Might have taken extra Apixaban

Feeling very stupid at the moment as I ought to have taken more care. I'm *fairly sure* that I have only taken one 5mg Apixaban tablet this morning (about 20 mins ago) but it's possible that I took one extr as I had ticked it off a to-do list. Is this dangerous?

[Hidden]

Hi Samazeuilh, I can't give you an official answer to this, but I did do it myself on one occasion, having definitely taken a second dose of all of my medications! I'm still here to tell the tale, and I'd guess that you too will be fine. I had some lightness of head which could just as easily have come from an extra dose of Bisoprolol. All I did was to be extra careful around knives, falls etc., for a couple of days, and carried on as normal. I'm far sillier than you are, because with regard to the Apixaban there was a clear indication from the tablet strip that I had already taken my morning dose, and I igored it! So don't beat yourself up about it! We're all human!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I'm going to have a piece of paper next to the Apixaban on which I can record the time I took the medication and how many tablets are left on the card. That should avoid this problem in future. I do find that I feel slightly light-headed after taking the medicine, usually an hour or so afterwards. I've only started taking an anticoagulant recently and I'm not keen on it at all.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Just get a 7 day pill box for goodness sake. Morning and evening sections you can fill once a week and prvided that you can tell what day of the week it is (check your phone) it is idiot proof.

[Desanthony in reply to BobD]

🤣

[Suesouth in reply to BobD]

I have a monthly pill box, I did the same with rivaroxoban, couldn’t remember if I’d taken it or not! Pill box is great, and each day is numbered! Idiot proof, I hope😂

[Singwell in reply to BobD]

Didn't stop me taking two Apixibam by mistake once immediately after waking up and doing it by feel...must've been half asleep that day.

[KentAndrew in reply to BobD]

That’s exactly what I did BobD. It removes all the worry and doubt.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Easy way. Foil strip of Apixaban - Sharpie pen - write at top M=Morning. E=Evening

In middle of strip write initials of days of week. You can see at once on the strip if you’ve taken the correct dose at the right time.

I developed that way after I did the same - there were no consequences but I purposely missed my evening dose then.

[momist in reply to CDreamer]

I do something similar. It works for me.

[Fortescue]

Hi there, I tried everything to be clear about when I had and hadn't taken my meds. But so often I would take them unconsciously and then wonder if I had, or be sure I had done but hadn't, even if I had really been trying to pay attention, etc etc etc, that in the end I had to start using a dosset box with each day's pills in a compartment marked with the day, and am or pm. Particularly because I had a very stressful job and really needed the stability and confidence that the correct dose of meds provided. The dosset box has proved almost foolproof over the years. Almost...So don't worry, many of us have been there, and survived. One extra dose or one dose missed has not polished us off yet. But I recommend a dosset box.

[Hidden]

I put my four tablet boxes out on the table but put them into a different place once I have taken them. So if a box is still on the table I haven't taken the tablet. I take two in the morning and put those away, take my aspirin thirty minutes after breakfast and then put that box away, leaving my evening tablet box on the table. Works for me. I should add that before I go to bed, I put them all back on the table ready for the morning.

[Singwell]

I've done it as well as missed out. Once took 2 Apixibans instead of 1 and 1 Flecainide. Nothing happened. I bet your fine today.

[Singwell]

Agree wuth Bob - get a pill box. I load mine up each week. With my Flecainide, which is very powdery, I started cutting up the foil wraooer into 7 so that the pills are always fresh and don't degrade with contact to the moisture in the air. You don't need to do that with Apixiban IMO

[CDreamer]

Photo of what I do on the foil packet - I was told NOT to take Apixaban out of the foil pack, nor any other med packaged in that way.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[Suebo2 in reply to CDreamer]

Apixaban CAN be taken out of the foil , so the person who told you that is mistaken I’m afraid. The only anticoagulant that cannot be taken out is Dabigatran - that could be why your informant got it wrong!! Take care.

[DK81 in reply to Suebo2]

Unfortunately, I do not understand what "taking Apixaban out of the foil" means. I would really appreciate a response.

[Lin22 in reply to Suebo2]

Thanks for posting this. I have been putting dabigitran in a pill box for months. Just checked the storage instructions and I see it should be left in foil!

[Hidden]

Thanks to all those who replied on this thread. It would seem that a pill box of some sort is the answer. To be on the safe side I rang 111 for advice. A clinician did a calculation based on body weight and determined that even if I had taken an extra tablet it shouldn't cause a problem.

