Hi, I am reaching out to you because I was just diagnosed with A Fib as well as an irregular heart beat and prescribed Apixaban (and Metroprolol to use if my heart goes out of control -it has a couple of times).
Can anyone tell me if I should have any concerns about Apixaban. What I can expect. I read the paper the pharmacist from the drug store gave me and its scaring me. What would be the best way to take this and what are the best times of the day.
Also if anyone knows about the effect of Metroprolol I would be grateful to know.
I would appreciate any assistance. Thank you so much.
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kitttycat
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First of all, welcome to the group. Getting diagnosed with afib can be a lot to digest all at once, but we are here to help, just remember that none of us are doctors.
Apixiban is a very good anti-coagulant and one that I have used in the past. Whether you need it or not, depends on your CHADS2VASC score and what you and your doctor decide taking into consideration your entire medical history and lifestyle. Here's an online calculator to see where you fall in the risk category. Just remember, different doctors may interpret the score differently in terms of prescribing.
Metroprolol is a beta blocker that among other things will bring your heart rate down when in an aifb episode. In short, this should allow you to manage an afib episode at home rather than having to run to the emergency room. Some people tolerate it well but some don't. I'm in the latter category so I used to use a drug called Diltiazem that does basically the same thing. Sometimes I took a very small dose of metroprolol with it to get my heart rate down.
thank you for getting back to me and providing this information. Everything helps - it is a lot to digest and scary when you are unfamiliar with this. Hopefully in time I will feel better about it all. I will check out the link. thanks again
Those leaflets are always terrifying but you just have to be sensible. Try to avoid accidents with sharp things but if you do have bleeding it may just take bit longer to stop. If you have a hard bang on the head go to the ER. Don’t drink much alcohol. You should be fine!
Just take when convenient with water, twelve hours apart. That’s it.
I've been on Apixaban for four years and take it twice daily with no awful side effects apart from bleeding a little longer if I cut myself, so don't worry. You should be fine with it - but if you do have any problems go back to the doctor
Hi - those leaflets can be scary but anticoagulants are really important for those of us with AF, especially if your CHADSVASC score is more than 1 - and being simply female you will score one!
Many people live with AF which although is uncomfortable, scary and worrying, is relatively common and not immediately life threatening and completely different to Cardio Vascular Diseases and people prone to heart attacks. BUT we are more likely to have a stroke from a clot forming and travelling to our brain from the irregular heart rate that AF causes. The anticoagulants lessen that risk but the down side is you may bleed a little more than normal because your blood won’t clot as quickly. This is not a problem but a bit scary when you read the leaflets which the pharmacy has to give you and it takes a little getting used to.
I’ve taken Apixaban now since about 2016 and had dental work done, broken bones from falls twice, had surgery and had absolutely no problems with Apixaban and as MrJames said, I think is one of the better anticoagulants to be on as seems to have the least number of unwanted reports of side affects. I take mine with breakfast in the morning and just before bed at night ie: 9-10. It’s important to take on time as it designed to give you adequate protection for about 12 hours - but don’t get too hung up on that if you are travelling through time zones or you forget to take a dose - remember it’s better to miss a dose than to take an extra tablet so if you can’t remember (good to set a reminder and set up a regime) my rule of thumb is don’t take 2 tablets less than 8-10 hours apart.
Hope that reassures you a little. Any questions, there is always someone around to offer help and support. Best wishes.
thanks for this sound advice and information. I like your rule of thumb-just knowing that if I forget a dose, which I hope never happens, that it is okay, that it wont have a dramtic effect on me is something I really needed to know, Thanks for everything.
Hi, welcome! I have had Apixaban for 3 years, no side effects, perhaps bruise a little more if I bang into something...I had 2 teeth out and thought I was going to bleed to death, but was no different at all! My dentist said she was treating me "at source", so no problem at all.I take metoprolol too, in fact, just had one as having Afib episode as I write. Bloody nuisance!!
Hello Baygirl, I was sending you a message and it disappeared, I dont know if you will get two messages Thank you for getting back to me. I appreciate it. and thank you for the information. I am starting to feel more relieved. Can you tell me about the Metoprolol. I am terrified of it. All I know is the cardiologist told me to take one if I had an episod and I would get dizzy and it would be cleared up in 45 minutes. The prescription bottle says take 2 in a day. What happens to you when you take it, and at what point do you take it. ( The first episode I had started in March. After a couple of times the cardiologist gave me a holter monitor and I had an episode when wearing it, they previously thought it must all be anxiety). When it happens it is frightening, and I wonder how long it will last. It varies. Can you tell me what you know from your experience and about the metropol. I would be grateful. Thank you so much.
Hi, when I first started on Met., it was only 25mg a day. It made me really sleepy at first, but gradually it wore off and I tolerated it well. I found it really effective in helping Afib. As my Afib became more often, I began taking 2 50mg per day, one morning and one evening.I dont find it scary - I find it a comfort to use when I get an Afib episode. Look on it as your helper!
Afib itself is scary - even after 20 years its still scary - but you gain confidence as you get through each episode and know you will.
Hope this helps....and know that we are all scared at every episode.
