HOW MANY MEMBERS HERE TAKE COQ10 WIT... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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HOW MANY MEMBERS HERE TAKE COQ10 WITH APIXABAN DAILY APPROVED BY THEIR DOCTOR OR NOT.

77 Replies

For years I have taken 200-300 mg of CoQ10 . Since I was diagnosed with AFIB about 8 months ago I have been taking 100 mg daily. The doctors and the pharmacist don't seem to really know for sure if it's OK. My research show not recommended with Warfarin as it may affect the thinning of the blood.

Dr. Gupta told that in the UK it is not a common supplement so he is not sure what to say.

Any one wish to comment? Thank you.

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77 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

I have been taking Co Q10 for about twenty years and on warfarain for 16 with no known problems. Neither Warfarin nor any DOACs thin blood. They slow down the clotting process is all. There are plenty of things which can affect INR levels (clotting times) for those taking warfarin such as antibiotics and some other drugs but my INR has been very stable for many years regardless of what I take with one or two exceptions.

in reply to BobD

Thank you Bob. I have also taken CoQ10 for decades. I'm currently taking only 100 mg and want to go up 100 more. Sad how our doctors know so little about supplements.

CoQ10 is standard issue in Germany and Japan for heart issues.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to

I take 200mg daily.

in reply to BobD

Thanks Bob, I too will go to 200 mg. Hope it will help boost up the zero energy feeling I have. With this Covid 19 I think we all lack in meeting with doctors etc. At least I do.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to

Recommendation is to start with a lower dose and gradually work up to 200mg. I find 120 works for me.

Florence-Nightingale profile image
Florence-Nightingale in reply to

Hi Bob what is CoQ10? I am not familiar with it.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

I take 150mg CoQ10 daily and I am on Xarelto. I have had no dramas.

in reply to Kaz747

Thank you for your input.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to Kaz747

Yes I'm the same as you - was pres

cribed by my doctor. I live in South Africa

in reply to pusillanimous

Thanks for your input.

I take 100 mg daily and I’m on Pradaxa

Thank you for your kind input.

Wishing you well.

opal11uk profile image
opal11uk

What is CoQ10 please......I have had P/A/F for 20 years and have been unaware of this or its benefits.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to opal11uk

heartmdinstitute.com/diet-n...

It helps Mitrochondria produce energy. I certainly notice the difference if I don’t take it.

As we age we produce much less CoQ10. If you are on statins you are almost always advised to take CoQ10 as statins also reduce the body’s natural ability to make Ubiquinol, the active agent.

opal11uk profile image
opal11uk in reply to CDreamer

Thank you for your reply, I had never heard of Mitrochrondia and yes, I was prescribed statins but do not take them from personal choice but I am on Predaxa. Will now do some research. Thanks again

in reply to CDreamer

Exactly !

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply to CDreamer

My mitochondria were damaged when I got glandular fever and then ME (chronic fatigue) about 37 years ago and so I need anything which helps them. Have taken Ubiquinol for years. I don’t think it is mainstream yet but it probably will be in a few years time. Certainly my GP practice never suggests anything other than big pharma although the head of the practice says that GPs by and large are very conservative and it takes years for them to take ‘new’ things such as ‘alternative’ supplements on board. He is happy for me to take my supplements and takes an interest.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to GrannyE

It’s nothing new & I know many people who’ve been using it for 30 years so I think it is mainstream. Doctors do not recommend anything they have little or no evidence of efficacy of active ingredient plus they have no nutritional training - until recently. I was recommended by both EP & GP to take CoQ10 in 2013.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I take 100-120grms daily, have done since 2013 when it was suggested by my EP.

in reply to CDreamer

Thank you for your input.

wilsond profile image
wilsond

No one ' medical' has ever mentioned it to me. I have been on statins for 7 years,initially on 80 mg a day of Atorvastatin as I had an extremely high cholesterol reading..now 40 and hoping to reduce further.

Maddening to read that others are strongly advised to take Q10 as standard!!

Will speak to GP and check what dose I could take asap.

Always blamed my tiredness and lack of energy on bisoprolol,even at 1.25 mg..hmmm

Interesting.....

