What should patients on Apixaban avoid to reduce the risk of bleeding?

Patients taking Apixaban, an anticoagulant, should be cautious about using over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and high-dose aspirin because both of these can increase the risk of bleeding. Apixaban works by inhibiting factor Xa in the coagulation cascade, which reduces the blood's ability to clot. When combined with NSAIDs or aspirin, which also affect platelet function and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding, the risk of significant bleeding events escalates.

The other options do not pose a significant risk of increased bleeding in the context of Apixaban therapy. High doses of vitamin C do not impact coagulation and are generally safe. Excessive dairy products have no direct effect on bleeding risk and only have minimal interactions with certain medications. Similarly, caffeinated beverages do not have a known effect on bleeding while on anticoagulants like Apixaban. Thus, the focus for patients on this medication should be on avoiding NSAIDs and high-dose aspirin to minimize the chances of bleeding complications.