for to help lower the risk of blood clots and their subsequent complications within a few different conditions. One of the most common uses of Eliquis is for the risk prevention of stroke and blood clotting in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a heart rhythm disorder. This condition is characterized by a quivering or irregular heartbeat. Blood clots are a risk of this condition because when the heart beats irregularly, blood may not be pumped out properly which can result in the blood pooling together and forming a clot. Stroke is another risk factor of AFib because if the blood does pool and a blood clot does form, it can break off and travel to the brain, restrict blood flow, and result in a stroke.
Another condition Eliquis is commonly prescribed for is deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). When blood clots occur in the veins of the legs, it is known as deep vein thrombosis. It is a serious condition that causes swelling, throbbing pain, cramping pain, warm or red skin around the painful area, and swollen veins. It is a serious condition because if left untreated, the blood clot can travel and make its way into the lungs, blocking important blood vessels. When this occurs, it is known as pulmonary embolism. When important blood vessels in the lungs are blocked, the lungs can then become damaged due to the lack of blood flow, affecting not just the lungs but other organs as well, such as the heart. It can cause symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain, anxiety, and lightheadedness. If the blood clot is big enough, or if there are multiple blood clots, the condition can become life-threatening.
Additionally, Eliquis may be prescribed to patients following hip or knee replacement surgery. After the surgery, many patients become less active for up to several weeks. When you aren’t moving around as much and less muscle movement is occurring, blood flow becomes less rapid, travelling more slowly, and allowing a chance for the blood collect in the lower part of the body. This can then result in DVT which, as previously mentioned, can escalate further to PE, a more life threatening condition of the lungs. Using Eliquis can help prevent these patients from developing a blood clot and risking further complications.
How does Eliquis work?
Eliquis is effective against blood clots because of the active ingredient contained inside each tablet; Apixaban. Apixaban is a Factor Xa inhibitor, a type of anticoagulant. A serine protease called Factor Xa is created naturally inside our body and helps produce a natural enzyme called thrombin. It does this by transforming prothrombin into thrombin. Only a small amount of Factor Xa is needed to create various molecules of thrombin. Thrombin is the enzyme which initiates the first step of blood clot formation; it converts fibrinogen into fibrin. Fibrinogen is a tough soluble protein which is created in the liver and found in blood plasma as long fibrous chains. When thrombin converts Fibrinogen into fibrin, it becomes an insoluble protein that forms a fibrous mesh, the start of blood clot formation. Apixaban, the active ingredient inside Eliquis, is able to inhibit Factor Xa (free and clot-bound) which means it can block the serine protease from converting prothrombin into thrombin which in turn prevents blood clot formation.
How much does Eliquis cost?
Most pharmacies have their own set prices for their medications therefore the price of Eliquis will likely vary depending on the pharmacy. Prices also vary between pharmacies located in the United States and internationally. Additionally, the price of the medication may slightly vary depending on dosage strength and quantity. At My Drug Center, the starting price of Eliquis is seen at $117.00 when you purchase a quantity of 56 tablets. In the United States, this price is seen much higher; approximately 4.5 times higher for the exact same supply. In addition, My Drug Center brings the medication straight to your door so you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to fill your prescription, making the process not only easier on your wallet, but easier on yourself all together. Call our toll free number of 1-877-385-8998 to begin placing an order; keep in mind, a valid prescription will be required.
What are the most common side effects of Eliquis?
Some of the more common side effects of Eliquis includes easy bruising, unusual bleeding (from nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), or bleeding from injection sites. You may also experience chest pain or tightness or feeling dizzy or faint. However, side effects are a normal reaction of the body when taking a new medication and should not alarm you; they should subside with time. If side effects do not go away or become worse, you should consult with your doctor.
When will Eliquis go generic?
The answer is unclear as to when we will see a generic alternative for Eliquis available on the market. Eliquis was only approved for medical use in 2012, making it a fairly new medication. New medications are usually protected by patent laws which prevent generic manufactures from developing their own forms of the medication, usually for quite a few years after the brand has been placed on the market. And though an application to produce generic Eliquis has already been approved, we may not see it available for purchase until 2032. On the other hand, generic-like prices for the brand-name product can be found at My Drug Center. We carry this medication for as low as $117.00 when you purchase a quantity of 56 tablets (2.5mg).
Who makes Eliquis?
Eliquis is a medication co-marketed between two different pharmaceutical companies. Bristol (Bristol-Myers Squibb) is the American pharmaceutical company that manufactures Eliquis, which is widely marketed by Pfizer, an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. These two companies jointly submitted a new drug application for Eliquis in 2011 and shortly after, got the approval to market Eliquis in 2012. It was originally approved for the prevention of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation and later on approved for additional indications; preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients who have recently undergone knee or hip replacement.
Why is Eliquis so expensive?
Eliquis was only approved for medical use in December of 2012 making it a newer medication; this leads us to a few different reasons as to why it may be so expensive…
Firstly, new medications are usually expensive due to the high cost of researching, developing, and then marketing the new medication. It takes roughly 10 years to get from the point of initial discovery of the drug to placing it on the market for sale, throughout 4 different phases of clinical research. On average, it costs around $1-2 billion to research and develop a successful medication.
Additionally, when a manufacture presents a new medication, they have the option to patent it, which prevents generic manufactures from creating and marketing their own form of the medication. This can stretch out for many consecutive years after the brand product has been approved, allowing for many years without competitors, and with no competitors, they can essentially pick and choose any price they want with minimal consequences.
Furthermore, Medicare considers Eliquis as a tier 3 medication. This means it’s going to be more expensive than all the drugs in tier 1 and tier 2 of the formulary. However, Eliquis isn’t universally expensive; outside of the United States, Eliquis can be found for a much more reasonable price. You can purchase brand-name Eliquis through My Drug Center for as low as $117.00 when you purchase a quantity of 56 tablets.