What is the best time to take Xarelto (rivaroxaban)?

Rivaroxaban 15 mg or 20 mg doses must be taken with food to absorb properly, but the specific time of day is not covered in these sources — check with your pharmacist.

What foods should I avoid on a DOAC such as apixaban (Eliquis)?

Check with a pharmacist before taking St John's wort: the NHS says it may not mix well with apixaban and edoxaban. Limit grapefruit to occasional amounts rather than daily juice. Leafy greens, kale and spinach are unrestricted, unlike with warfarin.

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Can I eat this with DOACs?

Unlike warfarin, DOACs have no vitamin K restriction — the residual cautions are alcohol, grapefruit, and St John’s Wort.

Also sold as Lixiana, Pradaxa. Brand names from the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices.

Type any food below for an instant verdict — we check 119 foods and drinks for DOACs (5 to avoid, 63 to take care with) — or tap one below.

Quick answers

What is the best time to take Xarelto (rivaroxaban)?: Rivaroxaban 15 mg or 20 mg doses must be taken with food to absorb properly, but the specific time of day is not covered in these sources — check with your pharmacist.
What foods should I avoid on a DOAC such as apixaban (Eliquis)?: Check with a pharmacist before taking St John's wort: the NHS says it may not mix well with apixaban and edoxaban. Limit grapefruit to occasional amounts rather than daily juice. Leafy greens, kale and spinach are unrestricted, unlike with warfarin.

Grounded in the checker below and the full guide. Not a substitute for your pharmacist.

1 · What do you take?

DOACsalso apixaban, eliquis, rivaroxaban

Unlike warfarin, DOACs have no vitamin K restriction — the residual cautions are alcohol, grapefruit, and St John’s Wort.

Good news: kale, spinach, and greens are unrestricted on apixaban and friends — the warfarin rules do not apply. Rivaroxaban (15/20mg) must be taken with food to absorb properly. Keep alcohol moderate: it adds bleeding risk.

Read our full DOACs guide →

2 · What do you want to eat or drink?

Tap a food to see the answer, or type any food or drink in the box above.

Foods to avoid with DOACs· 5

Take care with DOACs· 63

Fine with DOACs· 51

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This checker summarises published guidance (NHS medicine pages, patient information leaflets and drug labels) for general information only. It is not medical advice, it is not exhaustive, and it cannot account for your dose, kidney function, other medicines, or health conditions. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist, or the patient information leaflet — especially before changing what you eat or drink. See our editorial policy.

Each medicine on its own page

Medicines in this group with a page of their own, each with what its own NHS page says about food.

Food groups that matter with DOACs

Every medicine each one affects, on one page.

Affected by the same foods as DOACs.