I have recently been taken of Apixiban and put on the pox! I think you can tell I dont like it much! I have itches I didnt have before and a few small bleeds! Still early days ands I will discuss with my doc soon.
It was done by the local docs after some review of medications done at national level, but its annoying!
Well I suppose not liking the dox doesn't have quite the comic impact of pox . Have you checked to see if itching is a known side effect of edoxaban.
Hello smokie 
do you mind if I ask why you were taken off Apixaban , has some problem arisen that others of us who take it are not aware.
I dont think you need to worry about Apixiban. I was not informed of any problem with the drug and given the impression that this new drug may be more "cost effective"
Thank you Smokie
I have dug out the letter sent to me . It seems NHS Tayside have asked the docs to review patients on Apixiban. Their first choice drug is now Edoxaban. (the pox shows my current feeling towards it!).
The factors used include: how well medicine works, how safe they are and how cost-effective they are.
That's awful Smokie , if a person is stable on a medication it makes no sense at all to switch them to something else. I hope it is not a 'trend' .
I am already frowned upon by some for daring to have asthma and AF which requires me to take a more expensive beta blocker, I would hate to switch from Apixaban because my meds are too expensive now I am settled on it.
I had a itchy rash on my back when I first started on AF meds but it seems to have calmed down now. Not sure what caused it.
I hope your itches settle soon.
I trust the practice docs to carefuly review each patient and to make an individual decision. Its happened to me once before I was originaly on slow release Isorbide mononitrate but the decision was taken to use normal isorbide mononitrate twice a day instead. After a period where this was not working for me, had a word with GP and am back on original tab.
Sounds like we are being used as test guinea pigs with new drugs. I came off two similar drugs (for a different problem) sequentially because both were doing more harm than good. Been off the last one (Ramipril) two months now and I certainly feel better. Always Monitor what your body is telling you !!
I prefer the very old and proven drugs. I don’t like taking newer drugs. They don’t know what they are doing frequently.
i think the firm have given CCGs a lower cost deal but if it doesn't suit you they will change you back if you ask
Smokie - this is the type of situation which worries me - (probably more than it should) but my concerns come from experiences in my own field of work where finance-driven decisions took no account of other impacts of those decisions to the detriment of the ‘end users’.
From reading your post, I can see no medical reason for the change in a patient who did not request the change and who was well settled on Apixaban. It obviously makes sense to cut waste and household scarce resources but I doubt this is the way to do it - and it looks like it is going to get much worse. Just read a Guardian article about a possible future of public services and was depressed before I read your post. ☹️
If the poxy thing doesn’t suit you - go back and talk to your GP - best wishes with it.
Oh to be John Cleese and move to an idyllic island.🏝
After all this time I feel amusement more than anything else. I will give the stuff a fair, at least in my mind, trial. Then I will go speak to GP, we need to have new pills etc and get value for public money. However never at the expense of quality, the answer is more money for NHS but make sure its spent well.
It is worrying though that the NHS is so finance driven. Though I understand why if it’s to the detriment of people’s health that’s not good. Having recently spent sometime in hospital wired up for sound, I did a lot of people watching. It was interesting to see how many people did one job, meetings about meetings!
I hope you get your tablets sorted. I think that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it though!
True but if we dont take some change now and again advances dont happen. So I will give it a fair shot then complain if needed.
A similar thing happened to me a few years back it was definitely cost driven. Give it a month and if your symptons don't improve ask your GP to reinstate the Apixaban. Good Luck
Same happened to me Smokie 2D, my GP changed me to Rivaroxiban a few months ago. So far all is well. Hope you get it sorted soon.
Not to worry it will get sorted if I need it to. My usual doc is very good.
I’m on apixaban . I had PE Mass DVT in left leg . This happened on April 10th . I had one lot of bloods then, nothing since . I have to E Mail the doctor, if I want any answers . He said I was lucky to be alive . Be grateful. Carry on with blood thinners for 6 months . I have awful chest pain at times, mostly at night . Also can’t take my anti flammatory tablets for Arthritis . I was also on HRT it was to me a miracle pill . I felt well, no aches or pains . Taken of it overnight. I am grateful to be alive. However my quality of life isn’t great . I am riding a push not me for exercise, because too much walking , the leg swells . We all have to soldier on . Hope you do get better
When I have had itching it eventually came down to the fact I was taking too many preventative tablets together so I rearranged spreading them out to find ....no itching .In one instance I read the side effects which can be a clue or there are site for medication interactions. Hope this helps ! Also homeopathic/herbal can help .
Hi... I started edoxaban nearly a month ago and began itching soon after although it does seem to be easing now. It felt like ants or small flies on me. I've stopped swatting now and just ignore it....unless it bites or stings me..:-))
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