Edoxaban and Omega 3

[Sixtychick]

I am considering going onto Edoxaban, as that is the drug our Drs have been told to prescribe as an anti coagulant. I am 68 and I have had 3 episodes of atrial fibrillation over the last 6 years. I am very nervous about taking it and have been thinking about it for a while now, I was going to wait and then take it if it got more frequent, but have decided that perhaps I ought to take it now, because if I got Covid 19, it might cause an AF episode and I might not get seen very quickly at A and E, if at all and then I could suffer a stroke.I've been told I have to go to A and E when it happens and all 3 times I've been there, I've been seen and monitored quite quickly.I am only 56Kgs in weight and so it says I will have to take the lower dose of 30mgs a day, I take a few supplements : Multi vits, COQ10, magnesium, pro -biotics and Omega 3 - 1000mgs. I have read that you shouldn't take omega 3 with anti -coagulants, but the omega 3 helps keep my joints supple and I don't want to stop it. Can anyone tell me if they are on 30mgs of Edoxaban and take omega 3 and what strength you take, also can you tell me how you get on with taking Edoxaban . Is anyone taking it, who only has had a few episodes far apart like me. Still not sure whether to take it or not, but am so worried about having an episode while this Covid virus is circulating and not being able to be seen in hospital. Dr says if the consultant suggests I take it, then he has to agree but it is my decision whether or not I do. I'm frightened of getting a brain bleed, as that is what killed my Dad, at 69, when he was on Warfarin. I am 69 in July.!!! Would appreciate your views and experiences of this drug,please.

[CDreamer]

I can understand your nervousness about starting on an anticoagulant, I think many of us have had similar fears and thoughts, especially when we have had a relative who suffered a catastrophic bleed on the brain. All I would say is there is no way of knowing whether or not that would have happened anyway, the Wafarin may have made the bleed worse but may not have been the cause - but of course I am not medically trained and one never really knows.

I now think of my anticoagulant as my friend - since I had a TIA after ablation and no AF for some months. I have not noticed any side effects and no difference to small bleeds or bruising. I take the full dose of Apixaban but as far as Fish Oils are concerned, I think the question applies to anyone on anticoagulants. The official line is talk to your pharmacist. Personally I take high doses of Omega 3 oils in my food and as a Fish Oil supplement and feel comfortable doing so. I also take, on GP advice, 1mg of Glucosamine for mild arthritis which works well and I notice an improvement with less inflammation and swelling of joints.

Wafarin and the modern anticoagulants DOACs= Direct Oral Anti-Coagulants work very differently from Wafarin and if you research the clinical studies you will find they have a much lower risk profile for brain bleeds. These days the risks for bleeds are assessed and balanced against the risk of blood clots - associated with any AF episode from blood clots forming in the heart and then being thrown off during an AF episode and which can happen up to a month after the event and travelling to the brain (or other organs) with just as devastating results as stroke from a brain bleed.

Obviously it is your choice what you do or not but I think you will find the majority of the posters on this forum would vote for taking anticoagulants and few report side effects from taking them.

Everyone takes a different view as regards visiting A&E, and different A&E departments seem to treat people very differently. Personally I didn’t go unless I had to and symptoms such as chest pain, fainting, very high heart rate for more than 24 hours and feeling very unwell. You must do as your doctors advise.

Very best wishes CD

[Sixtychick in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for your reply.Makes sense. I will probably take it now. Drs have to prescribe Edoxaban here in Leicestershire, apparently. At least that only has to he taken once a day.

[CDreamer in reply to Sixtychick]

It’s a popular choice - it wasn’t available when I was first prescribed A/Cs and I am happy on it and therefore don’t like fixing what ain’t broken! Stay well.

[Sixtychick in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks and you too.

[cassie46]

CD has covered your question well. I am on Rivaroxaban and I take a Omega oil supplement, emu oil capsules, I find them much better than the fish omega oil capsules. There has been quite a lot of debate on taking omega oil some are for and some are against, there are quite a few old posts regarding this. I decided to carry on taking them because I have arthritis and they help to keep the stiffness and pain at bay. I have been taking the omega oil for 18 years and have been on Rivaroxaban for 6 years. Keep well.

Cassie

[Sixtychick in reply to cassie46]

Thanks. Perhaps halving the dose of omega 3 to 500gms might be ok. Perhaps ask the chemist. I had a blood test a few weeks back to go on edoxaban including a clotting test and Dr said they were ok, forgot to ask about the omega 3. Hope you manage to avoid this nasty virus.

