Edoxaban tablets

About edoxaban

Edoxaban works by preventing your blood from clotting as quickly or as effectively as normal. It does this by blocking a substance in your blood, called 'factor Xa', which is involved in the development of blood clots.

Sometimes, harmful blood clots can form in the blood vessels of your legs, lungs, brain or heart, and cause a blockage. This is more likely to happen if you have had surgery, or if you have a fast irregular heartbeat. For many years, a medicine called warfarin has been commonly used to treat blood clots like these and also to help protect against them. However, people who take warfarin need to have regular blood tests to measure how quickly their blood clots. This often means that the dose of warfarin can change quite frequently. Edoxaban works in a slightly different way to warfarin, so people who take edoxaban do not need to have regular blood tests.

Edoxaban is prescribed to treat blood clots causing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. You may also be prescribed edoxaban to help protect against recurrent blood clots, or if you have a certain type of irregular fast heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.

Before taking edoxaban

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking edoxaban it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you have any medical problems that increase your risk of bleeding, or if you have recently had surgery.

• If you have high blood pressure (hypertension).

• If you have any problems with the way your liver works, or with the way your kidneys work.

• If you have a problem with the blood vessels in your eyes, known as vascular retinopathy.

• If you have been told you have a condition called antiphospholipid syndrome.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

How to take edoxaban tablets

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about edoxaban and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take edoxaban exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is taken once daily. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you which strength of tablet is right for you as there are several strengths of edoxaban available (15 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg). This information will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you.

• Try to take your tablet around the same time of day each day. This will help you to remember to take edoxaban regularly. Edoxaban can be taken either with or without food, but it should preferably be swallowed with a drink of water.

• If you have difficulty swallowing, you can crush a Lixiana® tablet and mix it with water or apple purée immediately before taking. Take care to swallow the entire mixture.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, leave out the forgotten dose from the previous day and take the dose that is due as normal. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress.

• The length of the course of treatment will depend upon why you are taking the tablets, but it will either be for several months, or long-term.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, please tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking edoxaban.

• If you take any medicines that you have bought without a prescription, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with edoxaban. This is because some medicines, such as some painkillers, can interfere with it.

Can edoxaban tablets cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with edoxaban. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Important: if you experience any unusual bleeding, or bleeding that continues for more than ten minutes, speak with your doctor straightaway or go to your local accident and emergency department.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store edoxaban

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines