Eliquis and AFIB

@afiber
Eliquis is a blood thinner, more sophisticated than Aspirin, but does a similar job. Baby Aspirin 81 mg is also used to prevent stroke. It is worth checking listed side effects for Eliquis: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/eliquis-side-effects.html

I had tiredness and weakness after one 2.5 mg dose of Eliquis. It was prescribed as 2.5 mg twice daily to start the drug, also for A fibs.

@marybird -Thank you for all of the details. I have a Medicate Part D coverage via Wellcare so I guess I wouldn't qualify for this pricing. It's great that you can get the special pricing.
Separate, but related, any time I have pursued manufacturers' special offers in the past they have required a copy of my income tax return and there's no way I'm giving a drug company that information!
Thanks again.

@justlucky No I don't. It's not a means-tested discount, your income doesn't matter. The only requirements ( listed in a questionnaire you fill out on the website when you apply) are that you 1) are a US citizen, 2) have prescription drug insurance coverage and 3) that drug coverage is through a private insurance company, not through a government carrier such as Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare ( or any other military-related coverage).

My husband and I are both on Medicare Parts A and B, with a secondary insurance coverage through the federal employees BC/BS retirement coverage. It's the FEPB coverage that provides the prescription drug coverage, it's a private, not government insurance company, so we qualify for this Eliquis discount card. Note though, that approximately two years ago this retirement FEPB coverage adopted a "FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program" (MPDP) where the premiums a Medicare subscriber paid for this insurance gets them into a Medicare prescription drug program ( Medicare must really want that Blue Cross money) similar to a Part D program, and all the subscribers, including us, were transferred without our ok into that program. We had to opt out of this program in writing to be put back into the FEPB traditional drug coverage program, but they did it. If I'd remained in the FEPB MPDP program where they moved me, I'd not have been eligible for this Eliquis discount program.

@marybird - I assume you had to provide a copy of your tax return to qualify/participate in this Bristol Meyers program, yes?

I've had fibromyalgia since 1989. Have been taking cyclobenzaprine and it still works (except for those times I tell myself 'I'm cured' and stop. Then all the symptoms come back in full force. ) Now I've been diagnosed with AFib and prescribed Eliquis 5 mg bid.
Frankly, I'm afraid of this stuff. But I don't want a stroke and I don't want to take Eliquis and I can't have the best of both worlds. I've been a vegan 98% of my life (fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables), exercise everyday, even when my legs were broke (I could always do pilates), walk 3-5 miles a day. But I don't drink enough water. Very important. You have to drink lots of water.
I guess I'm just venting. The holistic treatment is more my speed, but even they say to combine holistic with traditional medicine. My aim is to start Eliquis tomorrow. And to get thru my anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes. It really helps to have this community. God bless you all.

@justlucky Good morning. To be clear, these are Apixaban, not Eliquis....but, essentially the same product. 180 tablets cost $86.25 plus $10.00 dispense/Pharmacy fee total $96.25 I live in British Columbia. Happy New Year,

@justwannasay Hi - Wondering if are you still paying $30/mo.? My non-US pharmacy cost had been ~$56/mo. Now with tariff, it increased roughly 14% as of latest order in 11/2025.

@justwannasay
the only place you can get apixaban is through foreign pharmacies like Canada.

For those bothered by the high cost of Eliquis, ( and who isn't?) here's some information I found immensely valuable to help with that cost.. The manufacturer ( Bristol Meyers Squibb) offers a coupon that can be used to pay for a 30 day supply of Eliquis for a copay of $10. The coupon can be used for a period of two years worth of refills ( or a $6600 limit, not sure how that is applied). Customers with private drug plan insurance ( not government insurance such as the Part D Medicare drug plans, Medicaid or Tricare) who live in the US are eligible for this discount. The card is available on the manufacturer's website- ( link below), following the instructions on the site ( starting with the cost, savings and support tab on the left) and filling out the questionnaire to determine eligibility, the card with a unique ID can be printed. This card is taken to the pharmacy with the prescription ( or the information added to a patient's existing information there), and the refill, along with subsequent 30 day refills will be $10. The pharmacy has to be a participating member of the program to get this, but it looks as though the larger chain pharmacies are ( as was my little chain pharmacy) though the website also has a form that can be filled out and submitted by an eligible customer for direct reimbursement if their pharmacy does not participate in the program.
It's certainly been a worthwhile thing for me, I'm happy to pay $10 instead of the $110 I was paying for a 30 day supply of Eliquis. Just something to consider, for those who might be eligible.
Oops, as a new member, I can't post the link. But anyone interested can google the Bristol Meyers Squibb website, Eliquis savings, or something similar and find the information.

RE: the cost of Eliquis, I was paying $100. per month until about a year ago when a generic brand of Apixaban became available. Now it costs $30.00 per mo.
That's for 5mg.x 2 per day. I have Paroxysmal A-fib....I don't even know when or if I'm having episodes. I think mine is caused by a bicuspid aortic valve.