[Peileen]

Hi Sixtychick I was started on Edoxeban 30mg six weeks ago for paroxysmal Afib. I have stopped Aspirin, fish oil, St Johns Wort, glucosamine chondroitin and garlic tablets. These all work on blood thinning. I looked up each one for the reactions with Edoxeban. In fact before taking Edoxeban I had to stop all these for two weeks before an op because of their blood thinning. I had been happy to take them to help with artritis and St Johns Wort for getting through winter darkness instead of Edoxeban but they work on blood on the platelets and not as anticoagulant which is better for preventing clots that may form in the heart. I did a lot of research before biting the Edoxaban bullet. I sent for an alert bracelet to wear and carry these health alert cards. I wear gloves for gardening and disposable gloves when chopping and paring. Also, getting only 30mg means I will keep my weight below 60kg. I'm 58kg. I was also put on Avortastatin and CoQ10 is beneficial. So is LCarnitine. Good luck!

[Sixtychick in reply to Peileen]

Thanks. From the answers so far, it’s split. Perhaps I could find some more information to make my decision. In the end it’s my decision I suppose, same as taking anti coagulants. Unfortunately no-one can give you a clear yes or no, can they.

Keep well.

[secondtry]

I am guessing from what you have said you are pretty active and don't spend hours on the sofa watching Box sets. You also are taking some good supplements and no doubt drinking lots of water thus minimising your risks. No doubt you have made the right choices on other lifestyle issues also, so firstly you are in a good place!

You have only had 1 episode every two years and survived so far so the risk is not high. Also when they do random tests in the street many people have AF and don't realise and they are perfectly healthy; if the risk was high I would have expected Big Pharma to have pressured doctors into offering annual tests to all.

If you are unlucky enough to get Covid 19 & it causes AF the beauty with DOACs is that you can start there and then - I have similar circumstances as you at 66 with the same AF record and reluctant to go on anticoags and with a CHADS score of 1 my cardiologist gave me Edoxaban as a PIP for when I am ready to start perhaps you should request the same so you are ready and have peace of mind. Hopefully in a month or two hospitals will be better prepared and then you could start Edoxaban in case you had any issues with it.

The bottom line is that this is a personal choice and nobody will ever know whether it is the right one as any future issues cannot be attributed with any certainty to your decision. Personally, I review this annually and because I have Factor V Leiden which has caused a leg blood clot 20 years ago, I have said to my cardiologist I will probably start taking anticoags when I am 67. Good luck whatever you do!

[Sixtychick in reply to secondtry]

Thanks. My CHADS score is 2, because I am female and over 65. If I was a man, it would only be 1. Hopefully if there was any problems caused by this drug, you would get seen, but it’s not going to be easy seeing a GP now. I was wondering if you could start taking an anti coagulant if you get an AFib attack not sure about that.

Hope you keep well.

[secondtry in reply to Sixtychick]

As you know we can only provide personal rather than medical opinions but I would take one if you have an AF episode for more than 3 or 4 hours and my cardiologist didn't give any caveats to me on that situation.

[Sixtychick in reply to secondtry]

Thanks. Might be worth asking my GP , which isn’t easy to do at the moment.

[Auriculaire]

I think fish oils up to the amount you are taking are probably ok. But maybe not in higher doses. I read this somewhere a while ago but cannot remember where. I take the same amount and have done for about 30years. I also eat a small amount of oily fish most days. I have been on Apixaban for about a year after a TIA (six months after the last afib attack and I was taking a low dose of nattokinase).

[Sixtychick in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks. My husband takes 500mgs of omega 3, so he’s swapped for my 1000mgs. I should think with the lower dose edoxaban I’ll be taking, 500gms of omega 3 might be ok. Keep well.

[Jpan6]

I too am coming up to 69 very soon. I am on Edoxaban, but 60mg, and take 1,000mg Omega 3 but it is not from fish oil but algae, so a veg.version.

I actually had open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair, plus an atrial clip and a cryomaze ablation, the latter to help minimise/prevent the atrial fibrillation, but I too am concerned re Covid-19, if I got it, as it could cause inflammation around my heart.

I was also very concerned about taking a blood thinner, especially as the surgeon said I only needed to take it for 3 months after the surgery, whereas the consultant said I should take it for life...For myself, in terms of side-effects, I think it might have caused some excess itching, which I believe is one of the possible common side-effects. I've always bruised easily and that might have worsened slightly. Personally I'm always considering whether to continue with it, for various reasons, but I hope you can come to a resolution that, as far as possible, you're comfortable with.

[Sixtychick in reply to Jpan6]

Thanks. I have ordered the edoxaban and am going to take 500mgs of omega 3, instead of 1000mgs. I am finding shopping more stressful than Covid 19 at the moment. Trying to avoid busy times, but when you go at night, there’s hardly anything there. Trying to get things from shop round the corner, but more and more people are going there, as well, so I expect it’ll be just as bad there soon. Hope you avoid the virus.

[Jpan6 in reply to Sixtychick]

Thank you. Yes, I haven't got access to a car, have sciatica and nearest large shops some distance away. I was getting a bus late aft so fewer people on it and also fewer people in supermarkets, but empty shelves more now and I'm reluctant to catch buses, though they may be reduced soon. Best wishes to you.

[Sixtychick in reply to Jpan6]

Sorry to hear that. Must be difficult without a car. Hope you get help from friends or family. Keep well and try not to worry.