! Thanks

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply to wilsond

The drug companies knew from the off that statins would cause a diminution of Co Q 10 production as it is made on the same metabolic pathway in the liver as cholesterol. Merck took out a patent to include Q10 with their first statin but none of the other companies were including it and it would make their product more expensive so it was dropped. It is an absolute disgrace that many doctors have never heard of the necessity for this supplement for statin takers. It shows that they have no idea how statins actually work in reducing cholesterol - by interfering in a crucial metabolic pathway. The lack of pharmacological training for doctors is part of the problem of iatrogenic disease and needs to be seriously addressed.

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply to Auriculaire

Completely agree with you.

in reply to wilsond

In Germany and especially Japan it is a MUST if you have various heart issues. I have been taking it for 30 years when most Western Docs had hardly heard about it.

In fact when I left the hospital I asked if I can take CoQ10 and the Internist said "WHAT !"

He wasn't sure what to say at all.

Dr Gupta who many of you know online for his video from the UK told me it is not used much (in the UK) so he couldn't give me any advice.

Silvasava profile image
Silvasava

I've been taking CoQ10 for about 20 years albeit a low dose - 70/100 compared to others. After a stroke at Christmas I have been prescribed statins and apixaban. I have kept Drs informed and no one has suggested I stop.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply to Silvasava

Statins have very little benefit for stroke patients. The clinical trials show this.

.

Silvasava profile image
Silvasava in reply to Auriculaire

I think I was put on a statin as 'standard procedure' even though my cholesterol level was not an issue. I am also on 10mg of Bisoprolol.

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply to Silvasava

Have you gone on the needed to treat website to look it up? It should tell you how many people you need to give a statin to in order for 1 to have a beneficial effect. Always better to be informed

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply to Silvasava

A standard procedure to make money for Pharma.

Heartfelt46 profile image
Heartfelt46

Hi, I am taking Apixaban, statins, and Diltiazem and after reading about CQ10 I also decided to give it a go. I buy my cod liver oil, glucosamine etc from Healthspan, who knows what difference it makes to our health but if it works for you, go for it I say. If we waited for doctors to suggest taking supplements which might work with drugs, we might well be waiting for a long time! I feel pretty good on my cocktail.

in reply to Heartfelt46

Well said. Don't wait for doctors to suggest supplements.

(Not intended as medical advice)

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I am on warfarin, and I take CoQ10, Omega3, and Vitamin K2. All affect the anticoagulant properties of warfarin, but if they are taken as regularly as warfarin, I can't see what difference it makes, but I am willing to be corrected! I know that my dose of warfarin is slightly lower, that's all. Key is not ever missing regular supplements which could cause a drop in my INR.

Janey1955 profile image
Janey1955 in reply to irene75359

Does the coQ10 make any difference to the AF ?

Jane

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply to Janey1955

The honest answer is I don't know for sure, I have been taking supplements for so long, long before AF, I think the only way to check their benefits would be to stop everything. The perceived wisdom is that if we have a balanced diet supplements are unnecessary, but I am a bit belt-and-braces when it comes to my health. But I don't just buy anything, I have checked everything I take rigorously.

Janey1955 profile image
Janey1955 in reply to irene75359

I have often toyed with trying to. See if it lessens the frequency of attacks

Jane

in reply to Janey1955

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

In one Chinese study, people with heart failure who took CoQ10 along with their regular meds had fewer episodes of AFib after 12 months. There's also science that suggests taking CoQ10 may help people with heart failure feel better. It may also help lower high blood pressure.Oct 8, 2019

You can find out more with Google.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/668...

5195 profile image
5195

Everything I have read about CoQ10 is that it’s poorly absorbed compared to Ubiquinol which is more readily taken up by the body? Typically Ubiquinol is far more expensive than CoQ10!!

in reply to 5195

Very True

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to 5195

I tried Ubiquinol & found it didn’t suit me at all so went back to CoQ10.

in reply to CDreamer

I have always stuck with CoQ10

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn in reply to CDreamer

I'm confused. My liquid Ubiquinol claims to BE CoQ10. I have found it to be far more effective against recurring afib than the capsule form so take 400 mg daily faithfully. Expensive, yes, but I stock up when it goes on sale at COSTCO.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to teach2learn

Ubiquinol is the active agent in CoQ10 so it is a purified form, that’s why it is more expensive. Sometimes when we extract agents to concentrate we lose something along the way which is I think why I prefer CoQ10 rather than Ubiquinol.

