Hey guys. So I’ve been on Eliquis for three months. I’ve noticed I have a bladder infection sensation feeling on and off. I’ve been tested for a uti multiple times and all negative. I was wondering if anyone else has that same side effect? Constant urge to go. Feels like uti but it. Also feels like my bladder is sore
Eliquis and bladder pain sensation? - Atrial Fibrillati...
Eliquis and bladder pain sensation?
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samdee123
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Absolutely this.
Also it occurred after about 2-3 months on Apixaban. I too had a urine sampled tested - negative. The sensation was as if my bladder was bruised/tired, urethra felt sore and the urge to return to the bathroom was constant (no burning though). The GP was not interested once the lab test came back ok.
Yes exactly!!!! Urethra feels sore like something is stuck or irritated!!! Thank you so much for the reply. I’m happy to hear I’m not the only one. I also have the constant urge to go. How do you cope? Does anything relieve it?
I did go full-on hydration for a while and it seemed to ease the pain a bit, but the frequency is still here. Some days (and nights!) are just so tiring. At least we have a 'group' now and can share any more ideas.
Hey. Do you still have this issue. I do it went away for a few days then came back
Yes 
I have struggled to get enough water through lately. Some weeks are not so bad (for the urethra pain), but the frequency is always here. Once the low ache starts up again, it will last for several weeks.
How are you coping?
Yes exactly me too. I just recently got off the Eliquis last Tuesday I’m hoping it is the cause and goes away soon. I don’t know how much more I can take of this. I feel like there has to be a connection to the Eliquis. What do you think? Are you on any other meds? I am not and i don’t drink so I’m thinking there has to be a connection. Well I’m hoping.
I'm also on the lowest dose of bisoprolol 1.25. Please let me know if things improve for you post Apixaban. Are you swapping to a different anti-coagulant?
No I’m off for now. I can’t take this irritation. It seriously bothers me all day. Driving me crazy. Went off of Eliquis on Tuesday so 6 days and I still have it. I’m praying it goes away soon. Uhhhhh
Anything change for you? I still have it. Going to urologist today. Still have the constant urge to go to the bathroom?
I'd be really interested to hear what your urologist has to say. There seems to be a lot of us in the same boat here.
So went to urologist yesterday and they did a bladder ultrasound. Didn’t find anything. They said it would be irritation and inflammation and hopefully will go away with time. I don’t know if I believe them or not. I’ve had this for a while now. They said in a month if still not better they will go up with a scope. Do you still have this issue too? Can you describe it to me to, to see if mine is the same.
We know it is not just one person, but several here. I'm putting up with it at the moment. Hope you can have a reasonable period now; fingers crossed. Let us know how you go. 
I have the same feeling. In fact it is 3:00 AM here and I have woken up again with this bladder thing. I am sure it is the Apixiban. I have had several test too and all have come back negative for a bladder infection. I did find that drinking lots of water and taking something called D-Mannose helped. When I stopped taking Apixivan for several months during the summer (long story) it went away. Maybe the extra sun in the summer was the real reason for it stopping. I don't really know. Anyway I glad it is not just me!
Hey when you went off the Eliquis how long did it take for the bladder thing to go away? I just stopped taking it 3 days ago and still have it. Wondering how long it would take. Now I’m worried it might not be the Eliquis.
I believe it took a week or so for the bladder to settle down. I went off Eliquis again 4 days ago hoping the bladder problem would resolve itself but I still have it. I am staying off Eliquis for at least two weeks and am not too concerned as I have not had an afib episode in more than a year now. I know that I have to be on an anticoagulant for the rest of my life but I need some relief from this pain. My pain seems to be more in the urethra area. Some days are worse than others. I am drinking lots of water with no relief. Let me know how you make out or if you have any helpful hints. So
Yes i am the same boat. It’s urethra pain. Exactly. Feels like it’s sore or irritated and constant urge to use bathroom. I went off eliquis too on Tuesday. So today is day 3 and I have it too. Let me know if it settles down for you please. I’ll let you know same. This is probably the most irritating thing ever.
I just did some research on urethra pain and I found an interesting link. This article suggests that a yeast or candida infection can cause this. I have had a coated tongue which would suggest that I have a candida infection. This thing comes and goes and could be diet related and not necessarily the eliquis. Maybe this is article will address some of your questions also. Here is the link urethralsyndrome.ca/
But you said it subsided after stopping the Eliquis last summer right? I was tested for yeast infection and was negative.
