Lumiracoxib and Apixaban: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Aug 8, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 11, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Apixaban
Lumiracoxib
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Apixaban (Eliquis) is a blood thinner. Lumiracoxib is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (an NSAID). Taken together, they can each make bleeding more likely, so combining them raises that risk even more. This might show up as easy bruising, nosebleeds, pink or red urine, black stools, or bleeding that is slow to stop.
The good news is this is very manageable. Please keep taking both exactly as prescribed and don't stop anything on your own. Let your pharmacist or doctor know you take both so they can watch you more closely and tell you which warning signs to look for.
Additive bleeding risk from coadministration of apixaban (factor Xa inhibitor) and lumiracoxib (COX-2 selective NSAID). Neither is a prodrug; the interaction is pharmacodynamic, not metabolic.
- Mechanism: additive effect on hemostasis (anticoagulation plus NSAID effects on platelets/GI mucosa).
- Direction/magnitude: increased risk of serious bleeding vs. either agent alone; magnitude not quantified.
- Evidence: theoretical; severity major; onset unspecified.
- Management: monitor for signs/symptoms of bleeding. Heightened caution with neuraxial anesthesia or spinal puncture given risk of epidural/spinal hematoma and potential paralysis. Individualize therapy and consider GI protection or alternative analgesia per care team.
What happens
An increased risk of bleeding
Interaction Deep Dive
Taking an anticoagulant together with an NSAID can raise the likelihood of serious bleeding compared with either agent used by itself1234, and in patients receiving neuraxial anesthesia or undergoing spinal puncture, it may heighten the risk of epidural or spinal hematomas, which can lead to long-term or permanent paralysis5. When these drugs are given concurrently, watch for indications of bleeding124.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Additive effect on hemostasis
How to manage this interaction
This combination can be used when your care team decides it is appropriate, but they will manage it carefully.
- Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Your team may monitor you more closely for bleeding and may adjust your plan, individualized to you.
- Watch for unusual bruising, nosebleeds, red or dark urine, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or a headache that won't go away.
- Tell any doctor or dentist you take both, especially before a spinal procedure, spinal tap, or epidural, due to a rare risk of spinal bleeding.
Contact your pharmacist or prescriber with questions or any bleeding signs.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Lumiracoxib and Apixaban together?
Combining apixaban and lumiracoxib adds up two bleeding risks, so keep taking both as prescribed but watch closely for bleeding and tell your care team, especially before any spinal procedure. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Lumiracoxib and Apixaban interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Lumiracoxib and Apixaban interaction managed?
This combination can be used when your care team decides it is appropriate, but they will manage it carefully. Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Your team may monitor you more closely for bleeding and may adjust your plan, individualized to you. Watch for unusual bruising, nosebleeds, red or dark urine, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or a headache… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Lumiracoxib or Apixaban need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (5)
- Product Information: CALDOLOR(R) intravenous injection, ibuprofen intravenous injection. Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (per FDA), Nashville, TN, 2016. DailyMed
- Product Information: CELEBREX(R) oral capsules, celecoxib oral capsules. GD Searle LLC (per FDA), New York, NY, 2016. DailyMed
- Product Information: COUMADIN(R) oral tablets, intravenous injection powder for solution, warfarin sodium oral tablets, intravenous injection powder for solution. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (per manufacturer), Princeton, NJ, 2015. DailyMed
- Product Information: COMBOGESIC(R) oral tablets, acetaminophen ibuprofen oral tablets. AFT Pharmaceuticals Inc (per FDA), Highland, MD, 2023. DailyMed
- Product Information: PRADAXA(R) oral capsules, dabigatran etexilate oral capsules. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc (per FDA), Ridgefield, CT, 2023. DailyMed
Keep reading about Apixaban
Keep reading about Lumiracoxib
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
Check another combination
Our instant two-drug interaction checker is almost here.
Still have questions about this combination?
Every question gets a real answer from a licensed pharmacist — free, and usually within a day.
Ask the pharmacist