Anyone using PIP approach for anticoagulantion?

[karrog]

Apixaban is a quick acting drug, and I've wondered for several years why it can't be taken at the onset of afib assuming a person has relatively few episodes. Here's a POV tctmd.com/news/anticoagulat...

[rosyG]

Strokes can occur 6 minutes after AF starts so I don't think doctors will agree with PIP here

[10gingercats]

why would you want to take the risk of a stroke.?

[bantam12]

From NHS website " Apixaban works within a few hours of taking it" so who would want to risk a stroke striking before then, not me !

[BobD Volunteer]

Lunacy!

[Finvola]

AF can be 'silent' - some people aren't aware of symptoms either during waking hours or when they are asleep.

[Tickerprobs]

Well Karrog ...I would imagine stroke causing clots could be lurking around the system for who knows how long, so it’s necessary, don’t you think, to prevent the formation taking place before hand.

[Auriculaire in reply to Tickerprobs]

I had a TIA six months after the preceding afib attack.

[doodle68]

Hello karrog this same subject was discussed a couple of days ago in this thread....healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[karrog in reply to doodle68]

Thanks, sorry for not checking first!

[Jimmy37]

Apixaban does not prevent afib

[karrog in reply to Jimmy37]

No it doesn't

[wilsond in reply to Jimmy37]

It's not meant to..it helps greatly in the reduction of risk of blood clots that AF is well known for causing.

[Spudly22]

Hello I am on pill in pocket apixaban

I have an Apple watch that alerts me if i go into afib.

I think it’s very dependant on individual circumstances and risks - what your cardiologist is happy will be ok for you

[Hidden]

I asked cardiologist / EP exactly this. My episodes of AF few and spaced, didn’t want to take any daily medication.

He said he regards AF as a symptom of something-not-fully-right about the functioning of the heart, and this may be very different in different people. So, in my case, even if not in evident AF, my heart may not be clearing and pumping as efficiently as it ought. As I am elderly and my heart is ageing, he suspected it was not likely to become a healthier heart even though the ablation has (so far!) blocked erroneous impulses triggering AF. I can’t know if tiny clots are forming and a stroke could be a life changing catastrophe. So Apixaban please.

[secondtry]

I would not advise anybody to take ACs or not as it is a subjective personal decision.

The problem with this recurring discussion is that we all have to accept a degree of risk with our choices, so there is no right or wrong to prove. Despite the popularity of taking DOACs daily, there are no reliable stats that I am aware of on the risk of micro bleeds or other side effects with long term use (as still relatively new), if you have to stop for a short period or just forget to take it.

I doubt also that there are any stats on how soon a clot will form that the body can't deal with itself plus maybe a bit of help from appropriate supplements/water intake. I understand from others here a clot might form in minutes but I think that must be rare as with the amount of undetected AF out there, people would be dropping like flies! My cardiologist was talking a couple of hours is more the time when I should consider starting ACs; using a car analogy the former 'Minutes' theory could be the chances of having a head on collision but we still don't avoid single carriageway roads.

All that said, my personal decision is if in the future I start regular AF episodes lasting more than 1 hour I start ACs. Very rare under one hour episodes (as has happened in the past) without taking ACs, I follow up with a brisk one hour walk.

[LouiseCanada in reply to secondtry]

My thoughts exactly, well said!

[Vrouse]

I didn't even know I had AF until I had a stroke during the night. Had I of known of the AF, I would of happily taken any meds to prevent it. Strokes are life changing events, even fatal, why put yourself at risk......

[RoyMacDonald]

Yes there is research on micro bleeds and how long it takes a clot to form. York Cardiologist Sanjay Gupta talks about the subject in his very informative video. You are risking a stroke in my opinion but that's your choice.All the best.

Roy

[secondtry in reply to RoyMacDonald]

Thanks, I will look back on his YouTube channel to see what he says. I totally agree I am risking a stroke, what I need to get a better grip of is some stats that make me believe the level of risk and that it is not worth taking. I did visit Dr Gupta in York for a second opinion on my position generally 3 years or so ago, so do respect most of his views.

[RoyMacDonald]

His bottom line was if he had AF he would have no hesitation in taking Apixaban as not only did it protect from strokes but also dramatically reduced the incidence of bleeds, as shown by the statistics surveys.

All the best

Roy

[Jajarunner]

Seeing as they can cardiovert in first 48 hours without blood thinners it would make sense in symptomatic people.

[RoyM]

On a personal basis...the thought of playing Russian roulette with my health is not a particularly attractive prospect, but we all make our choices and live with the consequences. Pass the Apixiban. Good luck