Brilinta and Eliquis are both anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners. Brilinta is prescribed to reduce cardiovascular-related mortality (such as heart attack) in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Meanwhile, Eliquis reduces the risk of systemic embolism and stroke in patients suffering from nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
What is Brilinta?
Brilinta is prescribed for people who have experienced major cardiac arrest. Studies have proven that Brilinta significantly lowers the risk of having a second heart attack. Brilinta, along with aspirin, helps stop platelets from reacting and forming a new clot that could trigger another heart attack.
What is Eliquis?
Eliquis is an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat and prevent dangerous blood clots that can block blood vessels in your body. Specifically, it is used to avoid blood clots and stroke in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). It also prevents DVT and PE from recurring, especially for individuals who have had knee or hip replacement surgery.
What are the side effects of Brilinta and Eliquis?
The side effects of Brilinta are different from Eliquis. The following are some of the most common side effects of the two anticoagulant drugs.
Brilinta
Common side effects of Brilinta include increased bleeding, nosebleeds, and bruising. Other side effects of Brilinta also include:
- dizziness
- cough
- nausea
- diarrhea
- irregular heartbeat
- high or low blood pressure
- back pain
- fatigue
- chest pain
Eliquis
On the other hand, typical side effects of Eliquis include:
- skin rash
- allergic reactions
- fainting, nausea
- anemia
What drugs interact with Brilinta and Eliquis?
Brilinta
Other blood thinners, HIV/AIDS drugs, seizure drugs, and antifungals may all interact with Brilinta. Other than these, Brilinta may also interact with dexamethasone, digoxin, nefazodone, antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, as well as heart or blood pressure medications.
Brilinta may also interact with the following:
- dexamethasone (Decadron)
- digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek, Digibind)
- nefazodone (Serzone)
- certain antibiotics
- cholesterol-lowering medications (statins)
- heart or blood pressure medications
Eliquis
Eliquis may interact with heparin and blood thinners, as well as with the following drugs:
- antibiotics
- antidepressants
- antifungals
- antithrombotics
- bone marrow stimulants
- bosentan
- conivaptan
- cyclosporine
- dextran
- heart or blood pressure medications
- hepatitis C medications
- HIV/AIDS medications
- imatinib
- isoniazid
- nefazodone
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- salicylates (such as aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, and others)
- seizure medications
- vasodilators
How to take Brilinta and Eliquis?
Brilinta
It is possible to take Brilinta with or without food. A lot of time Brilinta is recommended with Aspirin. However, ask your doctor about the quantity and strength of aspirin you should consume with Brilinta as. This is because many researches indicate that consuming more than 100 mf of Aspirin in a day may impair the effectiveness of Brilinta.
Important note: Do not take aspirin in amounts greater than the dose recommended by your doctor. Inform your doctor if you take any other medications containing aspirin. Additionally avoid taking any new over-the-counter medicines that include aspirin in their formulation.
Eliquis
Eliquis is typically prescribed at a dose of 5 mg and administered orally twice daily. Eliquis is prescribed at a dosage of 2.5 mg twice daily for patients who meet at least two of the criteria listed below:
- age ≥ 80 years
- body weight ≤ 60 kg
- serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL