Table 2.

Pharmacokinetic Properties of Recently Approved Oral Anticoagulants

	Dabigatran (Pradaxa)14	Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)12	Apixaban (Eliquis)13
Mechanism of action	Direct thrombin inhibitor	Direct factor Xa inhibitor	Direct factor Xa inhibitor
Oral bioavailability	6%	60%–80%	50%
Volume of distribution	50–70 L	50 L	21 L
Half-life	12–17 hours	5–13 hours	9–14 hours
Metabolism/elimination	80% renal	33% renal; 66% hepatic	25% renal; 75% fecal
Protein binding	35%	> 90%	87%

Data from prescribing information for rivaroxaban,¹² apixaban,¹³ and dabigatran.¹⁴