Key takeaways

  • Eliquis isn’t known to cause any unique side effects in elderly adults (aged 65 years and older). But children taking Eliquis reported higher rates of headache and vomiting than other age groups.
  • Side effects of Eliquis are typically more common at higher doses than lower ones. For example, someone taking 2.5 or 5 mg twice a day may have a lower risk of side effects than someone taking 10 mg twice a day.
  • Most of Eliquis’ side effects are the same for males and females. However, Eliquis can also cause heavy menstrual bleeding in females who menstruate.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects (also called adverse effects) that Eliquis can cause.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Eliquis treatment. Examples of commonly reported side effects of Eliquis include:

Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with Eliquis include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Eliquis unless your doctor recommends it.

Eliquis may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Eliquis and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Mild side effects are common in people taking Eliquis. But it’s also possible to develop serious side effects from this medication. Serious side effects that have been reported with Eliquis include:

  • serious bleeding
  • boxed warning: risk of blood clots if stopping Eliquis treatment early
  • boxed warning: risk of spinal blood clots from certain spinal procedures

If you develop serious side effects while taking Eliquis, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Eliquis can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Eliquis.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Eliquis, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about the side effects of Eliquis.

No, older people do not seem to have a higher risk of side effects from Eliquis than younger people.

In studies, the majority of people taking Eliquis were ages 65 years and older. The studies did not find an increased risk of Eliquis side effects in older people when compared with younger people.

But older people are more likely to have medical conditions than younger people. Having certain medical conditions may increase the risk of side effects from taking Eliquis. For more information, see the “Warnings for Eliquis” section below.

If you have questions about your risk of side effects from Eliquis, ask your doctor.

Yes, you may have a higher risk of developing side effects if you take a higher strength of Eliquis.

The drug is available in strengths of 2.5 milligrams (mg) and 5 mg. You’ll take Eliquis twice per day. But depending on the dosage your doctor prescribes for your condition, you may take as much as 20 mg per day.

If you’re concerned about side effects that you may have while taking a higher dosage of Eliquis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss your risk of side effects with you.

No, you shouldn’t experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Eliquis suddenly. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.) But stopping Eliquis treatment suddenly can increase your risk of blood clots.

In fact, Eliquis has a boxed warning for the risk of blood clots if you stop Eliquis too early. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For more information on this boxed warning, see the “Side effects explained” section.

You shouldn’t stop taking Eliquis suddenly without talking with your doctor. They’ll be able to recommend when to stop taking the drug. If you do need to suddenly stop taking Eliquis, your doctor may suggest a different medication for your condition.

Learn more about some of the side effects Eliquis may cause.

Risk of blood clots if stopping Eliquis treatment early

Eliquis has a boxed warning for the risk of blood clots if stopping Eliquis treatment early. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Eliquis works to prevent blood clots from occurring or to treat a blood clot that you already have. But if you stop taking Eliquis before it’s recommended, you may have an increased risk of blood clots.

What might help

Do not stop taking Eliquis without first talking with your doctor. If you do need to stop treatment with Eliquis, your doctor may recommend that you take a different blood thinner. This can help to prevent blood clots.

For more information about this side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Risk of spinal blood clots from certain spinal procedures

Eliquis has a boxed warning for the risk of spinal blood clots from certain spinal procedures. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the FDA. They alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Having certain spinal procedures during Eliquis treatment may increase the risk of blood clots in your spine. Symptoms of blood clots in your spine include:

What might help

Before having any spinal procedures done, tell your doctor that you’re taking Eliquis. They may recommend scheduling your procedure when you’ll have the least amount of Eliquis in your body. This can help decrease your risk of spinal blood clots.

Your doctor will also monitor you for symptoms of blood clots after you have a spinal procedure. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, contact your doctor or go to a hospital right away.

If you have concerns about risk of spinal blood clots during Eliquis treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Before taking Eliquis, discuss your health history with your doctor. Eliquis may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Alcohol and Eliquis

There aren’t any known interactions between Eliquis and alcohol.

But alcohol can increase your risk of bleeding. Since Eliquis can also cause bleeding, drinking alcohol while taking Eliquis may further increase your risk of bleeding.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, may be safe to consume while you’re taking Eliquis.

You may experience side effects during your treatment with Eliquis. Most of the drug’s side effects are mild. But it’s also possible to have serious side effects from this medication.

Before you start treatment with Eliquis, talk with your doctor about the possible side effects of this medication. Here are some questions to help get you started:

  • What should I do if I become pregnant during Eliquis treatment?
  • Is my risk of side effects increased due to other medications that I’m taking?
  • How do the side effects of Eliquis compare with side effects of other medications used for my condition?
  • Is my risk of bleeding higher when I first start Eliquis?

To learn more about Eliquis, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.