Heart Health
The best anti-clotting drug for afib?
Ask the doctor
Q. I have atrial fibrillation and take Xarelto. But I heard about a study that suggests Eliquis is more effective for preventing strokes in people with atrial fibrillation. I'm wondering if I should switch. Your thoughts?
A. Both of these anti-clotting medications, rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixaban (Eliquis), are FDA-approved for preventing strokes in people with atrial fibrillation (afib). They both belong to a class of drugs known as direct oral anticoagulants, or DOACs. They work by inhibiting a substance called factor Xa, which plays a key role in blood clot formation. And both drugs have a half-life of about eight hours, which means that the blood level of the drug drops by half over an eight-hour period. But there are some differences between the two.
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About the Author
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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