Hi it sounds like you take it daily when you have an episode,and they seem to last a long time, and you take that along wth the apixaban on that day, maybe at a different time. The highest my heart rate has gone was 145-135 for maybe 45 minutes and 142 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. and these are the kind of times when I am supposed to take this. (I dont think I am supposed to take it if my heartbeat is just irregular.) Do you wait a certain amount of time before taking when you know this is happening ( in the event it could stop)or just take at the first sign, or is it just daily prevention. Could you let me know thanks
Hi, i take apixaban and i did have side effects for a while but stuck with them but I'm not convinced that they are as good as they are made out to be, your supposed to be monitored regularly when on them but that's gone by the board with my gps surgery, if you have any procedures then you stop them a few days before, at the end of the day it's two small pills each day and we're all different and hopefully you won't have any side effects
Hello 6TIMES I replied to your response but it didnt seem to go through. Thank you for this information. Its making me feel better everything is going well.
I guess that you are living in the US, since in the UK, rivaroxaban and bisoprolol are the flavour of the month - but they are very similar. The packaging leaflet is your guide for all drugs regarding dosage, or your pharmacist (who will simply read the leaflet to you). The parts on the leaflet that list pages of side effects are much less useful since they are very unlikely to apply to you and are always fear inducing!
We are all in some fear of a serious accident or fall, and disappointed that we can no longer take even simple pain killers such as ibuprofen and naproxen, but life is what it is and the increased stroke risk from AF needs to be dealt with. On a risk vs benefit analysis, taking a modern anticoagulant is clearly in its favour by a large margin.
Hi - thanks for this. I am in Canada (Toronto) The paper I received was from the drug store I didnt get one from the manufacturer- so I dont really have their information. I do take advil maybe 3-4 times a year for arthritis inflamation in my leg, I will have to find out what to do for this. Thank you very much for responding to me. I appreciate it
You have the added benefit of living in one of the best cities in one of the best countries in the world. 😊
The packaging leaflets are all online these days. You’ll have to switch to Advil gel most likely. All aspirin-like drugs (NSAIDs) are out of bounds as they often cause small amounts of haemorrhage in the bowel which can be of consequence with an anticoagulant (and very rarely, disastrously so).
Hi, thank you - I also believe this is one of the best cities in one of the best countries thank you for saying this, and for this information. I will take a look and see if I can find advil gel. this is good to know-because I didnt know this.
Hi kittycat and welcome. I am from the UK and have been on Apixaban since 2011 with no side effects and believe me I researched it to death before taking it. It has been shown to be as effective if not better than Warfarin at clot prevention. Due to the high risk of stroke in AF sufferers see it as your friend.
I am taking Xarelto (rivaroxaban), which is basically the same as apixiban, for stroke prevention during afib episodes. I consider this to be the most important medicine I am taking.
Previously I had been on low dose aspirin for ~20 years for general health considerations (that was much in vogue at the time). I consider Xarelto to be far superior to the aspirin-I bruise less (but still do some). With an occasional cut, the bleed time is much less, and the clot that develops is much more durable than with the aspirin. I've had one nosebleed (due to grossly over aggressive blowing), and it also stopped remarkably fast.
Hello - You are among friends with lots of wise support as you've already seen. I'm on Canada's West Coast and have been on Apixaban (Eliquis) for 4 years and, like others have said, I just bleed a little more. I even fell while playing tennis and hit my head on the cement (try to avoid that!) and I was fine. I have set my phone to 9:15 reminders AM and PM and it works for me. I once forgot until noon and my cardiologist said not to worry. I frequently don't take it right on time but I don't stress about it. In the beginning my doctor told me AFib is life altering but not life threatening. So it becomes part of what we live with. Being on Eliquis has given me peace of mind. Best wishes!marcyh
Hello marcyh- thank you for your note and wishes, and for the encouraging information. I feel much better - peace of mind is so important. The words "life altering but not life threatening" very meaningful. Thanks again
Hi - I take apixaban twice a day, I try to maintain a 12hourly window and ensure you don’t miss anyIf you avoid alcohol or keep it minimal to prevent the risk of increased bleeding
If you were to fall and say bang your head or receive a deep cut then safer to get checked out
Don’t take over the counter remedies or supplement without checking with Dr or pharmacist - especially avoid anti-inflammatory meds
Thanks for your help and your good advice I will make sure I definitely check with the pharmacist for everything new in future because I take supplements- I know the current ones I take are okay. I am not familiar with all anti-inflammatory meds, but will definitely stay away.appreciate your advice.
Hi, this is a great forum. I was diagnosed eighteen months ago. The knowledge these people have is really sensible. I’m in Melbourne Australia and they have become my go to lifeline. I’m on apaxiban and have had no problems. welcome😀
Thank you for your encouragement. I never knew so many people had afib. I have had some wonderful responses and am grateful for everyones knowledge. Many thanks.
HiMetroprolol has been banned for me. It should have been there listed as 'breathlessness, fatigue and tiredness'. The 24hr monitor showed I had 2 pauses at night.
I was changed to Bisoprolol another BB.
But even that wasn't controlling my H/R.
Success through private specialist .. history interested =. CCB calcium channel blocker.
PIP ? So you get episodes of AF. And AF is an irregular heart rate. Slow, fast, missed....
The new RADCLIFFE Medical now say "have a reduced anti-co-agulant by having it as a PIP'.
OK going back some. It was the opinion regarding anti-co.agulates.
Reading about them Apaxidan was the safest. It is more expensive though and jolly NZ wont fund it through PHARMAC.
There news on River....... another newer med with a ? hanging over its head when 2 years ago a husband died in Palmerston North Hospital.
He went in for a stroke and kidney problems. His wife said to antidote the River.... not sure but he may have taken or given a double dose. He suffered another stroke and died. 2 years later wife is still waiting for an answer ; what did he die of.
Reseached Apixadan is the safest. So you are lucky.
With rapid, persistent I need to take my PRADAXA twice a day but I knocked it down to 110mg.
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