Edoxaban (Side Effect??)

[ramblerbaz3]

Hi all,

I have been agonising about doing this post, as not the most nice of subjects!!

I was diagnosed with PAF on 28th September this year & am taking 60mg Edoxaban as anti coagulation ( with Flecainide as PIP, but hardly had to use ).

So my problem/ question is this -: For the past week or more after taking the Edoxaban (at about 6pm) about 1hour later my stomach starts gurgling & the I then have continual bouts of flatulence all evening . The main problem with this is it is a very weird & pungent smell that really lingers & clings to clothing/ seating. ( sorry about this...also in my poo & first wee after taking the tablet).

I suspect it is something in the make up of the Edoxaban that is causing this, as have never had this before. I spoke to my GP yesterday, who stated she had not come across this, but to give it another week to see if it goes, if not, a change of anti coagulant may cure.

So, (sorry to labour the point) have any of you come across this problem before, and if, did a change of anti’s cure it ?.

Also, could any of you recommend another anti coagulant that may not produce this problem, or will it be, trial & error.

Thanks for bearing with me on a very delicate subject !!!

This is a great site & know everyone is very friendly & helpful,

Thanks !!!

[Finvola]

Not heard of this problem with Edoxaban or any of the NOAC's. How unpleasant for you - it sounds like the effects one can get from Lactulose which is a mild laxative and produces exactly the same 'stuff' as you describe probably caused by over-fermentation in the gut.

I didn't find any references to it anywhere so it might be a matter of waiting and/or trying another AC.

[CDreamer]

I suspect it may be something other than the active ingredient - most tablets need caking agents and I have found that there are several filling/caking agents in meds that I need to avoid for similar reasons. Magnesium steerage seems to be the antagonist for me.

Unfortunately Edoxaban is a branded med and there are no alternative generic forms.

This is a list of the inactive ingredients from medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

6.1 List of excipients

Tablet core:

Mannitol (E421)

Pregelatinised starch

Crospovidone (E1202)

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463)

Magnesium stearate (E470b)

Film-coat:

Hypromellose (E464)

Macrogol (8000)

Titanium dioxide (E171)

Talc (E553b)

Carnauba wax

Lixiana 15 mg film-coated tablets

Iron oxide yellow (E172)

Iron oxide red (E172)

Lixiana 30 mg film-coated tablets

Iron oxide red (E172)

Lixiana 60 mg film-coated tablets

Iron oxide yellow (E172)

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CDreamer,

Thanks for your reply & info...something in this tablet appears to be causing this problem, as never had it before taking them. I see you are on Apixiaban & maybe need to change my anti coagulant.......Thanks & all the best.

[Buffafly in reply to ramblerbaz3]

I think Macrogol is the culprit, although it is not supposed to have any effect when used as an excipient because the amount is so small. I used to have a similar reaction to Adizem because of one of the fillers.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to Buffafly]

Hi Buffafly

Thanks for your info & I will check Macrogol out.

All the best to you .

[Mrsvemb in reply to ramblerbaz3]

I tried Edoxaban and only took it for two weeks. I had severe nausea, but looking at the ingredients, I identified one that I know causes nausea with me. That is crospovidone. I just cannot tolerate it.

I think in my case there are other ingredients that I cannot tolerate, but have as yet to identify them. I have failed on all of the DOAC’s and am now on Warfarin which I am finding a complete pain.

Most people seem to tolerate Apixaban, so it may be worth asking your doctor to change you to that.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to Mrsvemb]

Hi Mrsvemb

Thanks for your info....Almost certain it’s the ingredients that make up Edoxaban causing my problem. So will probably ask my GP to change me to Apixaban.

[DGET1]

I take Apixaban, not aware of any side effects.

[JanetL80]

I have been taking Edoxaban in the morning for 2.5yrs and have not experienced any side effects at all. It is better than Warferin, in my opinion, as you can eat practically everything, with warfarin there are things that you cannot eat which is a pain.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to JanetL80]

Hi JanetL80

Thanks for your input..... I suppose as all our bodies are different, Edoxaban just seems to not suit me.

