I have been ob Apixaban now for an number of years. But lately whenever I am having a blood test I seem to be having issues with either the vein not giving enough or just collapsing. But when one is found it then refuses to stop for some time. When I was on warfarin for over 20 years I did not have so many problems as I do now. Does anyone else have this issue?
Be well
Hi Offcut 😊 I have been on Apixaban for a number of years too and don't have a problem with my veins, giving a blood sample is quick and easy and the bleeding stops quickly. I had to have a blood test 2 weeks ago and the nursed remarked she wished everyone was as easy to take blood from .
. When giving a blood sample it is a good idea to drink a glass of water first and and make sure you are well hydrated .
I am now wondering if it has anything to do my Temporal Arteritis I added to my list of ailments a few months back? I do try to keep up on liquids at all times.
Nurses have always had difficulty get blood out of me, but nothing to do with Apixaban as no worse or better than before.
Good tip from Doodle - ensure you are well hydrated.
I usually am very good with the hydration unless I am out and about due public loos being so rare now! 
Same here. I have been tortured on many an occasion. At my local lab there is a great phlebotomist who gets it first time no problem and hardly any pain. Her secret? Needles meant for babies.
Hi, Because I am a rare blood group I have given a lot of blood over the years - reaching a legal 75 pints many years ago - I say legal because I was in the services and also gave whilst abroad which didn't count to the total given via our blood services - I was trying to get to 100pints before having to stop I never had any problems and the blood flowed easily and stopped just as easily. The last few times I tried to give blood it just wasn't happening and the last time they had to stop because they couldn't get enough and the veins they were trying were just collapsing - this was a few years before AF and apixaban - the reason they gave was age. Unfortunately for some this seems to happen -though that doesn't mean that in your case apixaban may have something to do with this. I am fine giving for blood tests. thankfully I still stop bleeding quite quickly and heal quickly too - too quickly for some things like my knee replacement just over a year ago when I had to have manipulation under anaesthetic because i healed too quickly before getting full movement back in my knee.
I used to give blood before I went on Thinners and heart drugs. I am O Neg so they liked me coming in and to be honest I used to feel really well for a couple of months afterwards. I had a case in 2008 While in ICU I had to have 6 units of blood which must of knocked a hole in their O Neg stock that day?
I have had similar problems which I assume is related to Apixaban. When I had my ablation the vein they used to administer the sedation collapsed so I I had several hours of ablation without sedation before the team realised and put another line in! They then had no idea how much sedative had reached the blood stream through the first line so upped the dose in the second line and I was asleep or effectively not fully awake for 48 hours! Just as well I am a calm person!
I have had all my 3 ablations without sedation due to me being allergic to Iodine
I think it is unwise for anyone to say ''I have had problems and assume it is related '' to any drug or treatment. Cause and effect is difficult to establish without investigation and trials and to make wrong assumptions can lead to 'false news' and people deciding not to take a drug and while that is ok with some drugs, with others like anticoagulants it can lead to deaths.
I can find no evidence or logical reason to connect anticoagulants to a difficult in taking blood , if you have any reliable evidence please post a link.
I do know that taking blood can be more difficult if blood pressure is low or a vein is inflamed or has been overused. Also the technique used by the person taking the blood can cause difficulties.
My Daughter in law who is a nurse practitioner has told me about junior doctors who lack the technique to extract blood and patients having to be rescued from them by nurse who see them struggling .
One of the main reasons that we have this forum is as far as I can see is to help and inform? We all are so very different in how we react and are affected by our conditions and medicines. I am one with many conditions and take many drugs. Unfortunately I have had a number of drugs that have not been suited and in fact would be dangerous to me. I am aware that those that do bloods regularly are on the whole the go to ones for blood tests and Doctors are not so proficient. My post was not to blame a drug but to ask if anyone else had the issue? I did add to your answer that it could be my Temporal Arteritis Which I think has come back or not gone?
Be Well
Hello Offcuts 😊 you say ...
''My post was not to blame a drug but to ask if anyone else had the issue?''
...Quite so I don't think anyone has said otherwise .
The post above by Outtheresinger says...
''I have had similar problems which I assume is related to Apixaban''
I was responding to that post and anyone who has similar thoughts.
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