Lixiana

Lixiana is a type of medicine known as an anticoagulant, or blood thinner. It contains the active ingredient edoxaban, which makes your blood flow through your veins more easily. This means your blood will be less likely to make a dangerous blood clot (thrombosis).

Lixiana is a type of medicine known as an anticoagulant, or blood thinner. It contains the active ingredient edoxaban, which makes your blood flow through your veins more easily. This means your blood will be less likely to make a dangerous blood clot (thrombosis).

Lixiana belongs to a category of medicines known as direct oral anticoagulants. The active ingredient edoxaban inhibits the action of a protein involved in the blood clotting process (clotting factor Xa). This reduces the chance of blood clots and the risk of blood vessel blockage due to a blood clot (thrombosis).

Lixiana does not require monitoring by an anticoagulant clinic.

Direct oral anticoagulants like Lixiana are prescribed for:

• Preventing blood clots that could cause a stroke in patients with a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or blood clots in blood vessels in other parts of the body in patients with one or more additional risk factors.
• Treating blood clots in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and preventing recurrence.

It is important to follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist when using Lixiana. The general guidelines for use are as follows:

• Lixiana tablets should be taken at the same time each day to avoid missing a dose. It is important that this medicine is taken consistently for the best anticoagulant effect.

• Lixiana can be taken with or without food.

• The tablets should be swallowed whole without chewing. They may be crushed prior to administration and taken with some apple sauce or dissolved in water.

• Missed a dose? Take the missed dose as soon as possible during the same day. If you do not remember until the following day, then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for the forgotten one.

• Have you switched anticoagulants? Then ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

For more information on how to use Lixiana, see the package leaflet.

What doses are available?

Lixiana is available in 15 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg tablets. Strength, length of treatment and daily dose must be determined by a doctor. The general guidelines for use are as follows:

• Adults: 30 to 60 mg once a day.

The doctor may decide to adjust the dose after a while according to your body’s response to the medicine. This medicine is not suitable for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

For more information on the dosage of Lixiana, see the package leaflet.

What are the side effects of Lixiana?

Medicines can cause side effects. However, just because a side effect is listed here, this does not mean that everyone who uses this medicine will experience it, or any side effect. Possible side effects associated with Lixiana include:

• Increased risk of bleeding in, for example, the skin (bruises) or nose (nosebleeds). Occasionally, you can have serious bleeding from taking Lixiana. This can be dangerous and needs urgent medical attention. Contact a doctor immediately if you notice blood in your urine or your stool, bleeding in the eyes, unusual vaginal bleeding or if you vomit blood or cough up blood.

• Nausea or stomach pain.

• Skin rash and/or itching.

• Anaemia.

For a complete list of possible side effects, see the package leaflet. Consult a doctor if you experience these or other side effects.

This anticoagulant medicine is not suitable for everyone. Do not use Lixiana if you:

• are allergic to the active ingredient edoxaban or any other ingredient in this medicine.
• currently have any severe bleeding or have any condition that increases the risk of bleeding, such as a liver disease, a peptic ulcer, a recent brain haemorrhage or oesophageal varices.
• have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• are taking other anticoagulant medicines (unless you are switching from or to this medicine, in which case you should follow the doctor’s instructions).
• are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In some cases, Lixiana should be used with extreme caution. Do not use this medicine without consulting a doctor first if you:

• have a bleeding disorder.
• have severe kidney problems or are a dialysis patient.
• have a serious liver disease.
• suffer from antiphospholipid syndrome.
• have an artificial heart valve.
• need surgery.

For a complete list of warnings, see the package leaflet. Always consult a doctor if you are unsure if this medicine is suitable for you.

Some medicines can interfere with Lixiana. Tell your doctor if you are taking these medicines before you start taking Lixiana:

• Medicines that can affect blood clotting, such as aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol.
• Certain medicines for cardiac arrhythmia (e.g. verapamil).
• Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac and celecoxib.
• Certain medications to treat epilepsy.
• Certain antidepressants (e.g. the herbal medicine St John's Wort).
• Certain antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin and rifampicin).
• Certain immunosuppressants (e.g. ciclosporin).
• Certain antifungal medicines (e.g. ketoconazole).

For a list of all medicines that may interfere with the way Lixiana works, please see the package leaflet. Your doctor will also have a list of medicines that you should avoid mixing Lixiana with.

Lixiana is only available at pharmacies or online pharmacies.

Lixiana is a prescription-only medicine. This means you need a prescription from a registered doctor to obtain it.

The Netherlands Heart Foundation. (n.d.). What you need to know about anticoagulant medicines. Heart Foundation. Consulted on 20 July 2021 on https://www.hartstichting.nl/hart-en-vaatziekten/behandelingen/medicijnen/antistollingsmedicijnen

EMC. (November 2020). Lixiana 15mg, 30mg, 60mg film-coated tablets - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30504#

Royal Dutch Pharmaceutical Society. (13 August 2020). Lixiana. Apotheek.nl. https://www.apotheek.nl/medicijnen/edoxaban?product=lixiana

Dutch National Health Care Institute. (n.d.). Edoxaban. Farmacotherapeutic Compass. Consulted on 20 July 2021 on https://www.farmacotherapeutischkompas.nl/bladeren/preparaatteksten/e/edoxaban