U.S. President Joe Biden’s physician stopped the commander-in-chief’s use of heart medications Thursday (July 21) after he began to take a 5-day course of Pfizer’s Paxlovid to treat COVID-19, White House officials said —despite the fact that doing so elevates the risk of dangerous blood clots.
The FDA specifically warns that “premature discontinuation of any oral anticoagulant, including Eliquis, increases the risk of thrombotic events,” meaning blood clots.
In 1988, Biden survived two brain aneurysms, which blood clots can cause. The drug Eliquis—which Biden was taking—is marketed to lower the risk of stroke and blood clots.
He’s also quadruple-vaccinated against COVID-19.