I’ve just been asked by my GP to switch from Apixaban to Edoxaban. Apparently my local commissioning group have negotiated better terms for this drug which would save about £200 pa for each patient switched. Anyone got any experience with Edoxaban? I have been happily on Apixaban for about 5 years now and I am reluctant to switch if I am likely to experience any adverse effects. Apparently the normal NHS price is about £800pa for both, so a significant saving.
Thanks for any help,
Peter
How interesting! Not many people seem to take Edoxaban but this could be because it's the newest of the DOACs.
For me, this is the start of a trend which I don't like - just my personal view.
This is another thread on the subject a couple of weeks ago:
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
Yes Finvola.I fear this may be the beginning of a new development in meds. switching where money is involved. GPs are being leaned on to cut and query the whole time. I have noticed it with my own lovely GP I have recently had the cost of liothyronine raised ....I resisted . ...and , a suggestion as to whether I might consider private surgery on one occasion recently.My husband had a similar conversation with the same GP.
When my EP agreed I could swap warfarin for a NOAC he recommended Apixaban. However when I was ready for the change he said Edoxaban was the latest and best. I've had no problems at all with it - apart from when I took 2 by mistake and then it was just a case of taking it easy for 24 hours. No falls or bangs to the head.
There was a link to an article in the Pharmaceutical Journal here a couple of days ago. I’m not sure that it mentioned Edoxaban, though.
As I recall, Apixaban was the least worse 😳.
There was another thread on the same subject recently,
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
I would hate to change now I am settled on Apixaban and after researching what I thought was the best of the NOACS...
I tend to agree with Finvola and would resist change unless presented with the full reasoning and not just a cost one. Personally, I don't like being guinea pig for something new and I remember the most assuring thing I was told about Flecainide was that it was a comparatively old tried and tested drug and the same could be said about Warfarin.
In the past I have taken briefly Rivoraxaban without issues and I think my cardio said on my last check-up if I start on my 65th birthday "we are now recommending Edoxaban"
Personally I'd be happy to switch to a new medication if it was going to save the NHS £200. My feeling is that Edoxaban has gone beyond the guinea pig stage and was approved some time ago. I don't know the technical differences between the DOACs but perhaps the newer ones lack something that has been shown in the well established ones to cause some mild side effect.
I was on warfarin and then dabigatran. I developed a clot in the LAA so was put back on warfarin for 6 months. When I was given the all clear my EP said that he thought that now Edoxaban was best for me. I have had no problems over the last year or so
To me,if it aint broke dont fix it! I will be guided first and foremost by my EP not my cash strapped GP.Sorry if I sound selfish,but I have worked fulltime since I was 16,with two short maternity leaves.I also worked during my mature student time,at night.
As my mother,father,maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather have all had strokes,some fatal and Af related,I am particularly sensitive to stroke prevention,and as I was recommended to take Apixaban initially by a cardiologist,and echoed by my EP,who a!so assured me that this is for lifetime,I am not going to be persuaded otherwise!
It suits me,and is rated well in terms of performance.
Make sure this is what YOU want to do if you decide to swop,go with your gut feeling......
Best wishes,
I think that I agree with you. There have been no problems over 5 years with Apixaban and it is difficult to see a clinical reason for the change.
Change from Apaxiban to Edoxaban?
Edoxaban v apixaban
Apixaban to Edoxaban change