Whatever works for you.

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn in reply to CDreamer

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

PlanetaryKim profile image
PlanetaryKim in reply to teach2learn

I see you are in US, teach2learn. I am in Canada. And in North America, both Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol are sold and labeled as CoQ10. In UK & Europe (it appears from this thread), Ubiquinone is sold and labeled as CoQ10 and Unbiquinol is sold and labeled as Ubiquinol. When I am in the store in Canada, I have to look very closely to make sure I grab the CoQ10 that says Ubiquinol in smaller letters, and not the one right next to it that say Ubiquinone in small letters. Ubiquinol is the form we want after age 40. Ubiquinone has to be converted by body to Ubiquinol... and as we age, our ability to do that conversion decreases. So by gettign it in the already active (converted) form, we solve that. But it is more expensive. I take 100 mg daily of Ubiquinol.

SamanthaJane123 profile image
SamanthaJane123 in reply to PlanetaryKim

Very interesting. My ND recently recommended CoQ10 SAP 100 mg. On the bottle it says ubiquinone. I'm wondering why he didn't recommend ubiquinol. I will ask at my next appt.

Polski profile image
Polski

Dr Stephen T Sinatra, in his book 'The Sinatra Solution - Metabolic Cardiology' recommends taking a multivitamin/mineral, CoQ10, L-carnitine, D-ribose, magnesium and fish oil for Atrial Fibrillation, though he doesn't consider how these might fit with taking anticoagulants.

in reply to Polski

Thank you. I would love to take the fish oil but based on my contacts and whatever I could find in research it is a contraindication as it is too much of a thinner.

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn in reply to

CoQ10 is not fish oil. None of my doctors, including the one who did my ablation have any problem with it and Eliquis together. And for me it works! 30-40 mg liquid daily

in reply to teach2learn

Thank you. Yes, I'm well aware CoQ10 is not Fish oil. My research and doctors suggest NO fish oil with Eliquis same as Vitamin E

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to Polski

In the link I posted above he suggests you lower your dose of anticoagulant & stay with the Omega3. I don’t know however if that applies only to Wafarin. I take Apixaban & so far as I know, there are no interactions.

My Nutritionist suggested both CoQ10 with Fish Oil & checked it out with a doctor who said it should be fine. Aspirin or antiplatelet may be a different story.

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply to Polski

Yup. I too have read that book and take all that lot. Esp as the CoQ10 and D-ribose is good for the mitochondria.

I sometimes feel I must rattle.

WallMatt profile image
WallMatt

I've taken 200 mg as well as Elliquis for about a year now and seems helpful...

in reply to WallMatt

Thank you.

Hilly22 profile image
Hilly22

For the past 2/3 months I’ve been taking D3, K2, Magnesium Taurate, and a long-acting high-dose vitamin C tablet. I’ve just ordered some Ubiquinol and have some apple-cider vinegar tablets I haven’t started taking yet. And that’s on top of my 4 prescription drugs!

There must be a gap in the market for a company to tailor-make our supplement choices ... I feel as if I’m rattling with pills 💊 ☹️

in reply to Hilly22

Apple Cider is supposed to be a no no ! I used to take it daily but no more.

I can't say one way or another other than to say it affects blood thinning meds, SO THEY SAY.

Hilly22 profile image
Hilly22 in reply to

Thank you Mrhermyl, I’ve been pondering over taking them as I’ve heard mixed reports, especially regarding the tablet form. I originally ordered them because I take a PPI and had heard that they can speed up digestion. I’ll definitely check out what you say about their effect on anticoagulants 😊

djmnet profile image
djmnet

My EP recommended 200 mg of COQ10 (100 mg twice a day).

Good for you. Most doctors don't even mention it.

Do you find it helpful?

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn

I take Eliquis, not Warfarin, and mentioned to my doctor that I felt sure the 400 mg dose of CoQ10 daily is the reason the returning episodes of afib had backed off. He didn't comment one way or the other but also didn't prohibit its use. I still feel certain the CoQ10 is definitely helping.

in reply to teach2learn

400mg is a fair dose. I'm now taking 200mg. I used to take 400mg before AFIB.

