Apixaban subconjunctival haemorrhage

After taking Apixaban for about three weeks I have a very red left eye; it looks like a subconjunctival haemorrhage is on the way. This is the third time that this has happened after taking an anticoagulant; the three weeks is the longest period I have managed without this occurring. I have read that it is dangerous to stop taking Apixaban (which I obviously need to do at the moment) but is this *over and above* the risk of stroke from not taking an anticoagulant? In other words, is the risk from not taking an anticoagulant *and in addition* from having stopped it suddenly? How long does it take for Apixaban to leave the system? I also wondered if anyone had had the same problem and found a solution to it?

[Hidden]

I’m not medically trained so I can only relay my own personal experiences. I’ve been taking Apixaban since 2015 and this has happened to me a couple of times but not during the last 4 years or so. It’s very alarming when it happens but there were no symptoms other than looking blooming horrible in the mirror. I was lucky because I belong to an AF support group and my Cardiologist was the speaker at the meeting about 2 days after it developed. He was not concerned, told me to continue with the Apixaban and if there was no improvement after a week to have it checked by a qualified optician. It started to slowly reduce and the second experience was similar so I didn’t see an optician.

Obviously I cannot suggest that you do the same but I think you should seek professional advice as soon as possible but continue to take Apixaban until told otherwise…….hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I sent a photo to the survey and spoke to a doctor. She has agreed to pause the Apixaban untilit starts to clear up. Thanks for replying.

[secondtry]

Sorry I can't help but that eye issue is one of my reasons for my not starting ACs as I get it periodically without them! I have not seen any research on the increased risk of stopping ACs (unlikely as Big Pharma won't fund it) but in your position I am pretty sure I would stop until I saw the first signs of it clearing up and then restart. In the meantime, I would take other supplements and extra exercise to mitigate the risk of a clot. However thats just my approach based on my circumstances and yours may be completely different! Whatever route you choose best to check with your trusted medic(s) first.

[RoyM in reply to secondtry]

I have experienced bleeds in my eye for many years which usually cleared up within a few days. Since starting Apixiban in 2015 I still experienced eye bleeds which take slightly longer to clear, I don't stop taking the A/C, I consider protection from stroke is more important than an eye bleed that will clear up in a few days snywsy. Good luck. Roy

[secondtry in reply to RoyM]

Thanks Roy, I take your point but I also had a stomach issue with aspirin many years ago and don't want to 'wake that baby' plus I have an active lifestyle including working on a smallholding and often bang my head (not as pleasant as being a headbanger in the 70's!). In short, all individual things considered I will probably start ACs when I reach 70 and change down a gear. Appreciate your concern.

[RoyM in reply to secondtry]

I understand completely secondtry. Everything in life is a risk, we are all different and we have to do what is best for us on an individual basis. Two years ago I had a fall on my knee which eventually over a few days bled into the knee cavity, i was unable to walk after a few days and was hospitalised. It took until recently for everything to more or less return to normal, I do suspect if I hadn't have been taking Apixaban the injury would not have been so severe and debilitating....but I had to make a judgement So I kept taking the A/C keep safe. Roy

[Hidden in reply to secondtry]

Yes, I agree with you that it's best to resume when it starts to clear up. I think that's all that can be done in the situation,

[RoyMacDonald]

Had occasional bleeds into the white of my eye for many years before taking Apixaban and after. Optician said that there was nothing to be concerned about. Bleeds into the corona are a different matter and you should go to an eye hospital immediately if that happens. No relationship to the Apixaban. I'm 78 and very active, and don't take any other meds.

All the best.

Roy

[Hidden in reply to RoyMacDonald]

That's the problem. A standard SH isn't dangerous but it may not be possible to tell if the bleeding is more serious, e.g. in the retina.

[RoyMacDonald in reply to Hidden]

My optician seems to think it is possible to tell the difference, and my Son in Law's eye seems to bear this out as when he got shot in the eye by an airsoft gun it was easy to see it was bleeding in the retina. He still has impaired vision in that eye but the consultant said he was lucky that he had any vision at all in that eye.

All the best.

Roy

[Hidden]

The data about "5 times larger stroke risk in people with AF" is absolutely inaccurate. I will tell you why, in a very simple way.

If, in the whole of the population, there were people with AF, as a precisely known number, and the people without AF as also precisely known number, than the calculation of stroke frequency in one group and in the other group could possibly be correct, and the comparison could give the exact data if the frequency is higher in the group with AF and how much higher.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), people diagnosed with AF are mostly the people with very severe symptoms, who seek medical help and get diagnosed as it should be (ECG). There are a huge number of people, who are AF sufferers, in the group "without AF", who actually have AF from time to time, who have no symptoms at all, who never seek medical help and who never get diagnosed. My son, who is 40, has arrhythmia which comes and goes (most probably AF), has almost no symptoms, and is still in the group "without AF".

Definitely, the data about the "5 times" is an entirely randomly chosen number, just to scare the patients and to make them be life long customers of ... you know whom.

I am 70, I suffer on AF almost every night, for almost all the night, and take no anticoagulants. Take it or leave it!

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

I understand that statistical extrapolations are more scientific than the situation you describe. I am sure the algo-rhythms used take into account those undiagnosed with AF as well as those who are symptomatic.Whether you choose to take anticoagulants is personal and relies on your own interpretation.

Having seen both my (adopted!) parents die with stroke impairment I know how I feel. I have had several heavy falls since starting anticoagulants and a complicated recovery from a breast op due to a huge haematoma this does not deter me from taking anticoagulants .

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, but it's possible to make a fairly accurate estimate -as statisticians have in fact done- of the number of those who have a medical condition but are unaware of it. This is fairly straightforward: all that is required is to take a random sample, then test to see how many have the condition but are unaware of it. This can then be extrapolated to the population,

[frazeej]

Good rule of thumb! Take any well documented and researched statistic that doesn't suit your need/mood, and illogically throw it away-based on a very small sample of anecdotal information. "I have a 97 year old aunt who's been banging down a liter of Jack Daniels every day of her life, and she's healthy as a horse! Therefore.........."

[RoyM in reply to frazeej]

And I suppose it boils down to whether or not you enjoy playing "Russian Roulette" with your life, personally I prefer not to play Russian Roulette and therefore continue to take the A/C which offers some protection against stroke irrespective of the statistics. Roy

[frazeej in reply to RoyM]

I agree completely!!

[Hidden]

Hi I woke one morning to see one eye looking like a pool of blood ! Phoned my local independent optician who saw me straight away.They are funded from the NHS to carry out emergency visits now, probably because GPs are virtually unavailable. Thorough look at back of eye. ,little bleed caused by AC s but no damage,cleared up in about 8 days.

[mav7]

In 2018, 1 in every 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke.

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke.

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.

cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm

[Ducky2003]

Hi. I think you tagged me in but I've been off grid for a few days. I've never had a problem with bleeding in my eyes, just the usual if you get a cut or bruise.

I has to be taken off Rivaroxaban as I had to stop taking it for 1 week every month as I'd developed anaemia due to the monthlies.

I was then put on Apixaban as that's 2 doses so less potent all in one go.

Hope you get it sorted and apologies for the delay.