Version July 2025
| Warfarin (brand name: Jantoven, also known as Coumadin in some places) | Dabigatran (brand name: Pradaxa) | Apixaban (brand name: Eliquis) | Edoxaban (brand names: Savaysa, Lixiana) | Rivaroxaban (brand name: Xarelto) | |
| How often do I take it? | Once a day. | Once or twice a day, depending on why you are taking it. | Once or twice a day, depending on why you are taking it. Some people might need to take a higher dose twice a day for the first week, then switch to a lower dose twice a day. | Once a day. | Once a day. Some people might need to take a lower dose twice a day for the first 3 weeks, then switch to a higher dose once a day. |
| Do I need regular blood tests? | Yes. | No. | No. | No. | No. |
| Will the dose need to be adjusted? | When you first start warfarin, the dose usually needs to be adjusted to find the right dose for you. Later, it might be changed depending on the results of your blood tests. | No. Once you are on a stable dose, you do not need to adjust the dose. | No. Once you are on a stable dose, you do not need to adjust the dose. | No. Once you are on a stable dose, you do not need to adjust the dose. | No. Once you are on a stable dose, you do not need to adjust the dose. |
| What happens if I miss a dose? | It's not as risky as with the other anticoagulants. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or anticoagulation clinic what to do if you miss a dose. | You might not be as well protected if you miss a dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose. | You might not be as well protected if you miss a dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose. | You might not be as well protected if you miss a dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose. | You might not be as well protected if you miss a dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose. |
| Could it cause serious bleeding? | Yes. | Yes, but the risk might be less than with warfarin. | Yes, but the risk might be less than with warfarin. | Yes, but the risk might be less than with warfarin. | Yes, but the risk might be less than with warfarin. |
| Is there a medicine to reverse the effects if I have serious bleeding? | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Do I need to do anything special about my diet while taking it? | Yes. You need to be careful about keeping the amount of vitamin K in your diet similar over time. If you eat foods high in vitamin K, you need to do that consistently. Your doctor, pharmacist, or anticoagulation clinic can give you a list of foods high in vitamin K. | No. | You need to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which can change the way the medicine works. | No. | You need to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, which can change the way the medicine works. If you take rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation ("A-fib"), you need to take it with your evening meal. If you take rivaroxaban (for any reason) and the strength of your pills is 15 or 20 mg, you need to take it with food. |
| What if I have kidney or liver disease? | OK to take. | Might need to avoid if you have severe kidney disease. | Might need to avoid if you have severe liver disease. | Might need to avoid if you have severe liver or kidney disease or increased kidney function. | Might need to avoid if you have moderate to severe liver disease or severe kidney disease. |
| What if I take other medicines? | Many medicines can affect the dose of warfarin needed. Talk to your doctor if you are prescribed a new medicine. Avoid aspirin and "NSAID" medicines. Most people can use acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain or fever. Many herbs, including ginkgo, green tea, and garlic pills, could increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant medicines. Avoid St. John's Wort. | A few medicines can affect the dose of the anticoagulant. Avoid aspirin and "NSAID" medicines unless advised by your doctor. Most people can use acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain or fever. Many herbs, including ginkgo, green tea, and garlic pills, could increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant medicines. Avoid St. John's Wort. | A few medicines can affect the dose of the anticoagulant. Avoid aspirin and "NSAID" medicines unless advised by your doctor. Most people can use acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain or fever. Many herbs, including ginkgo, green tea, and garlic pills, could increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant medicines. Avoid St. John's Wort. | A few medicines can affect the dose of the anticoagulant. Avoid aspirin and "NSAID" medicines unless advised by your doctor. Most people can use acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain or fever. Many herbs, including ginkgo, green tea, and garlic pills, could increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant medicines. Avoid St. John's Wort. | A few medicines can affect the dose of the anticoagulant. Avoid aspirin and "NSAID" medicines unless advised by your doctor. Most people can use acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain or fever. Many herbs, including ginkgo, green tea, and garlic pills, could increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulant medicines. Avoid St. John's Wort. |
| Can I drink alcohol while taking it? | How much alcohol you drink in a day can affect your warfarin dose. Limit alcohol to no more than 2 drinks per day (for males) or 1 drink a day (for females). Do not binge drink (have many drinks at once). | Avoid excess alcohol. | Avoid excess alcohol. | Avoid excess alcohol. | Avoid excess alcohol. |
| What if I am pregnant? | Most people are switched to a different medicine that comes as a shot. Warfarin can cause serious problems with a baby's development, especially when taken early in the pregnancy. Talk to your doctor right away if you are taking warfarin and think you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. They will work with you to make a plan. | Most people are switched to a different medicine that comes as a shot. Talk to your doctor right away if you are taking dabigatran and think you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. They will work with you to make a plan. | Most people are switched to a different medicine that comes as a shot. Talk to your doctor right away if you are taking apixaban and think you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. They will work with you to make a plan. | Most people are switched to a different medicine that comes as a shot. Talk to your doctor right away if you are taking edoxaban and think you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. They will work with you to make a plan. | Most people are switched to a different medicine that comes as a shot. Talk to your doctor right away if you are taking rivaroxaban and think you are pregnant or want to get pregnant. They will work with you to make a plan. |
