Table 1. Main characteristics of NOACs.

	Dabigatran	Apixaban	Edoxaban	Rivaroxaban
Elimination half-life	12–17 h	12 h	9–11 h	5–9 h (young)
				11–13 h (elderly)
Bioavailability	∼6.5%	∼50%	∼62%	∼66% (w/o food)
				∼100% (with food)
Pro-drug	Yes	No	No	No
Clearance: non-renal/renal of absorbed dose if normal renal function	20%/80%	73%/27%	50%/50%	65%/35%
Liver metabolism: CYP450	No	Yes (CYP3A4/5, CYP1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2J2)	Yes (CYP3A4/5)	Yes (CYP3A4, CYP2J2, and CYP-independent mechanisms)
Absorption with food	No effect	No effect	6%–22% more	+39%
Intake with food?	No	No	No official recommendation yet	Mandatory

NOACs, novel oral anticoagulants.