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Key takeaways
Eliquis can’t dissolve a blood clot, but it can prevent new clots from forming, and it can slow down the growth of any existing blood clots.
It typically takes several weeks to months for blood clots to resolve, depending on their location and size.
It is important to stay in touch with your healthcare provider, not to miss Eliquis doses, and to end treatment only when your clot is fully resolved.
Eliquis (apixaban) is a prescription anticoagulant, or blood thinner. Its primary uses are preventing and treating blood clots that result from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and atrial fibrillation. Eliquis works by blocking Factor Xa, a protein that helps clot formation. By blocking this protein, Eliquis helps prevent new blood clots from forming in your body.
If you are taking Eliquis for blood clots, you might want to know: How long does it take Eliquis to dissolve a blood clot? While Eliquis doesn’t directly dissolve blood clots, it prevents them from getting larger and from new clots forming while your body breaks down your blood clot over time.
How long does it take Eliquis to dissolve a blood clot?
Your blood naturally clots any time you cut or injure yourself, but when blood clots form deep inside your body, they can break off and travel to other parts of your body. This can pose significant risks, including pulmonary embolisms, strokes, and heart attacks.
That’s why it’s so important to treat clots that form in your veins. Blood thinners (anticoagulants) like Eliquis are one of the main ways that blood clots are treated. “Eliquis does not dissolve existing clots, but it prevents the formation of new clots and prevents existing clots from growing,” explains Dr. Gail Clifford, MD, internal medicine hospitalist and founder of ABLE Physicians. “The body will naturally break down existing clots over time.”
In other words, while Eliquis doesn’t directly dissolve blood clots, it aids in the process.
“Eliquis helps to prevent the blood from clotting as quickly, thus allowing your body to break down the blood clots that are already there,” says Dr. Joyce Oen-Hsiao, MD, an associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
According to Dr. Oen-Hsiao, once you are taking Eliquis and your body starts breaking down the blood clot, it can take several weeks or as long as several months for the blood clot to resolve. But, on average, it takes several days for blood clots to start to resolve. “It usually takes two to five days for blood clots to improve,” explains Dr. Mohamed Dahodwala, MD, a cardiologist at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago.
Still, some of the work that Eliquis does to support the resolution of your blood clot, including preventing further clots from forming, occurs right away. “Eliquis reduces the blood clotting within a few hours after the first dose,” Dr. Oen-Hsiao says. “Peak concentration of Eliquis is within three to four hours after the medication is taken.”
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What factors affect how long it takes for a clot to dissolve?
The amount of time it takes a blood clot to resolve and how long you need to stay on Eliquis depends on several key factors. Here’s what to know.
Location and size of the clot
The location of your blood clot makes a difference in terms of how quickly it resolves. For example, superficial or distal clots (located below the knee) typically resolve within a few weeks. However, proximal clots (above the knee) or clots from pulmonary embolisms can take three months or more of treatment to resolve. The size of your blood clot also has an impact. “Larger clots will take longer to break down,” Dr. Oen-Hsiao notes.
What caused the clot
What caused your clot in the first place also impacts how long it takes for the clot to resolve. “If the clot was provoked following surgery or other trauma, treatment usually lasts for three to six months,” Dr. Cliffords says. “If the clotting was unprovoked or is a chronic concern, such as in those with atrial fibrillation or active cancer, Eliquis can be taken long-term or indefinitely.”
Other factors
There are a handful of other factors that impact how quickly your clot resolves. According to Dr. Clifford, some of these other factors include:
- Your age and weight
- Your kidney and liver function
- Any underlying medical conditions you have
- How closely you follow your medication schedule, as missing doses of Eliquis can increase the risk of clot recurrence due to the medication’s short half-life
The bottom line
While Eliquis doesn’t directly resolve a blood clot, it’s a powerful tool in the healing process. It prevents new clots from forming and decreases the growth of existing blood clots.
If you are taking Eliquis to prevent or treat a blood clot, it’s essential that you stay on it as long as your doctor recommends and follow their instructions. “Ending therapy too early can raise the risk that a partially resolved clot could recur or that new clots could form and result in life-threatening consequences like a pulmonary embolism or stroke,” Dr. Clifford says.
The duration of treatment with Eliquis varies from person to person, but most people need to be on it for several months. “After a blood clot (depending on location and size), patients are usually put on Eliquis for three to nine months,” Dr. Oen-Hsiao says, adding that high-risk patients may need to remain on Eliquis for life.
Again, it’s vital to stay connected with your healthcare provider during this time and to reach out to them if you have any questions or concerns about your blood clot treatment.
- Vascular disease patient information page: A guide for patients with newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, Vascular Medicine (2023)
- Mohamed Dahodwala, MD, cardiologist at Saint Anthony Hospital
- Gail Clifford, MD, internal medicine hospitalist and founder of ABLE physicians
- Joyce Oen-Hsiao, MD, associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine