Forced to stop Xeralto

[pusillanimous]

I live in South Africa and suffer from PAF. Due to the rioting the pharmacies in my area do not have stocks of anticoagulants. I think I have read that you are worse off just stopping suddenly than if you had never been on the drug. Is this the case - I'm at a loss as to what to do!

[Finvola]

My sympathies pusillanimous - you could do without this added problem, I'm sure. I don't know the extent of the problem or how prescribing is arranged in your area but I have one suggestion which might help. Can you arrange to get supplies outside of your area either by travelling or getting someone else to travel on your behalf? Is there any group activity to access supplies as there must be many others affected by the shortage? Your doctor or usual pharmacist (provided they are open and working) could help here.

Failing that, what about your local hospital? Even for emergency supplies until you can access a regular supply. This is an emergency for you and others so there may be local solutions in place.

Obviously, stopping your AC suddenly will put you at risk of stroke again - not sure about your specific question regarding never having taken it but my guess would be that stopping would produce the same situation as never having taking it. Not medically qualified though.

I hope you can get a resolution to this - please let us know how things go.

[pusillanimous in reply to Finvola]

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to reply. Things are calming somewhat and my son was able to find a pharmacy that still had stocks. The Routes for products to be transported from the main suppliers, will be opening soon, so for now the panic is over. In my area, all decent law abiding residents of every colour and creed have been pulling together to clean the mess and get the shops open gain. I have just seen a wonderful video showing people cleaning up, and among them 2 Black gentlemen in wheelchairs with brooms helping with the sweeping, the indomitable South African spirit of this rainbow nation will not be defeated - I'm actually British, but I can see now how the Boer farmers defeated the might of the British Army . Thank you again for your reply.

[Finvola in reply to pusillanimous]

Some good news for you pusillanimous. Yes, people can be so amazing and resilient in the face of adversity that it can be humbling to observe. Stay safe.

[dezi]

Can you get them online? My brother and his family live in Jo’burg and my sister-in-law gets her medication sent to her. I really am sorry about the situation our there at the moment. We were hoping to go out for their youngest sons wedding in October but what with the D variant spreading so much out there and the riots I am not sure we will bother. I do hope things settle down and the vaccinations can be given to more people.

[pusillanimous in reply to dezi]

I think even those people who deal with the large chains that send meds for certain medical aid societies are having problems here in KZN, where the main protests are taking place as it is Zuma's home province, and relying on the small privately owned shops, as unlike the large chains, they have not been looted. But thank you, as replied to Finvola,I have managed to source some so all's well for the moment. Thank you for the suggestion - as an aside I have just been listening to a speech by the Zulu king, and he does not mince his words when addressing the looters !

[Buffafly in reply to pusillanimous]

Please give my love to KZN 💕 as that is where I come from originally. It broke my heart to see the rioting - what is the point? I could see it when there was no genuine democracy but now it’s self defeating. Where do you live?

[pusillanimous in reply to Buffafly]

Hello Buffafly, I live in Hillcrest outside of Durban. It is thought among analysts that the violence and looting is politically motivated not just restricted to Zuma's imprisonment. Ramaphosa, the incumbent president is Venda and previous presidents Mandela, Mbeki have been Xhosa. Zuma is Zulu, and is postulated it is a Tribal split within the ANC with Zulu faction wishing to take power. As mentioned to Rosy, the Taxi Associations are now against the violence, they are losing money, and I don't have to tell you how powerful they are.

[pusillanimous]

Yes, that must be the way forward John. We who can , subscribe to Medical Aid Societies who pay for private hospital and chronic meds - but we are permitted a month's supply at a time, hence the lack of forward planning 1

[Palpman]

That's why I semigrated to Cape Town.

[pusillanimous in reply to Palpman]

I think Cape Town's getting pretty full at the moment!

[rosyG]

The drug companies do issue that warning but remember we have to stop and start fir surgery and we are usually ok so don’t get too stressed. I hope you can get ac soon and just try and relax in the meantime as stress will make you more likely to have an episode. I had some AF in ITU last August after surgery ( had stopped Apixaban 4 days prior) and I was fine. Also have had to stop prior to other procedures and all fine

[pusillanimous in reply to rosyG]

Thank you Rosy, my son managed to locate a pharmacy with stock (the looters mainly went for the large stores) so I am OK for now. As we can only get packs of 28 tabs here, I will try and get some extras (they are very expensive but important) as soon as things are back to normal, which is slowly happening. The taxi Associations are now against the looting - I don't think other countries realise how powerful they are,. Mini bus taxis are the main means of transport for the workforce here and they are losing money with businesses closed. I would venture to say they have more power over the people than the government !