Apixaban and joint pain...

[Chris1945]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice from anyone who has changed from Warfarin to Apixaban. Exactly a year ago this month I asked my GP to make the change which he duly did but I think I'm starting to regret it now, only because in that year, my health in other areas appears to be going awol! Namely that of muscle aches and pains, especially in my hands and knees and I've been diagnosed with osteo- arthritis in those areas. When checking online I have found links to mention that Apixaban can indeed cause arthritis and I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? It could of course just be old age (I'm 75) but I never had any joint/muscle pain at all until taking Apixaban. So maybe it might be better to go back onto Warfarin? Thanks in advance.....

[BobD Volunteer]

I have been on warfarin for 16 years or more and have arthritis from waist downwards but then I am slightly older than you and spent far too much of my life damaging and over working myself so do not consider it anything other than inevitable.

[Chris1945 in reply to BobD]

Thanks BobD, as you're the only one who has responded I'll assume the answer is a 'no' from anyone else!! 😊

[Dodie117]

I would say that most people at 75 have some level of arthritis otherwise known as wear and tear !! I have some problems with knees (am72) but manageable with the right exercises. I had this before AF and it got no better or worse whilst on warfarin and now Apixaban.

[Chris1945 in reply to Dodie117]

Ok thanks lallym, guess it's a case of soldiering on! x

[Alli58]

Hi I’m 62 and been on Apixiban for 3 years, only effect I had was my hair thinning, buts it’s recovered now, I already had osteoarthritis in my hip and knee before , so just part of aging disgracefully and years spent dancing lol 😆

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello there - you may find our online resources helpful from the A F Association heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... you may be particularly interested in 'Preventing an AF-related Stroke' or 'Apixaban' factsheet?

[Emsysy]

Hi Chris (that’s a very good year 1945. Like me, you were put on this planet to celebrate the end of the Second World War)

I’ve been on Warfarin for something like 12 years and did enquire about switching to an alternative. My cardiologist advised that for me, Warfarin was the most efficacious.

[Chris1945 in reply to Emsysy]

😂Indeed it was Emsys, I was born right at the end of August so by the skin of my teeth missed any of the war! xx

[42boston]

I am about your age and was put on warfarin in 2015 for an irregular heart beat. It worked well once I worked out how best to administer the test at home.

I was moved onto apixaban in 2020 when I spent most of the year in hospital due to a series of non Covid problems and warfarin is not easy to administer in hospital. I found apixaban made me tired and I suffered loss of balance. To conteract this when I got out of hospital at the end of 2020 I tried various combinations of the many drugs I was being prescribed. I did this off my own bat because professionals do not support this kind of experimentation. My eventual solution was to reduce the apixaban dosage I was on from 2x2.5mg daily to 1x2,5mg daily and this significantly reduced the problem. So my question is " Is your problem the apixaban or is it the combination of drugs that you are taking"

[Snnapdragon123]

I'm on Apiixaban and l have noticed an increase in joint pain, foot pain and various other problems like hair thinning, eye lashes included. But that is the downside of blood thinners...can only hope they are helping to stave off a stroke!! Hope this helps.

[Chamberpot]

Hi, I changed from Warfarin to Riveroxoban, with no increased pain in joints, although my knees and shoulders crack a lot, but then I am 81 years old so I can expect things like that! I also have fibromyalgia, which causes pain in muscles, so get tablets for that which make me sleep a lot. I guess you could try to go back to Warfarin but it’s such a pain having to have blood tests so often. Best of luck!

[SJB1234]

I was on warfarin for 8years then they changed me to apixaban after 5months been on it I was due to have a ablation but unfortunately they couldn’t go ahead with it as they found I had a clot in the bottom of heart, straight away they put me back on warfarin and told me apixaban did not suit me. So now back on the good old faithful warfarin.

[annemedd in reply to SJB1234]

I am 84 and started feeling weak about 7 years ago. Dr said Oh- you have got Af. My reply- what on earth is that!!! done the warfarin thing and changed to apixaban as anything to avoid visits to Dr a bonus., especially now with so much fuss to get appointments these days I am weaker that I used to be but that is age. I changed back to warfarin for a while to see if felt better but no dice. therefore apixaban is the most convenient as I cannot walk far anyway and too much fuss to get to Dr.very often. my medds are checked and I am also on Atorvastatin and lisinoprol. Life in your 80,S us not a lot of fun really, I can hear chorus of agreement!

[Chris1945 in reply to annemedd]

Thanks for your reply, yes, as one of my favourite Hollywood stars Bette Davis said...'old age aint for cissies!' and she was spot on!

[Chris1945 in reply to SJB1234]

That's interesting, I thought blood thinners were supposed to diminish the chance of blood clots and yet you still had one? Scary, hope all is well now....

[Chris1945]

Thanks so much everyone for responding. I never had any adverse symptoms at all on Warfarin the only reason I asked to change was because I'm veggie/vegan and my INR was all over the place because I love green veg and Warfarin restricted my intake of those. The osteo-arthritis made itself known pretty much from the very start of taking Apixaban but of course, it may have arrived anyway and I automatically made a connection. So it's a case of ever onwards! Thanks again....xx

[HatsOn]

Hi - I had been on warfarin many years ago but then had a period where I didn't need a thinner. However, a couple of years ago, I had to go back on them and I asked about the new blood thinners. My consultant recommended apixaban. I haven't noticed any particular problem with it. I do get similar problems to you with aches etc., but I had this before the apixaban (I am 68). I just find it a lot easier than traipsing for blood tests which was the norm when on warfarin.

[Chris1945 in reply to HatsOn]

Thanks for your post, my question was prompted by an article I read online that suggested there was a link between the two but I've also read that Warfarin can have the same effect so I guess I'll just have to accept it's an unwanted side effect of blood thinners! Ever onwards.....x

[RaySyl]

I have been on Apixaban for 18 months now after many years on Warfarin, with an INR which was, for the most part, on target. I weighed up the Pros and Cons of changing to a NOAC and listened, eventually, to my Cardiologist's advice following my second Ablation. As for aches and pains that (my ageing) flesh is heir to, I have plenty of those but, since I had them pre Apixaban, I can't find any causal relationship between the two. Great, though, to be able to eat the Green Stuff again!

[Chris1945]

Thx RaySyl....completely agree re the green stuff! 👍🏻

[joggingman]

I started Eliquis 4 months ago and I have signs and symptoms similar to yours. My hips also make bending and squatting very challenging. The sudden onset of joint and muscle changes with the only new factor in my life being this drug has my provider looking for antecdotal documentation of this problem. I hope to change to a nonmedical solution such as the Watchman ASAP.

[Shonshine]

Hi Chris, I started taking Apixaban nearly 3 months ago. I have always walked and went to the gym 3 times a week but suddenly I can’t walk longer than a mile and feel like my hips are crumbling when I try to get up from a sofa after sitting for a while. I’m really worried as I’ve never had problems before this drug and I don’t take any other medication. At first I thought it was the clots but as they should have gone after 3 months on blood thinners I have no choice but to consider its a side effect. I am only 52 and am considering asking for a blood thinner switch, this is this first forum I can find that anyone has even mentioned joint pain and so use this to show the consultant that others have been suffering the same side effects.