Eliquis vs. Lovenox
See how Eliquis and Lovenox compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Eliquis is a pill taken by mouth twice a day, while Lovenox is a shot given under the skin, so the two suit very different care settings.
Eliquis is built for long-term outpatient use like atrial fibrillation, while Lovenox is mostly used short-term in hospitals or right after surgery.
Both drugs carry boxed warnings about increased clotting risk if stopped early and about bleeding into the spine during epidural procedures.
Eliquis vs. Lovenox Drug Summary
Eliquis
Eliquis (apixaban) is a factor Xa inhibitor, an oral blood thinner that lowers stroke risk in atrial fibrillation and treats or prevents blood clots like DVT and PE. It comes as a tablet taken twice a day, with the exact dose depending on why it was prescribed.
Lovenox
Lovenox (enoxaparin) is a low molecular weight heparin, an injectable blood thinner used to prevent and treat blood clots after surgery, during hospital stays for acute illness, and alongside other therapy for heart attack. It is given as a shot under the skin, usually once or twice a day, at a dose based on weight or indication.
Eliquis vs. Lovenox Side Effects
Eliquis
Lovenox
Eliquis vs. Lovenox Dosage
Eliquis
Lovenox
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 10 mg twice daily | Days 1-7 |
| Maximum dose | 2.5 mg twice daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 30 mg every 12 hours | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 30 mg IV bolus once | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Eliquis
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 10 mg twice daily | Days 1-7 |
| Maximum dose | 2.5 mg twice daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Lovenox
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 30 mg every 12 hours | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 30 mg IV bolus once | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Eliquis vs. Lovenox Indications
Eliquis
Eliquis is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, and to treat or prevent DVT and PE. It's also approved to prevent blood clots after hip or knee replacement surgery, and for VTE treatment in children from birth.
Stroke and blood clot prevention in atrial fibrillation
Blood clot prevention after hip or knee replacement surgery
Treatment of DVT and PE
Prevention of recurrent DVT and PE
Lovenox
Lovenox is FDA-approved to prevent blood clots after surgery or during hospital stays for acute illness, and to treat existing DVT and PE. It's also approved for use with aspirin to manage unstable angina, heart attack, and certain cardiac procedures.
Blood clot prevention after surgery or during hospitalization
Treatment of DVT and PE
Unstable angina and non-Q-wave heart attack, with aspirin
Treatment of ST-elevation heart attack, with aspirin
Eliquis vs. Lovenox Pros and Cons
Eliquis
Eliquis suits long-term, at-home use because it comes as a pill with no routine blood monitoring required. It is generally well covered for its approved uses, though it costs more out of pocket than a generic injectable and has no generic version yet.
Pros
Oral tablet, no injections needed
No routine blood monitoring required
Approved for long-term stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Reversal agent available for serious bleeding
Cons
Twice-daily dosing, unlike once-daily anticoagulants
Not approved for mechanical heart valves or antiphospholipid syndrome
Carries a boxed warning against early discontinuation
Roughly $550 to $606 per month without insurance, no generic yet
Lovenox
Lovenox works well for short courses around surgery or hospitalization, and its long history of use gives clinicians a strong safety track record. It requires injections and weight-based dosing, but a generic version makes it far cheaper than Eliquis for many patients.
Pros
Can be self-injected at home once or twice daily
Decades of clinical use across many hospital and surgical settings
Generic enoxaparin costs roughly $30 to $150 per month, well below brand Eliquis
Sometimes used off-label in pregnancy, when data on Eliquis is limited
Cons
Requires subcutaneous injections rather than a pill
Not approved for long-term stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Dosing is often weight-based and needs renal adjustment
Injection-site bruising and irritation are common
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