[Sportfix]

Hi Ramblerbaz3, I was really interested to read your post because I take Edoxaban now too and I have Flecanaide as a “pill in the pocket” but only need that occasionally. I also take 2.5 mgs Bisoprolol daily. I used to take Rivaroxaban, but after a foot op I had a bleed behind my kneecap & had my anticoagulant changed to Apixaban. I had a lot of reflux/indigestion with that one, so my electro cardiologist recommended Edoxaban. The indigestion problem is much better but I do have similar strange problems very like the ones you describe. I do get IBS from time to time but I had a colonoscopy last March (early) to check it out. All was fine but, I do get your symptoms. I’d be interested to know if others have this too.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to Sportfix]

Hi Sportfix

Yes, Edoxaban does seem to be the culprit of my problem, but have no other issues with it....but probably try Apixaban & hope I have no problems with that.

Thanks & all the best.

[Tapanac]

I have been on rivaroxaban and now on apixaban and have had no problems with either. Obviously I’m not sure about edoxaban. Perhaps a suggestion, what if you looked up all the ingredients of the other anticoagulants and compared them with edoxaban and see if there is something in there that is quite different??? Then look at the side effects of that ingredient??? Just an idea. All the best as I can imagine how embarrassing this must be for you.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to Tapanac]

Hi Tapanac,

Thanks for your info....will definitely compare all ingredients as per your suggestion. Looking like I will ask my GP if I can try Apixaban, as most people on here seem to tolerate it well.

Thanks & all the best.

[Tapanac in reply to ramblerbaz3]

Yes I do believe Apixaban is one of the better anti-coagulants as I was told by my consultant's registrar that it is kinder to the brain and stomach. Although reading other's messages, it doesn't always seem the case!!??????

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to Tapanac]

Hi Tapanac,

Yes, it’s a shame when you encounter a problem with med’s, as it becomes a bit of a trial & error to find the best one that suits you 😩..... Thanks.

[Tapanac in reply to ramblerbaz3]

Good luck ....

[IanMK]

I used to have some occasional gastric issues which I hadn’t attributed to any of my meds but, now I think about it, I haven’t noticed a recurrence since I stopped my Apixaban. This anticoagulant may be a better option in your case, though. We all act differently to a lesser or greater extent to many medicines.

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to IanMK]

Hi IanMK,

Thanks for your info. If you don’t mind me asking, what anti coagulant are you on now ?

Considering all options !!

Cheers.

[IanMK in reply to ramblerbaz3]

After my successful ablation (not for AF) my EP considered that an anticoagulant was no longer appropriate.

[Tapanac in reply to IanMK]

Yes I would be interested to know which anti-coagulant you are on as well please as a friend of ours is worrying about which one as she has a very sensitive tum?

[IanMK in reply to Tapanac]

I do not now take an anticoagulant. (See above).

[tunybgur]

I've had various digestive issues with some of the medication I take, and was advised that the best remedy is a good healthy gut to handle it.

After a bit of research I tried getting more fermented foods into my diet and it has made a tremendous difference!

I now drink home made Kefir every day and regularly have sauerkraut and other fermented veggies, I thoroughly recommend trying this before taking lots of patent medicines to alleviate digestive problems.

Good luck

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to tunybgur]

Hi tunybgur,

Thanks for the input & suggestions, will certainly checkout some of your tips ....Cheers !!

[Hidden]

Hi ramblerbaz3 I suffer the very same problem, a strange smell on passing water and poo also wind, and it makes my stomach feel sickly will have to get it change.

[Sportswear2020]

Helllo Ramblerbax

I have taken 60mg Edoxaban for well over 2 years and I was on apixaban before Edoxaban. There is a strong pungent smell that stinks out the bathroom when I pass stools. I have had this since taking Edoxaban but I think I also had the problem with apixaban. I had just accepted it but I will now have it investigated because I can no longer stay at relatives houses or have anyone stay here because even a spray freshener will not disguise the smell. I would be interested to know how you are getting on with this now.

[Sportswear2020]

Dear Ramblerbaz3

I would also like to add that I have been on 20mg of Omeprazole for a few years and have just read that this can cause smelly stools due to Omeprazole possibly causing an infection in the gut. I’ll probably try and wean myself off these first to see if it makes a difference. Trouble is I get terrible heartburn.