ELIQUIS. I’m reluctant! Help!

[Janith]

Eliquis aka Aixabam ... l refused this medication and opted for Dr. Sinatra’s afib protocol. (Fish oil, etc, including a high dose of aspirin.) However, l had a five hour afib attack yesterday and he is almost INSISTING that l take an anti-coagulation medicine. After great research, l decided upon Eliquis. Pros? Cons? I am supposed to start this evening. I still feel reluctant?? HELP!

[perkman]

Eliquis has proven to be an effective and safe anticoagulant. I have been on it for months at a time in between ablations. It greatly reduces the chances of a stroke.

[Janith in reply to perkman]

Thank you! I just took my first pill! So far l feel okay. Thank you.

[perkman in reply to Janith]

You'll be fine.

[Janith in reply to perkman]

Thank you! But l read that one cannot stop taking it once started?

[perkman in reply to Janith]

Not true.

You stop it when or if ablation stops afib when risk of stroke is greatly reduced. Eliquis is stopped when risk of bleeding is greater than stroke risk.

I just stopped eliquis. I had ablation almost 3 months ago and have had no afib in that time so EP took me off eliquis.

I am now taking baby aspirin only once daily.

Best Wishes

[wilsond in reply to perkman]

Why are you on anti platelet medication? Curious,as not used in UK for AF. Also Apixaban is recommended to be continued for most AF club members,even after successful ablation s..

[perkman in reply to wilsond]

My EP stated based on Chadsvasc score no need for Eliquis tol I turn 65

[Aprilbday]

Dr. Google is wonderful at confusing its patients.

[CDreamer]

Why are you so against it but are OK with aspirin - an anti-platelet which is is ineffectual at preventing AF induced stroke?

What are your concerns about it? I suggest you do a lot more research and read some of the recent threads about this concern as I although I also started out with a similar mindset, I can assure you that after reading the evidence - I am now far more worried about stroke risk when not taking my Apixaban (Eliquis).

I have been taking it now for about 3-4 years and absolutely no problems.

Best wishes CD

[wilsond]

I will be on this for life,and glad to be too! A recent study by Birmingham University hospital concluded that there was strong evidence that anti coagulation should be continued for life for AF club members even after successful ablation. This is because AF can return at any time and you would not be protected. AF can produce a clot in 20 minutes .....

I worry far more about stroke than possible bleeds. As Bob has said before..you can't undo a stroke..

Make sure you take it regularly...best wishes xx

[Bagrat]

I swapped from warfarin 18 months ago and am hardly aware I take it. As a retired nurse I can assure you that you want to reduce the risk of stroke from AF. Many people here choose to continue on anticoagulants after ablation .

Regarding not stopping it, if there is a medical reason like surgery you may need to stop for a few days but because of it's short half life, in real terms your time without proper cover is shorter than with warfarin I feel. Back to full efficacy quickly too.

[Hidden]

I posted recently on this as I’m the polar opposite to you, having fought to be put on it as I developed AF 8 months before my 65th birthday. ( Being 65+ puts you into the category for anticoagulation if you are female, with no other risk factors i.e score 1 for age, 1 for gender). I am much more afraid of a catastrophic stroke.

Pat x

[Finvola]

I’ve been taking Apixaban for nearly six years without problems and am grateful to be doing so. An AF stroke is the worst outcome I can think of from having AF.

It always surprises me that people resist taking an anticoagulant which has been scientifically produced and tested and risk their health and wellbeing on various ‘alternatives’ - which, if they are to be effective at all - must do exactly the same job as the anticoagulant. The truth is that they don’t.

[Buffafly]

The effects of Eliquis last for 12 hours. The effects of Aspirin take two weeks to wear off - info from my dentist, also likely to cause GI bleed and can cause a anaphylactic shock in some people.

[Janith]

Thank you all! I love you for your tlc! Do any of you have one cocktail when on Eliquis? I assure you that l will continue taking it. This morning I will take my second dose. Love ❤️ you.

[djmnet in reply to Janith]

No problems with eliquis after several years, and yes, I have a cocktail or two in the evening, many hours after my morning dose.

[Janith]

I just took my second pill ... l feel very nauseous. My stomach is so upset. Yuck.

[Maisiemay13 in reply to Janith]

Hi I have been taking Apixaban since June it made me feel a little odd for a couple of weeks until my body got used it,I am now fine on it and happy that I am covered when in AF

[Janith in reply to Maisiemay13]

I know! I actually started crying l feel so weird. I am usually so energetic and feeling wonderful ... l will give it more time. Thank you so much!

