What Are The Risks Of Consuming Alcohol After Changing From Coumadin To Eliquis?

Posted on Wed, 23 May 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 23 May 2018 Answered on

Thu, 7 Jan 2021 Last reviewed on

Question : Dr
My medication was changed from 10nmg Coumadin daily to now taking 10 mg Eliquis daily I realize that I couldn't drink also with coumadin but I could adjust the dosage of the coumadin before and I could have at least a glass of wine and I would be ok - Now with Eliquis - am deathly afraid that I will die if I have glass of wine I don't want to place my life in immediate danger if I have a sip of Champagne or some thing - Understand I have been taking Coumadin for the past 25 years and I have been fine- I have been checking my INRs and things have been good --I need to know if the same or reduced risks exists with the drug Eliquis - I don't want to kill my self with one sip of Champagne Help!!! I know that I cannot have hard liquor and I don't any way but there is no way to regulate Eliquis- so I am so afraid- I want to go back to coumadin - what do you suggest?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
no interaction, can be used with caution

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Alcohol can cause thinning of the blood or decreased clotting if used in excess.

According to two drug interaction checkers, there are no specific interactions with alcohol and eliquis.
Alcohol can affect the breakdown of warfarin and this is the reason that the combination is avoided but it does not affect the breakdown of eliquis.

This does not mean that it can be used in excess but that one glass of champagne should not have any significant effect.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar