Stopping Eliquis for surgery

[onomaile]

Am having minor surgery next week and was told to stop Eliquis for 2 days prior and one after . I have AFIB WHICH IS CONTROLLED WITH TIKOSYN BUT AM WORRIED ABOUT STROKE RISK .

Had anyone had similar situation ? Thanks

[pattiannj]

I have just stopped rivaroxiban for 2 days prior to a tooth extraction & must admit was scared in case I had an AF episode without the drug. Everything was fine - no bleeding problems & back on the med last night. Hope this helps

[Barb385]

I am taking Apixaban and, lucky me, have 2 ops pending - the first parathyroid. I have been advised for that one to not take any on the morning of the op (next Weds) or any the day before. I had to phone the pre-op department for the result of my blood tests to get this decision. I also have open heart surgery (mitral valve) once I'm over the parathyroid op, and for that the preliminary advice is 5-7 days off Apixaban. Presumably they will advise me after they've done a pre-op assessment exactly the length of time without. I will go with the hospital advice, and I am sure they will be aware of the risks, and will give me the best advice they can.

[shakazulu in reply to Barb385]

Thank you !

[beardy_chris]

I recently had surgery and, like you, was told to stop taking Elequis (Apixaban) for 48 hours beforehand. This is a standard recommendation. The risk is minimal because it takes time for a clot to form and then break away to cause a stroke - I don't know how long but I kid myself that it isn't going to have time to do it while I'm off my anti-coagulant!

Being a little more scientific, the risk of having a stroke when you are not on anti-coagulants is not huge but the drugs reduce it even further. The likelihood of having a stroke in the three days you are off the drug is very, very small. I don't want to worry you but the risks of side effects from the operation is probably many times greater.

Good Luck and I hope your recovery is swift.

[10gingercats]

I had a full hip replace. last summer due to an accident. ....had my Apixaban stopped for 6 doses.....Sat. night until Tuesday lunchtime....which I did not think was a long time considering the surgery....but no transfusion was needed and all went well.

[Mike11]

The risk of anything happening those 2 days is truly minimal. That's the advantages of NOACs over warfarin where you had to come off up to a week before.

[KipperJohn]

Have had to stop Apixaban 3 times this year for oral surgery, prostate biopsy and Inguinal hernia repair surgery. No issues but am fortunate that have had no AF episodes since last August following second ablation in May 2016. Hope that helps.

[EricR]

I believe that it is standard practice for doctors to recommend the cessation of anticoagulant drugs such as Eliquis (Apixaban) for 2 days prior to any type of surgery or diagnostic procedure that might present a bleeding issue. I checked with my cardiologist when my gastroenterologist instructed me to stop taking Eliquis for 2 days prior to my colonoscopy. He said there was practically no risk in doing this.

[Rialla]

I take Eliquis & had eyelid surgery. I stopped the day before & started back the day after. I had some bruising, but that's common. All worked out fine. I too was very nervous. I had the procedure done @ a teaching hospital & had minimal anesthesia administered by an anathesiologist

[thedigitaltexan]

Are you having bad side effects from Eliquis? I'm scared. Just starting today.