Yes it did stop last summer when I went off it. I was getting a cortisone shot and did not want to be on eliquis at the same time. The pain went away and so I stayed off eliquis for 2 1/2 months. The pain did not come back right away after resuming eliquis but it did come back eventually. I am so confused as to the cause I guess I am grasping at straws at this point. I am obviously looking for a magic bullet. The blog web site that I sent you has several possible solutions. The yeast or candida is just one alleged cause.
Now do you have that constant urge to use with bathroom too? Along with urethra pain. I’m hoping it’s the Eliquis and not something else. It’s unbearable. It irritates me all day long
Do you still have the pain? Let me know if it ever subsides
You still have the bladder thing?
Yes but it is not as bad. How about you.?
Yeah I still have it too. The constant urge is still there. Uhhh this needs to go away
So I still have this annoying thing. Anything that helped you? I’m getting so annoyed
I have had this urethra /bladder pain on and off for several years now. It started after about 3 months on Eliquis . When I am in pain I take 1 teaspoon of pure D- Mannose dissolved in glass of water first thing in the morning. I drink 8 glasses of plain filtered water throughout the day and try to eat healthy by limiting sugar and flour items. I also increase my vitamin D supplement. I think this helps to keep down the infection or whatever it is but it is not a cure. My pain now is mostly while I sleep and it wakes me up. Last night I had just 5 hours of sleep according to the new fitbit watch that was gifted to me for Mother's Day. I do one other thing and that is I use a cream made from coconut oil with a few drops of tea tree oil. It is supposed be good for yeast and fungus infections. It smells terrible and I do not know if it works but I feel better. I still have not gone to my GP to ask for a prescription of Nystatin, but that is next. Good luck on your recovery journey and keep me posted.
Anything new? You still have it? I’m going to the urologist today. Can’t take it anymore
Let my know how you make out at your urologist. I went a few years ago and he was no help. He prescribed a cream but it was useless. He did not seem to be interested in my little problem as his office was filled with male cancer patients etc. I felt like I was wasting his precious time. I am still off the eliquis and feel a little better but not quite recovered yet. Keep me posted.
So went to urologist yesterday and they did a bladder ultrasound. Didn’t find anything. They said it would be irritation and inflammation and hopefully will go away with time. I don’t know if I believe them or not. I’ve had this for a while now. They said in a month if still not better they will go up with a scope.
Well at least you are being pro active. Hopefully you get some relief soon.
Thank you for mentioning Apixaban. Like you, Samdee 123 and others I too have experienced these increasingly intrusive symptoms and lab tests have come back negative. I have been on Apixaban for over a year but it never crossed my mind (until your post) that it might be implicated. You have given me food for thought.
You still have this issue? I do it’s so annoying
Unfortunately, I do still have this issue – but must also let you know that I have not stopped taking Apixaban (therefore, if it is to blame then it is understandable that the issue remains). I am sorry to see that even though you have stopped Eliquis the problem continues because the hope had been that things would consequently improve. I seem to need to go about every hour which makes it awkward when out (constantly looking for toilets) and also embarrassing when with people because I have to go about three times as much as they do and eventually this becomes very obvious and they comment on it. I will be very interested to know what your Urologist advises.
So went to urologist yesterday and they did a bladder ultrasound. Didn’t find anything. They said it would be irritation and inflammation and hopefully will go away with time. I don’t know if I believe them or not. I’ve had this for a while now. They said in a month if still not better they will go up with a scope. Does yours feel irritated too? Constantly or just always having to go?
Predominantly I feel the need to have to go frequently (rather than irritation). As an example – yesterday I was at a dance class which was 90 minutes long and during it I had to go three times. I observed that the rest of the class either never went, or only once. In my search about this have come across something called ‘overactive bladder syndrome’. Not all of it seemed to apply to me but the description did:
‘a condition whereby a person regularly gets a sudden and compelling need or desire to pass urine. This sensation is difficult to put off (defer) and this can happen at any time during the day or night, often without any warning’.
Maybe this is what I have (possibly you also). If you see the Urologist again perhaps you could ask them about it if you thought it might apply to you.
Relieved (!!!) to read this. Been on Apixaban for some time and have a definite lower abdominal discomfort. I thought I had a UTI but negative results. I can hardly walk past a toilet without having to pop in. I'd never have thought of the Apixaban being the cause!!!
Yes exactly. I literally go to the bathroom every hour minimum. Very annoying. I don’t know how to cope with this. It bothers me all day everyday.
I have the same thing since starting on apixiban and bisoprolol 12 weeks ago driving me crazy up every 2 hrs at night so even more tired than meds make me similar to cystitis but pain not burn up gave me 3 days of strong antibiotics but still dust ease it much and back as bad now I've finished them!!
