Eliquis Apixaban

[Hi-1964]

Had appointment today to TIA clinic due to a 30 second turn of pins and needles in ear and face and right arm was prescribed Eliquis Apixaban 5 mg twice a day . Had scan awaiting call as I type to say if Tia happened . So scared of taking but also the thought of stroke has any one had bad reactions to this drug ?

[NooNoo14]

I started taking it 18th December. No side effects so far.

[Finvola]

I've been taking Apixaban for 2 years with no problems.

[gemsmum]

I have been on Apixaban for almost a year and have had no bad reactions at all. I had a blood test before going on it to check my kidney function, then another one at six months, a follow up blood test will be done in another year. I have heard no bad reports on this forum regarding Apixaban so try not to worry. Hope your scan results are clear.

[rosyG]

no- I have been taking for a year and it's great!

[PeterWh in reply to rosyG]

Make sure that you have had a full set of blood tests recently and then get tested in 3 months time and then 6 months from now and then annually thereafter. Taht is what my pharmacist told me. Applies to all NOACs, statins and others. Tests to include kidney, liver, thyroid and cholesterol (even though Apixaban does not affect all four). I was on Apixaban for over three months but had to swap to warfarin so as to have ablation and still on warfarin because waiting for second ablation. I want switch back to Apixaban as soon as is safe.

[Hi-1964]

Thank you for your feedback I know its better to take than not but its just the no antidote thing scares me . Consultant said its the best one . I have not taken tonight as took aspirin today so will start tomorrow .

[PeterWh in reply to Hi-1964]

I am sure that you will be fine

If it was so dangerous with no antidote NICE, the European agency, the USA agency and many others medical authorities throughout the world would never have sanctioned widespread use. Putting it into perspective you are probably many, many more times likely to die in a road accident than die from a bleed purely because you are on Apixaban. Even if you were on warfarin and had a medium to significant bleed they would probably not use an antidote because of insufficient time. They have plenty of methods of controlling bleeds. There is also a misconception that all ambulances carry vit k as an antidote to warfarin - I was told that they don't except sometimes few major incident ones do.

[angell1950]

I suffered a TIA in October I was assessed at the stroke unit at my local hospital : I was prescribed apixaban immediately : I was very reluctant to take this drug after reading up on side effects but I have to say two and a half months taking this drug I'm ok : it's not brilliant but better than warfarin because with warfarin you have to have regular blood tests and apixaban you don't: it's a fairly new drug and expensive so my GP doesn't like prescribing it cause of the cost: I hope you soon get things sorted: I had an MRI scan of my brain a week ago I go back to stroke consultant in two weeks and I'm hoping I can stop taking some of the other drugs prescribed

[Londonlass]

I have been taking apixaban since beginning of December and have had no side effects so far. I resisted taking an anticoagulant for about 2 years and continued to take aspirin but eventually agreed with my EP's strong recommendation to do so. My concern was more about weighing up the risks of having a stroke v a brain bleed but as I have had more but fairly short episodes of PAF this year I decided I could prevaricate no longer. I had decided that I wanted to try apixaban and that was what the haematologist at the anticoagulant clinic said was her preference because it has less side effects than other NOACs. I had a blood test after 2 weeks on it to check all was OK compared to my results from a routine full blood test in July and will have yearly blood tests from now on.

Incidentally my EP told me that as regards bleeding events apixaban was no different to aspirin but considerably more effective at protecting against AF related strokes. He also offered to refer me to a clinical psychologist to help with making my decision if I thought it would help.

I hope things work out well for you.

[Bridges4]

I have been taking Apixaban for one year now. No problems at all. I have extensive blood tests every six months (I have been a diabetic for fourteen years) and the results confirm that Apixaban has had no detrimental effect on my physiology.

The very best of luck to you and best wishes

[DiyChas]

Good to hear positives concerning apixaban as I stated it two days ago. At 70, I get a fair amount of back pain (walk while playing golf 4-5 times/week and do long road biking in warmer times) and wanted to continue with NSAIDs and infrequent arthrotec and GP said no but cardiologist said ok.

Good luck to all of you with Afib. Eat and sleep well and gets lots of exercise!

[cherylbyrd]

Husband has taken this drug for a year with no side effects. It may be the best of the anti-coagulants for someone with Afib as long as your heart muscle is strong.

[RobertELee]

Apixaban - statistically, the best of the NOACs and no-antidote fears are over-stated. As long as you get the required annual blood tests to check for any unlikely anomalies it'll give you all the protection you need to keep TIA's, stroke, DVTs etc at bay for the rest of your life.

[Elaine1951]

I started Apuxaban on 25 December and no side effects Like you though v reluctant to be on any med long term especially one which makes bleeding and bruising likely. I understand all the rationale and weighing up the risks. I would prefer being on 2.5 mg x 2 as I'm under 55 kg but cardiologist says no. Wait fir all tests. Are others on 10 mg a day ?