What time to take meds.

[gemini52]

Seeking advice on how to deal with time change and taking meds - particularly my Apixaban. Normally take it at 9.30am and same again pm. USA are 5 hours behind and I am not sure how to handle this especially on my first day. I am scared I overdose..please can anyone advise if they have gone through this? Regards Patricia

[Thomps95]

Go to the nearest drug store and ask a pharmacist, or call a free medical helpline (typically a trained nurse). I suspect you'd need to take a lot to overdose - simply changing the time you take it should not have any effect. But if in doubt, ask a pharmacist or nurse.

[Mazza23 in reply to Thomps95]

Leave your watch on English time and take at the same time..

[Noramarie in reply to Mazza23]

Great idea

[Pdotg]

Hello Gemini52

In the past three months I have been around the world in stages, travelling east, so had a similar dilemma. A doctor put my mind at rest, telling me that taking medication a couple of hours late makes little difference, but it is important not to take doses more frequently than normal. (I'm not in a strict routine anyway, as I take my anticoagulant anytime between 8pm and 11pm.)

At the start of my trip I downloaded an app to remind me to take the medication, but found that more trouble than it was worth, but it might work for you?

Bon voyage!

[Mazza23 in reply to Pdotg]

To get the optimum effect of your meds you should take them at the same time everyday so I have been told ,so a smack on the wrist for you haha

[Pdotg in reply to Mazza23]

Well, all doctors have their own ideas. You have to make your own judgement in the end.

[Hidden in reply to Mazza23]

Not all drugs are the same, some last a long time in the body, while others clear the body very quickly. Also, with some drugs taking a little more will not cause any serious problem. But other very potent drugs like some anti-arrhythmic medicines or anticoagulats, can cause serious problems if the dose exceeds a little bit the established dose. Apixaban and other anticoagulants can increase the risk of bleeding by taking just one double dose. So be careful.

[jossikins]

I had the same conundrum last year when I went to California. I handled it without any problem by adjusting my time of medication according to the time difference between here and there. They are 8 hrs. behind us. So, where I would normally take my meds at bedtime here, I switched to lunchtime-ish there and then reversed it on the way back. So, you have to change your routine a bit, but a holiday abroad is all about change anyway. If you are anticipating a 5 hours time difference (New York or Montreal) and the flight duration is about 6 hours and your departure from the UK is at 8am (for the sake of argument) you would have taken your meds the night before anyway. You would then arrive in NY or Mtl at 2pm our time ( 9 am their time). 11pm our time would thus be 6pm their time. So, you switch your meds to 6pm each night that you are wherever, then, when you return to the UK you just switch it back to 11pm our time, where it was before (which is the time difference anyway). Confused? It isn't really difficult, truly.

[gemini52 in reply to jossikins]

Thank you so much for working this out for me. Really appreciate it!

[jossikins]

Actually, Mazza has the best and simplest solution - just carry a watch with you set on UK time and keep taking you meds at the same UK time as always, irrespective of whatever time it is where you are going. So, even easier when you return to the UK. Good on you, Mazza - it took you a few words to clearly say what I spent a whole paragraph trying to explain!!

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Gemini I travel a fair bit, and often to places where the time difference is more than 5 hours, China was 9 I think, and this is what I do so hope it helps.

I leave my phone on UK time, and then for the first 48 hours (and on the plane) take my meds on UK time, I then start moving them by two hours a time, in some cases it takes 5 days to get to local time.

Then when I get back to the UK I do the same in reverse.

I doubt you will overdose, and especially with twice daily Apixiban easier to move as the dosage is lower, my rivaroxaban is once daily.

Be well

Ian

[Robert185]

I am having same issues I always take rivaboxban in the morning and going to Mexico next weekend so I am taking it an hour late everyday if I I kept it the same would be getting up a 3 in morning to take it. As I had a stroke in January I am worried about getting stomach bug on holiday as tablet would be flushed out of you.

[Von19]

I asked the pharmacist this same question when I was travelling and was advised to take my medication at the same time as if I were at home so I kept my watch on English time and set alerts as well on my phone Have a lovely holiday

[Emsysy]

Don't overdose on your worrying !

Just skip the 5 hours and then take your meds as you do at home. All this business of adjusting back to GMT Is not sensible. It will knock you out of your usual routine and possibly lead to your forgetting. If you always take your pills at say breakfast or evening time, just stick to this where ever you are. A lapse of a few hours is not critical. All IMHO, of course.

[gemini52]

Thank you so much for all the replies - really helpful. I am well insured if it all goes belly up!! I will speak to my pharmacist and just see what he says. Thank you all again. Florida here I come!! Regards Patricia.

[Verybusymum1 in reply to gemini52]

Hi I was just wondering how bad your AF is? I would like to fly to America again, but I'm terrified if something happening during the flight or over there. It's good to read so many people do travel , I feel like life as I know it is over 😩can I go on white knuckle rides anymore ?

Where did you get insurance cover from and is it expensive? Sorry , so many questions!

Hope you had a fabulous trip. 😃

[Kodaska]

Apixaban/Eliquis has a half-life of about 12 hours. If you're concerned about taking them too close together, take them farther apart.

Another thing you can do is this: when you're home, take one 6 hours after the other instead of 12 hours after. An hour or two after you've taken the second dose, do something that will cause minor bleeding and see if your blood clots normally.

Yet another thing you might try is to do a web search on the terms "apixaban overdose" and see what you find. Such information - especially if it comes from a credible source - might be more reliable and useful than asking us.

[Hidden]

It’s better to fall behind than to take a an overdose. No great harm will occur by skipping one dose, since it takes 48 to 72 hours for Apixaban to leave body completely. You will still be protected.