Maybe this is an alternative explanation.
healthline.com/health/ureth...
Marytew in reply to
Thank you - very interesting and helpful
in reply to
PH level /balance of Vagina can be disturbed by meds too simulating feeling of cystitis etc.There are natural remedies to treat this..
Yep me too, after 18 months on Apixaban I was getting increasing bladder trouble and then actual infections every fortnight or so. In fact my whole body felt inflamed and even little cuts or burns were becoming infected and not healing. I think Apixaban really affects the body's natural healing mechanisms. Perhaps this constant inflammation even makes AF worse. I stopped taking Apixaban over 5 weeks ago and have had no AF and my body is healing itself again.
If the body isn't healing itself, you may be short on Vitamin C. It is best taken twice a day, as it doesn't stay in the body for long. One gram a day is considered a good standard dose, so 500mg am and pm is a good regime, more if you are 'ill' in any way, eg if a cold/flu starts. It is very difficult to overdose on vitamin C, so don't be afraid to try it!
I get it with Pradaxa but it comes and goes. I did wonder if it was the salts being passed during an Afib episode but now know it’s the medication. I am seeing the urologist at the end of next month so will raise it then.
samdee123 in reply to
Did you talk to the urologist about this? I’m going today. I still have this issue
I am on Apixaban and had the same feeling especially at night. About three months ago I read a brief piece from a urologist and he used a 1 Gramme tablet of vitamin c once a day which apparently helps to keep the urine slightly acidic and reduces the likelihood of infections. I have used it ever since and it definitely makes a difference. You can buy large packs of vitamin c from Tesco at a reasonable price.
Please be careful with the low cost vit C. It is synthetic and made from chemicals in a factory and can cause kidney stones. I speak from experience and it has happened to other people.
It is better to increase your Vit C foods and if you can afford it, get a 100% natural product, there a variety of these in health food shops and online.
The majority of synthetic vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) is produced using fermented corn syrup which is imported from China and may or may not have been genetically modified. The corn syrup is then treated with solvents such as acetone, sulphuric acid or sodium hydroxide to extract the ascorbic acid. Yuck!
Thanks, good to know
Hello - I still have the pain in the urethra area. I have done more reading on Candida and I think somehow the eliquis may reduce the body's natural defenses to eliminate a candida overgrowth in the body. I am trying the candida diet - no sugar, honey, flour, etc. - just vegies, a little meat, berries, nuts etc. I hope that I don't lose too much weight as I am on the slender side already. I am drinking lots of water also. I will let you know if there is any improvement. How about you? Are you feeling any better yet?
No I still have. I need this to go away. Let me know please
Do you still have the issue?
Hello again samdee123
Yes - I am improving slowly. I changed my diet as I mentioned and I am avoiding flour, sugar and simple carbs and I have increased water intake. I am still off Eliquis for the time being. Hope this continues.
Uhh. I still have it too. Doesn’t seem
To be improving for me. Still off eliquis too. It’s been a week today. Let me know if yours goes away.
Also are you on any other meds? I am not
No other meds. Right now all I take is magnesium, vitamin D, CoQ10 and that's it.
Samdee, I wonder what other medications you are taking. I saw your original post a few weeks ago and just happened upon it again today. I have been taking Eliquis or Xarelto for just over two years. I took bisoprolol 5 mg for a year, which was increased to 10 mg about a year ago. After three or four weeks of bisoprolol 10 mg I had the bladder/urethra symptoms that you describe. My cardiologist okayed going back to 5 mg but my bladder/urethra didn't go back to normal. I also take triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide and it helped a bit to put a two or three hour space between the biso and the triam/hydro. I was sure there was something wrong with my bladder. I saw a urogynecologist --- no help at all (think he didn't listen to me, and I wasn't asked to give a urine sample), and, of course, I was blaming the biso. He just told me to keep on taking my heart medication. Then the problem became worse. I love my little margarita cocktail before dinner, and I started having bladder pain immediately upon taking a sip of margarita. By this time I had made an appointment with a urogynecologist located some miles in the opposite direction to the previous one, and connected with a totally different hospital group. I went to the first appointment with the new uro/gyno and told my story. I was given an appointment for two months later to return for a cystoscope exam of the bladder. So I didn't drink much margarita for the next couple of months. At times I had bladder pain without even a sip of alcohol and thought of asking for an earlier follow-up, but I figured they are probably busy. I had asked my cardiologist to change me to some other medication than bisoprolol but he would not. He said bisoprolol was the only medication that was right for me. Finally he did agree to change me from bisoprolol to nebivolol about five days prior to my next appointment with the second uro/gyno. I had from time to time tried to have my before dinner margarita, and once the bisoprolol was stopped the pain was diminishing and the margarita was becoming more enjoyable. The cystoscope exam showed nothing wrong with my bladder or urethra and I did tell the uro/gyno that the problem seemed to be resolving more and more as the days progressed since I was switched from bisoprolol to nebivolol.
