Losartan or Rivaroxaban side effects or triggers, or pure coincidence? A further update.

[Thomas45]

Further to the excrutiating pains I described in earlier posts about Rivaroxaban I had another blood test 23 days ago. Within 24 hours a doctor rang me to give me the results. He explained that one test showed the amount of inflammation in my body. It should have been around 15 to 20, but was at 130. I'm being treated for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, so am on a moderate daily dose of Prednisolone and Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements. I had another blood test 13 days ago and my inflammation level was down to 83.

I'm also trying self-help by concentrating on eating anti-inflammatory foods, which will affect my INR: more green veg, lots of fruit and oily fish, sardines and salmon yesterday, salmon and trout today. Also eating fresh ginger which is a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory which may offset the curly kale which has something like 7 times the required daily dose of Vitamin K. My attitude is that as it reduces inflammation, we'll just have to adjust the warfarin dose.

Since starting with my own CoaguChek machine my twice-weekly readings have been: 5.1, 4.8, 4.1, 2.3, 2.0, 2.3, 2.2 (the Warfarin nurse has taken my readings and adjusted the dose accordingly). I was on 7mg, now down to 4.5mg. The only problem I have with the Coaguchek machine is the lancing device. If I follow the instructions on the video which comes with it I can't get enough blood, so now take off the protective cap and just jab my finger with the needle.

So the question is, were the pains side effects of Rivaroxaban and Losartan, or did Polymyalgia start the day I started with Rivaroxaban, or did the side effects trigger Polymyalgia? Polymyalgia has no known cause.

Certainly some of the pains were not the type you get with Polymyalgia. My pains on waking are.mainly confined to the left side of my body - shoulder, arm, wrist, hand, fingers, and left leg. On movement I stiffen up and pains are across my buttocks, sometimes my right neck and head. Some days are almost without pain or stiffness; others I have pain, but not to the degree I had before I was put on Prednisolone. I will be having another blood test soon. 13 days ago my inflammation level was 83; it feels like 50 today, and was nearer 40 yesterday. Some days I still need to take painkillers.

[ruthalem]

This is a lot to take in but it seems you are having a real tough time. If its any help, when I was on warfarin the pain in my joints, especially my shoulders, was atrocious and the itchy rash was driving me crazy. I insisted that my GP prescribe me with something different, he eventually gave me dabigartran and since taking it I have been a lot better, hardly any joint pain at all.

[Thomas45 in reply to ruthalem]

I'm glad to be back on Warfarin. I keep a note in a large page-a-day diary of everything I eat and drink, and my meducation, INR checks, and how I'm feeling - where the pains are, ot not depending on the day. Today none, some weakness but no pain.