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Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.

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Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].

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Apixaban

Last Revision: July 15, 2023.

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

CASRN: 503612-47-3

image 135252374 in the ncbi pubchem database

Drug Levels and Effects

Summary of Use during Lactation

Information from four mothers indicates that apixaban levels in milk are rather high. An alternate drug is preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.[1-3]

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. A nursing mother who was 23 months postpartum received 2 doses of 5 mg of oral apixaban 12 hours apart. Blood and milk samples were obtained before the first dose and at 3.5, 7, 12 (before the second dose), 16, and 24 hours after the first dose. Peak apixaban milk levels of about 230 mcg/L occurred at 3.5 to 4 hours after each dose. The average milk level over 24 hours was 113.6 mcg/L, which corresponds to a daily infant dosage of 17 mcg/kg daily and a relative infant dose of 12.8% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[3]

Three lactating women were taking 5 mg of apixaban twice daily by mouth and were at steady-state. They extracted milk and provided samples at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours after a dose. Peak milk levels of apixaban occurred at 1 hours after the dose in one woman and 2 hours after the dose in the others two. Peak levels ranged from 0.2 to 0.25 mg/L and average milk levels ranged from 0.134 to 0.16 mg/L. The absolute infant dosage was calculated to be 10 mcg/kg every 12 hours, which amounted to weight adjusted infant dosages of 14%, 20% and 21% in the three infants.[2]

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1.
Daei M, Khalili H, Heidari Z. Direct oral anticoagulant safety during breastfeeding: A narrative review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;77:1465–71. [PubMed: 33963877]
2.
Datta P, Bramnik A, Rewers-Felkins K, et al. Transfer of apixaban into human milk. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137:1080–2. [PubMed: 33957661]
3.
Zhao Y, Arya R, Couchman L, et al. Are apixaban and rivaroxaban distributed into human breast milk to clinically relevant concentrations? Blood. 2020;136:1783–5. [PubMed: 32488251]

Substance Identification

Substance Name

Apixaban

CAS Registry Number

503612-47-3

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Anticoagulants

Antithrombins

Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.

Copyright Notice

Attribution Statement: LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Bookshelf ID: NBK500741PMID: 29999800

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