[Suebo2 in reply to Hidden]

Interesting reply from 111. Apixaban is not dises by weight so I do not understand why they had to calculate? It’s also worth remembering that Apixaban is 10mg twice a day to treat clots, so doubling is not really a problem short term.

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Suebo2]

Yes, that's more or less what 111 said - if someone has DVT they are given 2x 10mg. If someone is over 80 or under a certain weight the dose is 2x2.5 mg. The standard dose is 2X5mg which is what I am supposed to take. I don't know what the bodyweight algorithm is that they use in case someone takes too much Apixaban.

[mrgwair567]

I mark my Apixaban 1 and 2 vertically across the strip.

[Janey1955]

I have great difficulty remembering whether I have taken them or not. I will get a 7 day pill box. I know I have missed taking them on quite a few occasions 😱

[Bernie9927]

Thank goodness for all your replies. I take Apixaban and other pills daily and I thought I was the only one to forget to take them occasionally. As well as the box to hold the meds, I have a timer on my phone to let me know when it's time to take the pills but sometimes I still forget to take them. It usually happens when the alarm would go off at an inconvenient time and I would switch it off thinking that I must remember to take my pills but unfortunately, I would sometimes forget to do so. I only find out when the alarm goes off for a second time and then I notice the previous meds are still in the box. As a rule, I just leave them there and carry on as usual. I am still here and I seem to seem to suffer no after effects whatsoever when I do this but I suppose it depends on the type of medication you take. I just wish that I had a better memory!

Although your query has been answered many times with the other replies, it is very comforting for me to know that I am not the only one - Thanks everyone.

[Snowgirl65]

If you feel you overdosed, I would say to drink lots of water to dilute the drug through your system. I have no idea if that would help, but it seemed to work for an MS friend who overdosed on her meds.

[Hidden in reply to Snowgirl65]

I think, on balance, that I probably didn't take an extra tablet; at any rate I didn't experience any unusual symptoms. I do find, however, that taking Apixaban-which I started a week ago- produces not exactly a headache, but some heaviness or mild pressure across the forehead. Also, I feel mentally slightly sluggish and it is harder to concentrate on reading. I don't know if this is normal or if I need to report it.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Hidden]

In the US, there are various medical hotlines you can call for quick answers from registered medical experts; or maybe your doctor might have an emergency number to call. Can you do that? If you're feeling relatively normal, maybe just wait and see. Also, your body is still getting used to the drug, i.e. the symptoms you mentioned. If they're not more pronounced than what you've experienced, I would think you probably didn't overdose.

[Hidden in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thanks. I think you are right about the reaction occurring because I am relatively new to this medicine. I also think that the fact that anticoagulants potentially have serious side-effects creates a degree of anxiety in some people. I'm feeling ok at the moment,

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Hidden]

I'm so glad you're feeling better.

[LaceyLady]

If you ‘think’ you have taken it twice, I wouldn’t take another if I’m due one. I have done this in the past 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to LaceyLady]

Thanks. I rang 111 and a clinician did a calculation based on bodyweight concluding that even if I had taken an extra tablet it should not present a problem.

[vhync]

I was changed to Edoxaban a few months ago. These are labelled on the foil Mon to Sun in 4 languages. One a day too.

[RoyMacDonald]

I have a pill box that has a lot of compartments so I put 2 Apixaban in an empty compartment each night about 10 pm when I go to bed then have my phone alarm set to ring at 8:00 am and pm. Seems pretty reliable. If I can't remember if I've taken my Apixaban tablet all I do is check if there are one or two in the box. If it's two and after 8 I've obviously forgotten to take that dose so take it straight away.

All the best.

Roy

[Dollcollector]

Riveroxiban has the days of the week printed on the foil.

[Ruby40]

I forgot my evening dose of Apixaban on Friday and so took two on Saturday morning thinking that was the right thing to do. I felt lightheaded and giddy all day and couldn't drive so obviously it wasn't but they say that even missing one dose can contribute to having a stroke so I try not to forget.

[Redmakesmehappy]

I use a pill box. When you take the same medication each day, it is easy to be confused as it seems like you did but not sure. With a bill box with days written in it , you just look, then you know. Good luck

[funnyfennel]

This is the one I use I find it useful

Pillbox

[Hampden]

When I start a new box of Apixaban I write the date and whether I’m starting am or pm on the box. I can quickly count the days to make sure I haven’t already taken that morning or evening’s dose. I also take a photo on my phone of the tablet next to the box before I take it so I have a timed and dated record. Delete the photo next day. I know it’s a bit OCD but it works for me.