Prednisolone and Anti-coagulants (Noacs)

[Drounding]

I have been taking Prednisolone for a few months now to reduce aches and pains from mild Rheumatism (Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Ankylosing Spondylitis). I'm now currently on a plan of my own choosing to reduce the Prednisolone. I'm on a low dose of Prednisolone - just reduced from 5mg to 4mg today and have been taking 5mg for around 5 months.

I see that Prednisolone is not recommended for use when taking anti-coagulants as it may cause bleeding as well as reduce the effectiveness of the anti-coagulant.

Is anyone else on Prednisoline together with an anti-coagulant (Noac)? Where you advised of a potential risk associated with taking it? Should I be concerned?

[Mazza23]

My husband has polymialgia reuhmatica and is on 10 mg prednisoline he is also on brelinta as he has a stent he has tried to reduce the dose several times but the pain always comes back

[Cheriemaria]

Hello drounding ,

A few weeks ago I was on a course of prednisolone plus antibiotics.

For different things .Also on Warfarin. After two weeks went for inr check

And from 2.1 my reading was 7.8 .I had an emergency dose of vit K given

And had to stop Warfarin for two days..It was scary ..Since then I have seen doctor and has put me on apixiban I start it tonight...I have been on Warfarin for six years but have never had prednisolone before.

I ope this does not scare you.

[Annekw]

Hi I have Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as AF, so have to balance quite a lot of medication. I’m on Apixaban, Digoxin and Bisoprapol for the AF-for the last 3yrs.

My Rheumatoid I have had for 18 yrs , over this time I’ve taken steroids for flares of my RA, I still take steroids when necessary ( with no problems )since I’ve had AF medication!!

I

[Fish109]

You think you have a problem! I was born with a defective heart valve that was replaced 7 years ago. 2 months ago that valve was again replaced along with redoing the aortic root and one artery CABG. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for at least 20 years and am on 3 mg prednisone, 15 mg meloxicam, 2 shots of Enbrel/week, 7.5 mg methotrexate and have asthma (more inhaled steroids). So the cardiologist now, after the aortic valve replacement surgery, puts me on 5 mg of Eliquis 2/daily and tells me I must stop at least the meloxicam (this is the drug that helps me the most with rheumatoid arthritis). I already had "thinned" blood so was given a cow heart valve... and now they give me more blood thinners (agreed, Eliquis is an antiX4 antagonist)? So first I asked the cardiologist to reduce my Eliquis to 2.5 mg (half the dosage). He refused saying it was the wrong dose. So I ask the rheumatologist what else I can take. He says I can increase the methotrexate - which I have done in the past and has never given me any pain reduction. I had a little rectal bleeding yesterday, which I suspect was only hemorrhoids but scared the **** out of me. I called the cardiologist. He says, "It's your life. If you choose, you can go back on the aspirin instead of the Eliquis (taken after the first heart valve replacement b/c Eliquis had not yet been invented) but I will not lower your dose of Eliquis." So I admitted to the nurse that I had been cutting the pill in half myself and she said that was bad b/c it is a pill not meant for cutting due to the effective part of the pill not being evenly distributed. This stress will kill me. Taking the Eliquis can cause a stroke all by itself. Not taking the Eliquis means a higher likelihood of heart attack and/or stroke. Anybody have a similar situation and is still alive? (I am 71; my family members are usually dead by 72.)