[10gingercats]

Whatever you take is up to you and your medical advisors but do not risk' taking nothing' and risking a stroke.

[Janith]

I went out for a long walk and l am feeling much better ... far from totally normal, but better! I think that it will be okay. Thanks again.

[Janith]

Essentially that’s what my cardiologist said ... he said that l have been lucky thus far ...

[Slattery]

Janitor, I know how you feel, I was very worried when I started taking Eliquis, especially after reading possible side effects! It is now 7 months later, no side effects, I just had an Ablation and have never felt better. You will be fine.

[Janith]

Super!! Congratulations on your Ablation … I'm too much of an emotional mess to have one of those as of yet … It seems that the Eliquis simply upsets my tum … it comes and goes and I feel a bit tired … but I'm sure that it will wear off. Thank you!

[Janith]

Were you guys tired at first ... omg, l feel awful ... tired, no motivation ...

[Aus19]

I had a stroke last year, when aged 51 and otherwise healthy. My atrial fibrillation was only discovered after my stroke and I have been on Apixaban (eliquis) ever since. No side effects that I have noticed. I'm glad to be taking it. Strokes come out of the blue, even to healthy people. Drugs like Apixaban minimise the risk.

[Janith in reply to Aus19]

Thank you.

[Gmc54]

Its worth remembering that if, in the longer term, you are still having problems with this anticoagulant there are others to try which might suit you better

[Deacon-L]

Hi Janith,

I was reluctant to go on a daily anti-coagulant medication and was put on I was put on to Edoxaban for PAF and it really didn't agree with me as I had side effects (felt continuously exhausted).

The EP suggested that I change to Apixaban/Eliquis which I did 3 months ago and have had no side effects and have no issues with it. He helpfully explained to me that there are subtle differences in the pills and some people do better on Edoxaban and others on Apixaban. So, if you have side effects that continue for 2 or 3 weeks, consider a change and discuss with your doctor.

I am now just over 65 and tried to resist going on daily medication but a very comforting bit of advice the specialist had was that once you are on a regular daily dose, you are particularly well protected from a stroke .... "even if you had a PAF episode when you are far from a hospital - in the middle of the Australian outback !"

I found that very re-assuring advice and am glad to have stuck with the medication... and so is my wife who naturally gets quite worried is we are on holiday somewhere very remote and I am hours into an episode of PAF.

[Janith]

Thank you so much ... your reply is so comforting ...this is day two and l am feeling a little better. I read your comment to my husband and he too thought that it was very nice.

[Janith]

Hi ... l read today that unless you weigh 135 lbs or more ask your doctor if taking it is okay. I weigh 128 lbs sometimes less ... l do feel a little strange, l must admit. I wonder if he will lower the dose? I am taking 5mg 8am and 5mg 8pm. Anyone know? Thanks! (I’m sure that it takes a few days to adapt?)

[Jjda in reply to Janith]

I've been on Eliquis since my ablation a year ago. I am female,68, and have HPB history, so my Score is a3, which is an automatic sentence. My understanding is that the lower dose is only used in patients over age 70 who also weigh less than around 130 pounds. I do not like taking Eliquis, but I have had no side effects. You asked about cocktails, and the standard answer is to limit to one or none, and that is true whether you take Eliquis or not. I have had a few glasses of wine periodically, and so far I have had no problems, but I'm not recommending it.

[Flimmeri]

Hi Janith! I would say keep on taking it. I have had AF for 20 plus years and been on aspirin and warfarin and then didn’t like the sounds of side effects tried some “natural” blood thinners. Well, I had a mild stroke!! It scared the hell out of me, horrible feeling, could not talk for a few minutes, felt like an alien. Lucky for me it passed and didn’t leave any damage. After that my cardiologist asked me if this was enough of the warning that I start Eliquis?

Been on it now for three to four years, same doze as you and have no issues with it, at least nothing overly bothersome. So I feel I have to accept it, that mild stroke was not fun! Good luck to you and I hope your body will accept it soon.

[Janith]

Thank you dearest! I’m sure that all will be fine. I will not stop taking it!

[Janith]

Hi all ... l am feeling so much better ... my tum is growling growling growling! Is that a side effect? ... otherwise, all is well ... thank you all so very much for the input ... l would have stopped taking it if not for you!

[Janith]

Hi ... my body seems to be adapting beautifully ... sleeping 7-8 straight hours ... no getting up in the middle of the night to go potty! Weird. Growling upset tum gone. A little lower back pain but that is par for the course as l exercise daily. So far so good! I will keep you posted if you like!!

[madametobacco49]

I could have written this--lol totally me--MmeT