Apixaban Wrong Dose – Can I Make a Compensation Claim?

Apixaban is an anticoagulant used to prevent potentially dangerous blood clots. It can be prescribed for conditions including atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Because apixaban affects blood clotting, giving somebody an incorrect dose can potentially have serious consequences.

If you have suffered an injury because you were prescribed or dispensed the wrong dose of apixaban, you may be able to investigate a clinical negligence or pharmacy negligence claim.

What happens if you take too much apixaban?

The NHS specifically warns that taking an extra dose of apixaban can be dangerous and advises patients who have taken more than their prescribed dose to seek urgent advice.

The principal concern with excessive anticoagulation is bleeding.

Depending upon the circumstances, excessive bleeding can become a medical emergency.

Can taking too little apixaban also cause problems?

Potentially.

Anticoagulants are prescribed because a patient has, or is considered to have, a clinically significant risk of blood clotting.

An error resulting in insufficient anticoagulation may therefore require consideration of whether the patient was inadequately protected from the condition the medicine was intended to prevent.

If a patient subsequently develops a DVT, pulmonary embolism or stroke, expert medical evidence would normally be required to determine whether an apixaban medication error caused or materially contributed to that event.

What apixaban errors could result in a claim?

Potential errors could include:

• prescribing the wrong dose;
• dispensing the wrong tablet strength;
• incorrect instructions on the pharmacy label;
• giving apixaban intended for another patient;
• failure to take account of relevant clinical factors;
• inappropriate interruption of anticoagulation; or
• an error when changing anticoagulant medication.

Unlike warfarin, apixaban does not ordinarily require regular INR testing. Nevertheless, NHS guidance states that patients taking newer anticoagulants should still have periodic appointments to check their medication and discuss adverse effects.

Is an apixaban side effect automatically negligence?

No.

Anticoagulants carry an inherent risk of bleeding even when properly prescribed. An adverse outcome does not therefore establish negligence by itself.

The important distinction is between a recognised complication of appropriate treatment and avoidable injury caused by a prescription, dispensing, administration or monitoring error.

Can I claim if a pharmacy gave me the wrong apixaban dose?

Potentially.

The doctor may have written an entirely correct prescription but the pharmacy could dispense a different strength or provide incorrect instructions.

In those circumstances, the focus of the investigation may be the pharmacy’s dispensing process rather than the original prescription.

If that error caused significant injury, a pharmacy negligence claim may be possible.

Speak to us about an apixaban medication error

If you suffered bleeding, thrombosis or another significant injury following an incorrect apixaban prescription or dispensing error, Hutcheon Law can investigate what happened and whether there are reasonable grounds for pursuing compensation.

Read our guide to medication error claims.

This article provides general information about the law in England and Wales. It is not a substitute for individual legal or medical advice. Patients should not stop or alter prescribed medication without appropriate medical guidance.