What Type of Pain Medication is Safe With Eliquis?
Canadian Pharmacy / What Type of Pain Medication is Safe With Eliquis?
Eliquis and Pain Relievers — What's Safe to Take?
5 minute(s) read
By Li Charmaine Anne
Li Charmaine Anne
Charmaine is a Canadian writer who has appeared in Currents: A Ricepaper Anthology (2017), Plenitude Magazine (2017), Looseleaf Magazine (2018), and other publications across Canada. She holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia. Covering all things health, Charmaine is committed to communicating accurate, up-to-date health information to readers that is engaging and accessible to everyone. Having written for an environmental non-profit as well as for medical professionals across diff
Dr Heather Bartlett, MD
on 22 November 2022
I. Eliquis and NSAIDs
a. What are NSAIDs?
b. What precautions must I take when combining Eliquis and NSAIDs?
II. Eliquis and Acetaminophen
III. Eliquis and Opioids
IV. Alternatives to Pharmaceutical Painkillers
a. Heat and Cold Therapy
b. Physical Therapy
c. Massage Therapy
V. The Bottom Line
Many patients using Eliquis as a blood thinner also have other health conditions that warrant pain relief medicine, whether it's the chronic pain associated with arthritis or the occasional tension headache. Eliquis is now available in generic form through an online Canadian pharmacy.
Apixaban (Generic)
60 $72.00 ADD TO CART
Manufacturer: Natco Pharma
Eliquis (Apixaban)
Manufacturer: Bristol-Myers Squibb
RxConnected sources its medications from countries where generic Eliquis is already available, so Americans can now have access to this traditionally expensive drug. But not all painkillers mix well with Eliquis. In this article, we'll explore what pain relief treatments are suitable for Eliquis patients.
Eliquis and NSAIDs
Most of us have taken an NSAID at some point. NSAIDs, short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are very popular painkillers that can be bought over-the-counter at most American pharmacies.
What are NSAIDs?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are popular for the relief of minor to moderate pain like headaches and menstrual cramps. NSAIDs can also be used to lessen swelling, relieve muscle sprains and strains, and treat fever.
Popular NSAIDs include Advil (generic name: ibuprofen) and naproxen (Aleve). [1] Tylenol (acetaminophen) is not an NSAID.
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What precautions must I take when combining Eliquis and NSAIDs?
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, patients taking Eliquis should alert their doctor if they also want to take NSAIDs. You should be aware that many NSAIDs are an included ingredient in other medications. This may not be immediately obvious, so make sure when you get a new medicine to check the full list of ingredients on the label. [2]
If a patient needs to take an NSAID, experts recommend taking the lowest dose possible. This is because NSAIDs influence how platelets (clotting mechanisms in your blood) work. This can be dangerous because Eliquis is a blood thinner that may increase your risk of bleeding. Therefore, Eliquis mixed with NSAIDs can further increase your risk of bleeding. [3]
Eliquis and Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (which also goes by the names paracetamol and Tylenol) is stated to be safe to take alongside Eliquis, according to the U.K. National Health Service. [4]
Now, acetaminophen does not fight inflammation, but it can help with fevers and headaches. It is often recommended for arthritis sufferers. It is safer for children, though taking too much acetaminophen can be harmful to the liver. [5] This is true for adults as well.
Prescribed acetaminophen such as Tylenol 3 may be combined with a mild narcotic like codeine.
Eliquis and Opioids
Opioids are very strong painkillers. This family of drugs includes prescription morphine, oxycodone, and codeine, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. [6]
There is little information available about the potential risks of taking Eliquis along with an opioid painkiller. However, always tell your doctor what other medications you take. Remember, opioids are powerful medications, and use of them should be carefully monitored by a health-care professional.
Alternatives to Pharmaceutical Painkillers
One way to reduce the risk of a bad painkiller and Eliquis interaction is to avoid using painkillers. Indeed, for mild to moderate pain, non-pharmaceutical therapies like massage therapy and heat and cold therapy can work just as well.
The following are drug-free treatments that are generally believed to be safe. But as an Eliquis patient, you should absolutely talk to your doctor first before trying a drug-free treatment. Depending on your unique physical condition, certain therapies can be fitting or dangerous.
Using heat and cold is an easy and cost-effective way to relieve pain. Heating pads and warm baths can help relieve joint and muscle pain. Heat works because it boosts blood circulation, increasing the efficiency of nutrients reaching your joints and muscles.
Cold therapy is a good natural remedy for acute pain because it constricts blood vessels, slowing circulation down. It is also good at easing swelling and numbing the sensation of pain. [7]
Of course, if you are post-surgical or procedural, you should check with your doctor before using any additional therapies.
Patients with mobility issues who take Eliquis may benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapy (PT) is a form of treatment that aims to improve the body's ability to move. A physical therapist can help patients improve joint function, teach them correct posture, or perform certain helpful exercises. PT may be especially useful for arthritic patients. [8]
Massage therapy is defined as manipulating soft body tissue, and it can feel very good! There are many different types of massage, from Swedish or classical massage to Shiatsu and Thai massage. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health suggests there are potential benefits to using massage therapy to relieve pain conditions. [9]
When it comes to pain, we all want to do everything possible to relieve it. However, always talk to your doctor first before trying a new method to relieve pain, whether pharmaceutical or natural. Over-the-counter acetaminophen and natural therapies can be used as painkillers with Eliquis.
Eliquis is generally a safe medication, but it does increase your risk of bleeding. This can be very dangerous, so a few precautionary moves can go a long way. Visit RxConnected to learn more and start ordering today.
American College of Rheumatology "NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)"
U.S. National Library of Medicine "Apixaban"
Harvard Health Publishing Bad mix: Blood thinners and NSAIDs
U.K. National Health Service "Apixaban"
U.S. National Library of Medicine "Over-the-counter pain relievers"
U.S. National Library of Medicine "Safe Opioid Use"
Arthritis Foundation "Using Heat and Cold for Pain Relief"
Arthritis Foundation "Physical Therapy for Arthritis"
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health "Massage Therapy: What You Need To Know"
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