Does Eliquis make you sleepy?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does Eliquis make you sleepy?
No, Eliquis (Apixaban) is not associated with sleepiness as a side effect. In fact, it is not even listed as one of the side effects caused by this anticoagulant medication (1,2). However, the use of Eliquis can increase the risk of bleeding and excessive bleeding can cause symptoms like:
- Tiredness
- Sleepiness
- Low energy levels
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
If you’re frequently feeling this way while being on Eliquis and it’s the only prescription medication you’re currently taking right now, immediately reach out to your healthcare provider.
These signs could indicate internal bleeding and you have to go to the hospital to rule that out. In normal circumstances, Eliquis does not make you sleepy or tired. It is also important to note that Eliquis should not be paired with other medications that can also affect bleeding, including NSAIDs, some anti-allergy medications, and certain antidepressants like Zoloft, Lexapro, etc.
What side effects are common with Eliquis?
Eliquis, although it may not cause sleepiness, is associated with some side effects. These include (3,4):
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bruising, or blood in urine or stools
- Nausea
- Anaemia (low red blood cell count)
- Fatigue or weakness
- Swelling or pain in the extremities, such as legs or feet
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Headache
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Rash or itching
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle or joint pain
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- Allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Severe bleeding, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, bleeding in the brain, or bleeding in other organs
- Haemorrhage (bleeding) at the injection site, in case of using Eliquis injection
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Skin reactions, such as blistering or peeling
Final words
To sum up, Eliquis does not induce sleepiness as a side effect. If you find yourself constantly tired, or sleepy, or your mental alertness is affected in any way, please reach out to your healthcare provider.
Your doctor will determine the exact cause of your symptoms and will guide you accordingly.
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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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29939687/
2.-
Agrawal R, Jain P, Dikshit SN. Apixaban: a new player in the anticoagulant class. Curr Drug Targets. 2012 Jun;13(6):863-75. doi: 10.2174/138945012800564059. PMID: 22250655. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22250655/
3.-
Ciccone MM, Zito A, Devito F, Maiello M, Palmiero P. To Bleed or Not to Bleed: That is the Question. The Side Effects of Apixaban. Curr Drug Targets. 2018;19(6):581-584. doi: 10.2174/1389450116666151001113932. PMID: 26424386. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26424386/
4.-
National Library of Medicine. Apixaban: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 7]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613032.html
