Side effects of apixaban

[Foresttime]

I'm feeling rubbish, been on apixaban for 6 days. My head feels like it's swimming, my legs are feeling very heavy and aching, hands tingling and rather short tempered, which isn't me.

How long should I put up with it for? At the moment I feel like stopping it, I'd speak to the GP of course.

Thank you.

[rosyG]

Hi

Just wondered when this started- I started apixaban yesterday and so far so good.

I did ask people on the site whether they had had problems and one said she had felt a bit flu like for a while but it passed off- others said no side effects. I'll be very interested to hear what others say.

Don't suddenly stop without having arranged another anti-coagulant and advice from your doctor

[Foresttime in reply to rosyG]

RosyG, No I won't stop without speaking to GP. If you're 80 and over and under 60 kg you are put on 2.5 mg. I'm under 60 kg but not yet 80, I wonder if you can go on 2.5 mg under 80 years of age if you can't tolerate the side effects?

[rosyG in reply to Foresttime]

I expect you will have seen from the literature with the tablets that it says two of the criteria for 2.5mg ( age, weight and kidney function) but actually my GP mentioned something about if my weight fell below 60kg and she knows I am not 80 so I think it's worth talking to your GP as soon as possible in case the dose is too high for you- there is less protection with half dose so don't change without asking

Are you in AF at present as heavy limbs etc are commonly mentioned as side effects??

[OzLynda]

I'm on my third day of Apixaban, and likewise feeling unwell. For me a bit nauseous, vision in the right eye seems worse (I have macular degeneration anyway), and today I noticed when walking on a treadmill that my heart rate went up a lot higher than usual, and angina cut in quite quickly. Could only manage 15 minutes instead of the usual 30.

The symptoms could be due to other things altogether, it's hard to be sure when you go on a new medicine, so I'll leave it a couple of weeks. Maybe it will settle down, if not I'll see GP again.

Hope you get your symptoms sorted soon foresttime.

[Foresttime]

Interesting that your Dr. said that RosyG I've googled whether it is possible for the under 80's to be on 2.5 mg, but can't find any reference to it. No, I'm not in AF at the moment, I only get it for seconds/minutes at a time. Hope all goes well for you RosyG with Apixaban.

OzLynda sorry to hear you're also feeling unwell. I surpose 2 weeks is about the right length of time to see how it goes, but then we're bang on Christmas. Strange what happened on the treadmill, maybe you've got the start of w winter virus.

Thanks all.

[gemini52]

I have been on Apixaban now for a month and have had no side effects at all....did feel a bit of nausea initially but on the whole can't thank my doctor enough for switching me from warfarin. Hope you get it sorted out....keep well. Patricia.

[Foresttime in reply to gemini52]

Thank you Patricia, glad it's working out so well for you.

[Rufus_4]

Hi. I've been on apixaban for about 3 months and haven't looked back! No weekly/ 2 weekly trip to surgery for INR. Bliss! I did panic initially, having read the information leaflet, as I'm underweight and wasn't offered a renal function test but I've been really lucky and not experienced any side effects. I've received a couple of calls from the pharmacist to check on my progress (normal practice I understand) and that has been reassuring. I hope your side effects settle soon. Take care

[rosyG in reply to Rufus_4]

Rufus I have just started on Apixaban and had a blood test- my GP said it will be checked again (for renal function) in 6 months so I would ask for one when you approach the six months point.

[Foresttime]

Thank you for that Rufus4. Glad all is fine for you, I must say I'm beginning to feel a little better, so that's good. What an excellent pharmacist, wonder if mine will do that. Best wishes.