Stroke Prevention

1 medicine

Stroke prevention lowers the risk of a first or repeat stroke by treating the clots, irregular heart rhythms, and high blood pressure that cause most strokes.

Eliquis

Apixaban

2.5/5mg

Eliquis is a heart blood pressure medication containing Apixaban, available as 2.5/5mg tablets.

from $0.43 / tablet View

Key facts

  • A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, either by a clot (an ischaemic stroke, around 80% of cases) or a burst blood vessel.
  • Prevention focuses on cutting the odds of clotting or bleeding, especially after a previous stroke, a mini-stroke (TIA), or in people with atrial fibrillation.
  • Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant used in stroke prevention; it blocks Factor Xa, a key clotting step, and needs no routine blood monitoring.
  • Stroke symptoms come on suddenly and need emergency care within minutes, not hours.

What raises the risk

Most strokes are caused by a clot blocking an artery in the brain. Atrial fibrillation is one of the biggest contributors: in this irregular heart rhythm, blood can pool inside the heart and clot, and if that clot travels to the brain it causes a stroke. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking all damage blood vessels over time and add to the risk, whether or not atrial fibrillation is present.

Anticoagulants and why they matter

For people with atrial fibrillation, the main threat is a heart-formed clot reaching the brain. Anticoagulants cut this risk substantially. Apixaban works by blocking Factor Xa, interrupting the clotting cascade before a dangerous clot can form, and unlike older anticoagulants it does not require regular blood tests to check the dose. It sits within the wider range of heart and blood pressure medicines used for long-term stroke prevention, alongside drugs that control blood pressure and cholesterol directly.

Knowing when to seek urgent help

Stroke symptoms come on suddenly: a drooping face, arm weakness, or slurred speech mean emergency care is needed within minutes, not hours. Call emergency services immediately rather than waiting to see if symptoms pass. The same urgency applies after a TIA, which carries a high short-term risk of a full stroke and needs same-day medical review even if the symptoms have already resolved.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.