Initially I had thought that nobody was going to believe me that bladder pain occurs immediately upon taking a sip of alcohol, doesn't the liquid first have to find its way through my body. However, I googled a question and found that many people had the same problem, most everyone not having any idea of the cause.
Since all of the above, I am now seeing an electrophysiologist and have had my medication changed again. When I told him that the increase of bisoprolol from 5 mg to 10 mg and back to 5 mg eventually led to bladder pain immediately upon taking a sip of alcohol, his response was that there had to have been something else going on because bisoprolol could not have been the cause. He didn't convince me! I'll never understand why I was okay for a year on bisoprolol 5 mg but being increased to 10 mg started the problem and then going back to 5 mg just never got my body back to where it had been when I was on 5 mg for a year. Just doesn't make sense, but it happened.
I see that someone was recommending vitamin C. Oranges are a good source of vitamin C, more so than other citrus fruits. I eat one or two oranges per day but I don't think that has had any connection with recovering from my bladder problem.
I hope you and the others with the problem are able to find a solution to the problem.
Started on Apixaban 2 weeks ago. Afib tends to give me an urgency to go anyway, but the urgency is more often since starting Apixaban, approximately every 1 to 2 hours. I did start taking Sotalol during a session of AF, just wondering if that will add to the misery.
Hugo40
Samdee, I don't need to go off Eliquis; bisoprolol was causing my bladder problems and all was fine within ten days of stopping bisoprolol. Bisoprolol had been prescribed by my cardiologist but my primary care physician said that's the thing with beta blockers they have different side effects for different people without any known reason. I hope you'll soon find a solution to the problem as I know how upsetting and frustrating it can be.
Have they looked into this
Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic bladder health issue. This appears as infection but it isn’t so all urine tests will be negative . I have had this for 10 years on and off and it feels like you have an infection but you don’t ?
It has been a couple of months. Are you still in pain? Any insights as to the cause?
Hope you are on the mend.
Hey. So I still have it. Not as bad but it’s definitely still there. I don’t know what else to do. Urologist didn’t really know either. What about you?! You still have it? Did you ever go back on the Eliquis?
Hello Samdee
My urethra/bladder pain went away completely. I did go back on Eliquis on July 19 because I had a 2.5 hour AFIB episode early that morning after a severe coughing spell. I had not had an afib episode in over 15 months so I can't explain it other than the cough (from air conditioning?) and maybe because I took .5 mg of a mild sedative that I have never taken before. I know that I am very sensitive to medication. Anyway I went back on the Eliquis- not wanting a stroke. My plan was to stay on Eliquis for at least 2 weeks or maybe a month or longer if possible. I started to have mild issues with my bladder almost right away. I kept waking up at night to go to the bathroom and had very little sleep and I know that it is a matter of time before I get this urethra thing back full tilt. I kept on taking the Eliquis but I stopped yesterday because the pain was lasting pretty much all day and night. I really wish that I could take it. I am so very frustrated! No urethra/ bladder pain now. When I mentioned the bladder pain and to my Cardiologist a few years ago and could Eliquis be the cause he said no. He said that I was just getting older. So no help there. My GP is useless in this matter also. What to do?????
That’s what makes me think it has to be the Eliquis. The thing is though i Haven’t been on it for three months and still have the bladder thing! So that’s what confuses me. Have you tried any other blood thinners instead? I heard people on xarelto have the same issue but not as long as we have had it. Honestly I don’t know what else to do. I’ve kind of just convinced myself I’ll have it forever. I hope that’s not the case though. What is your plan now?
I was on Xarelto first but I got nose bleeds and was a little dizzy. I did not stay on it long and was switched to Eliquis. I am thinking of Warafin if I have to. I will give Eliquis another go in a few months and see how it goes. No pain right now.
Hi I’m sorry to bother you but I saw your post from 3 years ago relating to Apixiban and urine problems e.g constant need to go and urethra pain, I’ve been taking Eliquis since September of last year and from early November I have been having ongoing problems which although they feel like a UTI type pain infection has always been ruled out by GP and two doses of antibiotics haven’t helped at all. I know this post is from a long time ago so I was really hoping to know if you have came off the medication since and if your problems stopped after this? Thanks so much
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