Edoxaban - side effects

[Wightbaby]

During lockdown i was changed from Warfarin to Edoxaban as my surgery wanted to cut out as many INR's as possible. It seemed to be OK, but I am now suffering from very random itchy skin. Anything from a slight tickle to a crawling feeling.

I am a member of another group on Facebook and a couple of members have also reported this problem and suggested it is one of the downside of the "bans" range.

Anyone else have this problem? I have had a very stressful time lately, so am trying to eliminate the cause! No chance to see a GP at present!

[CDreamer]

Hi Wightbaby - how you doing?

Really difficult to say without trial and error and I’m NOT suggesting you experiment! I’m on Apixaban and happy on it and never had a problem. I refused to take Warfarin for various reasons, including the need to have INR testing so I think it a very sensible precaution for surgeries to reduce INR clinics, however, I do understand it isn’t going to suit everyone.

You might put Edoxaban in the search box and see if anyone else has already posted?

I’ve seen a few people report problems with Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban (I had gastric problems with Dabigatran) but never seen anyone post about Edoxaban but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I’d be interested to see if anyone replies.

Best wishes

[Wightbaby in reply to CDreamer]

Hi I am OK thank you!

I have posted a reply to Tako2009 below, that gives a different slant on the problem!

I didn't mind changing as I found Warfarin a bit of a hassle, diet wise......but the fact no monitors or checks were done before or after changing has bothers me a bit!!

[Tako2009]

Well that’s interesting!! I hadn’t made a connection with Endoxaban- which I also take - but have been experiencing itchy skin at random times, mostly on my arms. I just put it down to dry and sensitive skin but it does seem to flare up at odd times especially evenings which is when I take Endoxaban. After the problems I had with Rivaroxaban it is a small (but annoying!) side effect I can live with if that is the cause.

I’ll be interested to know if anyone else has this side effect if nothing else I will know it isn’t down to a skin allergy!!

Liz

[Wightbaby in reply to Tako2009]

Well I had an interesting and long conversation with a friends wife,, who is a retired GP. Unfortunately she puts it down to (well n my case , anyway), age and post menopausal skin!! I am over 60...so couldn't argue with that!! Mine is worse in the evening too, when I am not distracted and trying to relax and its "a little itch here and a little itch there!!"

You could try changing the time you take it and see if it makes any difference......

[Tako2009 in reply to Wightbaby]

I think I also qualify under the ‘age and post menopausal skin’ category 😂

[Hidden in reply to Wightbaby]

I had itchy skin on Rivaoxoaban and in the end switched to Edoxaban which I had no such issues. However like you say it is a common side effect of the "aban" series.

I suggest that you contact your GP to discuss trying a different AC, I have had them all before ending up on Edoxaban, at the time Edoxaban was about 4 times more expensive than the others so they were unwilling to prescribe at first.

I'm sure that you will be able to get at least a telephone consultation with your GP

[Auriculaire in reply to Wightbaby]

Get your thyroid levels checked out. Itchy skin can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.

[Wightbaby in reply to Auriculaire]

Already on thyroxine....50mg daily

[FancyPants54 in reply to Wightbaby]

I get this too. I'm on Apixaban. But I had it before I started the drug so I think your issue is likely menopause related as I think it is for me. It's a strange itch. Not really cured by scratching and if I over-scratch (it's my forearms that are worst) white lumps swell up from the lower layers of skin and can erupt and cause a mess and problem for weeks. I have to be careful not to scratch too much. It's always worse at night when I'm relaxing. And the best thing I have found is an antihistamine daily and lots of moisturising. Avoid fancy moisturisers and go for the product that gives you the best feeling skin. For me things like coconut oil or Neil's Yard creams or oils (lotions are too weak) are best.

I'm on HRT, but it's not helped my skin sadly.

[Wightbaby in reply to FancyPants54]

thanks for your reply...interesting....might try the antihistamine...

[Auriculaire in reply to Wightbaby]

Beware Cetirizine. I was suffering from hives last winter. My TSH was too high so Doc said to put up Thyroxine from 75mcg to 87.5mcg. I had to do this very slowly as I am sensitive to med changes. In the meantime I took Cetirizine. It worked like a charm to stop the hives . Got bad side effects but when I did not take it itching was worse and in places like scalp where I had not had it before. Looked it up and came acros Cetirazine withdrawal - rebound itching on stopping even for those who took it for sneezing allergies! Eventually hives just stopped . I still have not got to 87.5 mcg Thyroxine but take that four days a week and 81.25mcg the other 3 days. TSH came back down to 2.75. Higher than I would like but better than nearly 7!

[Grayjay in reply to Tako2009]

I have exactly the same problem. Mainly forearms. I usually apply moisturising cream which eases the itching a bit. I'm just hoping that it will go away eventually. Same story, switched from Warfarin.

[Wightbaby in reply to Grayjay]

Were you checked before you were switched...my INR levels weren't....no monitoring before or after!

[Grayjay in reply to Wightbaby]

No, it was due to Covid19 and the inconvenience of having INR tests. GP phoned to say he was switching me from Warfarin to Edoxaban so that I wouldn't have to be tested.I've also put on quite a bit of weight since as well. Not sure if it's the cause.

