Newbie to edoxaban

[DLS25]

I am 49 and have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Recently I have had two episodes of A Fib and have now been prescribed edoxaban. I am really nervous to take this drug. But they said I should as a precaution. Is there anyone else who is younger taking it? I am bit scared looking for reassurance I guess

[Paulbounce]

Don't worry DL. This is an anticoagulant medication and you won't even know your on it (unlike some med's).

Don't panic

Paul

Edit - be careful though doing sports etc were there is a risk of bleeding - this is the downside ie don't get in the ring with Mike Tyson !

[BobD Volunteer]

Just what are you concerned about? Anticoagulants are your protection against an AF related stroke so should be your best friend as it is for many of us here. . OK any injury you might get may take longer to stop bleeding but it will not make bleeding more likely.

[CDreamer]

It’s understandable to be concerned, I know I was also very hesitant to take them but now consider them essential!

Many of us on this forum will be on anticoagulants, I’ve been on Apixaban (similar to Edoxaban) for the last 5-6 years with no noticeable adverse affects and benefiting from the prophylactic benefit by reducing risk of stroke which can happen at any age if you have AF.

Just read the research on the stroke risk if you have AF because the risks are high & the consequences devastating. Age can be a factor in that the older you are, the risk rises but other conditions are also a huge consideration.

Any medication is always an assessment between risk:benefit & for anticoagulants between risk of stroke and risk of a spontaneous bleed (incredibly rare) or catastrophic bleed from injury so if you have been advised by your medical team you would benefit - my opinion would be to listen to them.

[DLS25 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much for this. I have been dealing with HCOM all my life and take beta blockers and BP meds. But this year I have had A Fib episodes ( I think because of the covid vaccine but heh ho) I didn’t know what was happening to me as never experienced it before. So now I have been prescribed edoxaban like you say as a precaution because my heart already has to work harder than a normal heart I guess. I am so clumsy though so scared of bleeding badly.

[CDreamer in reply to DLS25]

I’ve had falls, broken bones, cuts and abrasions and no major bleeds that require medical attention. If you have an internal bleed, it may exacerbate that but if that’s GI bleed I view that as an advantage as you are more likely to notice it and get attention - which is what happened to my husband who was investigated and treated incredibly promptly and thankfully he has had no further problems.

You may have to apply pressure to any minor cuts for a slightly longer period than you are used to staunch flow from a cut but nothing more. The concern for bleeds is mainly for brain bleeds, especially if you have a fall and hit your head but that is mainly a concern for elderly people who are more fragile and unsteady on their feet and prone to falls.

Every hospital has a procedure to reverse the efficacy of anticoagulants in a catastrophic bleed such as traffic accident and Edoxaban is a DOAC (Direct Oral Anticoagulants) and so the efficacy or the half life declines quite quickly - which is why you need to take it twice a day. It is a good idea to carry some sort of alert card stating you take Anticoagulants but every medic I have ever encountered will ask.

I think everyone of us who has been prescribed anticoagulants has been through this anxiety but the modern anticoagulants are much easier to take and have been shown to have a lower incident of brain bleeds than Wafarin.

Hope that helps reassure.

[DLS25 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much for responding. Just trying to take it all in really. I guess wrongly I thought it was just older people who need these drugs. I am active with a 14 year old daughter. It just doesn’t fit in my head. How wrong can I be heh! The most important thing is that I am here for her so I guess if these drugs help that then I need to take them.

[CDreamer in reply to DLS25]

Good thinking. I can quite understand your hesitancy and it does take time to absorb and adapt.

[Auriculaire in reply to DLS25]

I'm very clumsy too but the bleeding on anticogulants ( I take Apixaban) if you cut or scratch yourself just lasts a little bit longer . You don't bleed a lot more. I find scratches look worse and take longer to go away but it's no big deal.

[Cos56 in reply to Auriculaire]

This is what I have to remember and put in perspective…it just takes a little longer to staunch the bleeding! This little nugget is what helped me accept the med. AND this forum.