What is it please- the CoQ10? And does it prevent AF episodes? I have always had a healthy diet and was fit, healthy and active until a bout of shingles and then diagnosis of Paroxysmal AF, which has worsened my quality of life over the last few years.

in reply to

Coq10 is highly recommended for many heart issues, and often prescribed in Germany and Japan. It is a powerful antioxidant that the body produces, but as we get older it gradually drops off dramatically. I have been taking it for decades. Does it reduce AFIB, I don't think anyone really knows. Do ask your doctor. Then again many western doctors just don't know much about supplements. It seems that some will say go ahead and take it while others haven't got a clue what to answer you. I know that here in Toronto several doctors gave me opposite opinions. I take 100 mg daily and now increased it to 200mg daily.

Please read the rest of the comments and check this out;

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

in reply to

Thank you- I'll take a look- no point asking GP sadly

in reply to

I've started taking 1 capsule a day and it says you can take up to 6 which would provide 180mg- I intend to increase the dose gradually and see how it goes!

in reply to

Sorry, I'm not clear. My capsules are 100mg each !

teach2learn profile image
teach2learn in reply to

I can't claim efficacy for anyone else, but after full-time afib, then an ablation that was 100% successful for 18 months, returning paroxysmal afib followed by a second successful ablation, about three years later as I again began getting occasional bouts of afib, I decided to try liquid CoQ10. I had been taking capsules already, to no effect. 200 mg seemed to help a bit, but when I began taking 400 mg daily, consistently, the afib disappeared almost entirely (I still occasionally wake up to a steady flutter that stops almost immediately with a shift of position). It's expensive, but lots less than another ablation!

in reply to teach2learn

Thank you.

in reply to teach2learn

Thank you for that info.

vagueinpurple profile image
vagueinpurple

I have taken CoQ10 for 30 years. Here in Australia it was not well known but an 'alternative' doctor recommended it. I have extremely high cholesterol levels...familial. Pfizer knew of the medication caused reduction of CoQ and referred to it decades ago in their screed about their statins.

I now take 300mg. I developed afib 10 years ago controlled by beta blocker for some years but now on flec also .I was put on xarelto a year ago and stopped xarelto a few months later after developing noticeable hair loss.

I take cider vinegar most days and personally believe it to cause bloodthinning if you take too much...too much can cause nosebleeds as my grandfather discovered when he took 3 tablespoons a day...( My family have always tried new things...lol)

I have actually had a couple of chemists ask me if I was on CoQ10 in the last 3 years, so knowledge is creeping ... but no doctor has ever advised it.

in reply to vagueinpurple

Thank you for the very interesting input.

in reply to vagueinpurple

I wondered what was behind my increased hair loss, though I know my hair deteriorated with the menopause but had wondered if the drugs might be behind it- much the same on edoxaban as on apixaban and only take half the dose as I am 76 and just weigh a little over the 60 kgs cut off point for the drugs and the doctor agreed as I didn't like all the bruising I experience otherwise! I'll increase the dosage of CoQ10 and see if things improve- thanks for the info.

Tojo2020 profile image
Tojo2020

Yup me too

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE

I too have taken CoQ10 for years and am on Apixaban.

Sally_Scott profile image
Sally_Scott

I find this a very interesting post and replies. I started taking co Q10 100 mg daily about 15 years ago.

3 years ago I had my first attack of Afib. I had a few months later a cardioversion which lasted 4 months vi next had an ablation but unfortunately during the procedure I had a stroke. It didn’t cure my afib. Luckily I’m not too badly effected after the stroke. After that I had other cardioversion which lasted 7 months. The next procedure was a TOE cardioversion which has done the trick so far. Been afib free for 12 months. I had no idea that Q10 helped with heart probs. Do you think I should up the dose to 200mg?

in reply to Sally_Scott

Sally, I'm glad you are feeling better.

In all honestly I don't know what to say to you. I just went from 100mg to 200mg on my own as the doctors I know don't seem to know too much about it.

Have you asked your doctors?

I see one lady here is taking 400 mg and claims to feel much better with this over the 200mg she was taking.

halexius profile image
halexius

Is there a scientific proof that co Q10 is beneficial?

Number one choice in Japan and Germany. They are not fools.

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