Anticoagulant dilema

[Harrybin]

Presently on Aixaban since september,I have experienced headaches,a nose bleed and strange feelings in legs.I understand that it works by affecting the platelets in the blood as does the Riaroxaban which previously caused a severe rash on legs

Further to this as they are always arranging 3 monthly blood tests do they expect this medication to have an affect on our liver/kidneys?

In view of this i am wondering if it would be a more healthy option to go back on warfarin which operates on the blood a different way.

My thanks to all who have share their experiences on this site

Mike

[Hidden]

My understanding is that the newer anticoagulants do not affect the kidneys but the dose has to be reduced if there is already impairment of kidney function.

They can apparently affect the liver but this is said to be a rare problem.

Do you have other problems or take other meds which might make regular blood tests necessary?

Why did you change from warfarin?

[Harrybin in reply to Hidden]

Thank you badger....no other problems but blood tests are regular after tests in june showed a deficiency in the platelets and they monitor for that as well.

I came off warfarin to be honest because it seemed to be causing severe hair loss but now

it seems to me that most medication that interferes with the blood does that

Mike

[Hidden in reply to Harrybin]

Did your hair loss continue after switching to the DOACs ?

Do you know how low your platelet level is? I ask because my platelet level is reduced and I take Warfarin. But I have never been aware of any bleeding. Does your doctor know why your platelet level is low?

I believe the hair loss / AC issue has been discussed a fair bit elsewhere on the forum. My hair has been falling out for a long time, but because it is typical male pattern baldness, I doubt mine is due to the warfarin.

If baldness is good enough for Liz Windsor's grandson, then who am I to complain?

[RoyM]

My regular bloid test revealed a low platelet count (135,000) it would appear its a consequence of taking anticoagulants....but it doesn't affect everyone. My Dr spoke to a blood specialist who considered that a that level the low platelet count isn't of concern...but it will be monitored.

[Hidden in reply to RoyM]

That count sounds reasonable

I know heparin can drop platelet levels. I didn't realise the oral ACs could do that too.

[Silver40]

Hi Mike. I'm in a similar dilemma. I've been on Apixaban since March. I also asked to change from warfarin because of hair thinning and as a woman my hair was the one thing that had previously been ageing well. Vanity ? Maybe!

I'm used to light headedness and fatigue from beta blockers and painful knees from osteoarthritis, but I started to feel a real weakness in my legs, often feeling as if they would buckle beneath me. I had actually seen my GP about this in April but no link was made to the anticoagulant. In fact the patient information sheet doesn't mention this in the side effects. Only on research last week did I find several websites advising to 'tell your doctor if you have muscle weakness especially in legs and feet. I now have an appointment with the GP next week and have been advised by an arrhythmia nurse to try rivaroxaban. Now I'm thinking warfarin might be the answer. I'm fortunate not to have any problems with bleeding also to have been in NSR for a year now. However I really do feel more debilitated at present than I did when in persistent slow af .

Good luck in finding the optimum meds for your wellbeing.

Val (silver40)

[KathFrances]

Dabigatran might also be worth a try - I've had no problems with it, whereas Rivaroxaban was ghastly. We all respond differently.