[DLS25 in reply to Cos56]

Yes it is helping me a lot. No one really told me anything just sent me home with them. I do feel reassured.

[Desanthony in reply to DLS25]

I can honestly say I bleed no more than I used to. the only problem I have had was when I had my total knee replacement a couple of years ago and the swelling took much longer to go down than with other people who had the op the same time as me and could take anti inflammatories so my recovery took longer than theirs - this is what my orthopedic surgeon said - I joked that because I was his last patient of the day he wasn't on form - So, even though I was doing the exercises more often and having more physio at the hospital I probably took a few weeks longer to get the maximum movement I could get - still within 6 months I could do everything I could before the op including kneeling down. Other than that no more bleeding than anyone else and wound healed in the same time as considered usual and stitches out at the same time. The only thing to be aware of is to tell the medics before any procedure/operation that you are on an anticoagulant as they will then decide whether or not you need to stop the anticoagulant and for how long before the procedure/operation. I have found that the dental work doesn't generally require you to stop and most eye procedures too, but still always best to check with them as they may require you to because of their own practices in that particular situation.

[Ppiman]

You will only be given a DOAC (anticoagulant like apixaban or rivaroxaban) if you are deemed to be at risk of blood clots from the AF and this is calculated carefully. If you need it, please do accept medical wisdom and follow your doctor's advice as it's not given lightly. You won't know you are on it, most likely - I don't.

These drugs do very slightly increase the chances of an internal haemorrhage if you fall and bruise yourself (for example, if you bump your head badly, you should go to A&E). Also, if you already are at risk of internal bleeding by taking NSAID arthritis drugs, say (even everyday ibuprofen), your GP will have stopped those and change them to a safer option. If you have a tooth extraction or surgery, the doctors will also need to deal with it, but that's worthwhile for the protection it confers.

The packaging leaflet is rather frightening to read, but that is the nature of these things.

Steve

[SweetAdelyn]

I have had A.Fib for 5 years and after trying Eliquis and Xarelto which caused side effects I was switched to Edoxaban about 3 years ago and have had no problems at all. I am in permanent A Fib but am one of the lucky ones and can honestly say it causes me no problems - don't even know it's there with my heart rate staying in the 70's and 80's so at the age of 82 I am very fortunate and am able to continue leading a normal life and do pretty well for my age

[NoFib]

I had Afib over 10 years before, before the Cardiologist would put me onto anticoagulant, unless met the score of chart called *CHA₂DS₂-VASc* the Score for Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Risk, prior to that was also told not to take Aspirin, as that may be detrimental and masking symptoms for Afib / Stroke to the need of anticoagulant ?

[DLS25 in reply to NoFib]

Unfortunately it seems I get 1 point just for being female which seems harsh 😂 and 1 point for high blood pressure ( although controlled it’s annoying sometimes ) and although it’s not actually on the list my HCOM is a heart disease. So yeah I guess i scored 2 and a bit points 🙄

[Electricblue1]

Hi , I take edoxaban , I’m 52 , I’ve not had any problems with it at all apart from it makes me sleep really well, I take it at night .

[DLS25 in reply to Electricblue1]

Really . How long have you had it? A fib? I am reluctant to take edoxaban as I am a 49 year old female.

[Electricblue1 in reply to DLS25]

Hi, I’ve had AFIB now for just over two years. Don’t be scared of edoxaban, it’s better than risking a stroke , I was reluctant at first but I have strokes in my family although my risk I was told was low, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I have not had any side effects from edoxaban .

[DLS25 in reply to Electricblue1]

Yeah I guess so. Just trying to get my head round it all. I have had hcm with no symptoms all my life so use to bisoprolol but a fib is a new thing.

[Buttercups22]

Hi there DLS25

I realise your post about Edoxaban was several months ago, but I’ve just been reading up on experiences of Edoxaban. I’m 54. I’ve had a cardiac ablation for AF and I’m now on Edoxaban lifelong. How is it going for you?