Do allergy medications interact with Eliquis?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Do allergy medications interact with Eliquis?
No, allergy medications don’t interact with Eliquis, an anticoagulant medication. The most commonly used anti-allergies are antihistamines. These meds are available in two classes, first-generation and second-generation antihistamines.
Examples include Diphenhydramine, Doxylamine, Loratadine, Desloratadine, Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, etc. These meds do not interact with Eliquis and there is no known risk of side effects when combined (1).
Nasal decongestants like Pseudoephedrine and Phenylephrine can also be used with Eliquis safely. However, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider when you are on meds like anticoagulants and should note down the suitable meds for common ailments.
Medications that should not be taken with Eliquis
Eliquis, being an anticoagulant, reacts with a number of medications that can directly or indirectly affect the clotting ability of blood (1,2). Some medications that should be avoided or used cautiously while taking Eliquis include:
- Other anticoagulants: Taking Eliquis with other blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, heparin, or rivaroxaban, can increase the risk of bleeding complications.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Common NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can also increase the risk of bleeding when combined with Eliquis. (3)
- Antiplatelet medications: Medications like clopidogrel or ticagrelor, which are used to prevent platelets from sticking together, can enhance the anticoagulant effects of Eliquis, leading to excessive bleeding.
- Antidepressants, like SSRIs and SNRIs: Certain antidepressant medications like Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Venlafaxine may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with Eliquis (4).
- Herbal supplements: Some herbal supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginger, can interfere with the anticoagulant effects of Eliquis, increasing the risk of blood clots.
- St. John’s wort: This herbal supplement can reduce the effectiveness of Eliquis and should be avoided.
- Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers: Certain medications that affect the enzyme CYP3A4 in the liver, like ketoconazole or rifampin, can alter the levels of Eliquis in the body, potentially leading to decreased efficacy or increased side effects.
It is important to make sure that you are taking the right Eliquis dose, especially if you’re taking this drug concomitantly with any other medication for a long time. Some medications can be taken together, despite their potential to interact, by adjusting the doses.
Eliquis can be cut in half if your doctor advises you to take half a dose. However, never change your Eliquis dose or take any other medication with it without consulting your doctor first.
Final words
In conclusion, allergy medications, particularly antihistamines and nasal decongestants, do not interact with Eliquis, making them safe to use together.
However, it’s always best to consult with your healthcare provider to ensure the appropriate use of medications, especially when taking anticoagulants like Eliquis.
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References
1.-
Agrawal A, Kerndt CC, Manna B. Apixaban. 2023 Apr 19. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29939687. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507910
2.-
Fernandez S, Lenoir C, Samer C, Rollason V. Drug interactions with apixaban: A systematic review of the literature and an analysis of VigiBase, the World Health Organization database of spontaneous safety reports. Pharmacol Res Perspect. 2020 Oct;8(5):e00647. doi: 10.1002/prp2.647. PMID: 32881416; PMCID: PMC7507549.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32881416/
3.-
Kent AP, Brueckmann M, Fraessdorf M, Connolly SJ, Yusuf S, Eikelboom JW, Oldgren J, Reilly PA, Wallentin L, Ezekowitz MD. Concomitant Oral Anticoagulant and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 Jul 17;72(3):255-267. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.063. Epub 2018 Jul 9. PMID: 30012318. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30012318/
4.-
Nochaiwong S, Ruengorn C, Awiphan R, Chai-Adisaksopha C, Tantraworasin A, Phosuya C, Kanjanarat P, Chongruksut W, Sood MM, Thavorn K. Use of serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants and the risk of bleeding complications in patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Med. 2022 Dec;54(1):80-97. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2021.2017474. PMID: 34955074; PMCID: PMC8725830. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34955074/
