Apixaban

[Bodmeister]

Hi All, I was diagnosed with a blood clot on my lung 3 weeks ago and have been put on Apixaban. I get an ache in my chest on and off through out the day and assume its a side effect of the drug as the hospital was not concerned when I mentioned it. Is it worth switching to Rivaroxaban instead?

[Hidden]

Hi Bodmeister, it's unusual to get concerns about side effects from Apixaban but it will be interesting to hear what others might say. Maybe you should wait a while to see if your body adapts to using the drug. Could the ache be connected with the lung e.g. are you coughing more than before. Some have mentioned aching limbs in the past but it's rare for anyone to say they have changed to an alternative.

[Bodmeister in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply Flapjack. I currently have a cold, (typical!), so I am coughing quite often. I suppose the ache could be linked to damage the clot caused. I have a review at the hospital in a few weeks, so will see what they say. Got a feeling I will be on here a lot over the next 6 months!

[DoubleEm]

Hi Bodmeister, I can't comment on Apixaban but I had a pulmonary embolism years ago and was treated with Warfarin and I well remember the aching in the chest you are referring to. I was told this was the damage (bruising) the clot had done to my lung and that it would subside in time. It took about 4 months for the aching to disappear completely but after about 6 weeks it wasn't so noticeable.

Don't overdo it and rest as and when you can. Best wishes for a complete recovery

[Bodmeister in reply to DoubleEm]

Thank you DoubleEm, that has helped a lot! Hopefully it is just bruising for me as well then.

[Hidden]

If it is a pain in the chest on coughing or deep breathing, then this might be pleurisy, which is commonly associated with pulmonary embolism.

[Bodmeister]

Thankfully my breathing is ok, I had started running again, (just a few mile), but the phlebitis, that caused the clot, has made the varicose veins hard and they rub the calf muscle making it sore.

[jennydog]

Please substitute running with walking. And please take it easy and rest until you are given the all clear.

[Bodmeister in reply to jennydog]

Oh great, my GP had told me to stay active, so assumed that meant it was the all clear to start running again, (small runs at least).

[jennydog in reply to Bodmeister]

Have a look at Dr Gupta's video about anticoagulants. He seems to favour Pradaxa which is what I was prescribed.