[Wightbaby in reply to Grayjay]

You are supposed to have an INR check before changing from Warfarin, but like you I was just told to stop one and start another.

[Grayjay in reply to Wightbaby]

I suppose my GP took into account the results from the last two tests I had taken by the PPI clad Nurses😷 while I sat in my car in the GP surgery's car park.😂 I think that swung it for a change from Warfarin. Normally I went to my local Hospital Warfarin clinic once a month but wasn't happy going there with Covid etc . So it suits me for now, maybe get something better in time.

Thanks for getting in touch.

[Nybroc]

Been on edoxaban for just over a year. In the last couple of months I have started to get random slight itchiness. Feels like a small insect has landed on my skin but there is nothing to be seen. For me it is a very minor annoyance but I could see if you are already anxious, as many people are at the moment, then this could make it much worse.

[Wightbaby in reply to Nybroc]

Yes it varies from a stray hair tickle to a prickle to a crawling sensation (esp on my scalp!). Not pleasant at all

[Auriculaire in reply to Wightbaby]

I think this might be mild peripheral neuropathy. I get prickling sensations here and there but I had them before going on Apixaban.

[Wightbaby in reply to Auriculaire]

Would you mind explaining briefly what that is, please?......I really don't like Googling things, as scared myself silly, once!!

[Auriculaire in reply to Wightbaby]

It is a condition where the nerves that send messages from the muscles , skin or organs to the brain are damaged or diseased. The symptoms are various odd feelings that can range from stabbing pain to pins and needles , sensations of freezing or burning , electrical type buzzing, numbness or insect stings. They can occur anywhere in the body but more often are in the hands , feet ,arms and legs. There are many causes of this. Type 2 diabetes often causes it in the feet . I have it mildly as a result of Fluoroquinolone toxicity. It comes and goes. One of the wierdest sensations I get is that someone has poured icy water over one side of my scalp - always the right side. According to Mayo Clinic site hypothyroidism can be one of the causes. Maybe you are not getting enough thyroxine . 50mcg is a very small dose.

[Wightbaby in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks for that...very interesting!

[Silvasava]

Thank you for your post Wightbaby. I've been on Edoxaban since the end of December and frequently have an itchy nose & upper lip! It doesn't really bother me but I did think it was curious as I'd never had it before. TBH it's a small price to pay.

[Eadaoin]

Have been on Edoxaban for a couple of years. It beats the hassle of Warfarin with 11 years of INR tests at hospital every 2-3 weeks...occasionally a 4 week break. I’ve had itchy skin for ages possibly due to blood cancer but it could also be ageing skin etc I have a tube of E45 Itch Relief cream to hand for when it stops me getting off to sleep. Recommend it!

[Wightbaby in reply to Eadaoin]

I agree it takes the hassle out of INR and dietary issues too!! ( i love my greens!!). However it is so random that E45 wouldn't help. It doesn't stay in one place.....the itch just pops up in one place then a bit later somewhere else....

Thank for your reply though.

[Mitralan in reply to Wightbaby]

Hi,

I’ve been on Edoxaban 60mg daily for two years. I’ve found that the worse side effect is excessive bleeding, however i also suffer from an extremely itchy scalp and suspect it could be caused by Edoxaban. I have to take several meds so i’m trying to narrow down which med causes which side effect but at the moment Edixaban seems to be the culprit

[Mrs-Gilly]

I was switched from Warfarin to Edoxaban last year as I have intermittent AF. The nurses said they had been informed that Warfarin did not give the protection to the degree formerly understood and clearly it had become a financially viable option for the NHS. Bliss initially regarding diet and infrequent need for checks at the surgery. But over the past few weeks I have experienced extensive hair loss together with itching scalp and arms. I did experience some hair loss when I first started Warfarin, but it seemed to improve. This is something else though!

[Wightbaby in reply to Mrs-Gilly]

That's interesting.....proving the cause is difficult though isn't it?

Hair loss seems no more than usual..but the slight itch to crawling sensation on my scalp is horrible!

I agree with the "diet bliss" as i love my greens and salads!!

[abcdefh]

After some time on edoxaban I am getting intense itching below my waist,. late at night mainly on my lower legs I will take this up with the GP and pharmacist when conditions ease. Paracetamol helps but I dont want to take this long term

[Sacha27]

Yes I have extra dry skin itches frequently and get crawling feeling like theres a spider in the bed. I have learned to deal with it and use moisturiser every day. I was not sure which one of my meds do this to me but I’ve had it for the last year since starting edoxaban. It seems likely that it is this medication, I also have multiple bruises. People think I’ve been beaten up and GP does not want to know keep saying it’s an age thing I’m in my 60s.I find myself wearing cover up things as I’m ashamed of these red bruises. I’ve tried make up and cover up stuff it doesn’t work.

Any ideas?

[Wightbaby in reply to Sacha27]

VEIL COVER cream is quite good. People use it for rosacea marks and scars. You can just get a sample set so don't have to pay a lot to see if its any good for you. I use it to hide the horrible broken veins on my legs (I am quite fair skinned), in the summer. ( I am also in my 60's). It might just help a bit?

[Sacha27 in reply to Wightbaby]

Thank you I was hoping someone knew something that might help. I will try it!