I am taking 5 mg of Eliquis two times a day. I started taking 20 mg of CBD Gummies which has helped my mood and pain immensely. I did some research and read that you should not take CBD with Eliquis as it can be very dangerous causing an overdose of Eliquis. Has anyone here tried taking CBD with Eliquis? I called the pharmacy and also asked my doctor but they will not give me any information on the CBD. I’m considering cutting back Eliquis to half so I can take the CBD or maybe go off the Eliquis completely and just use CBD. I’m a white female, 71 years old and take medication for high blood pressure.
Eliquis and CBD gummy’s: I am taking... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Eliquis and CBD gummy’s
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Debjimmay
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Hello, Debjimmay, Eliquis is the brand name for Apixaban, which is an anticoagulation medication that helps to prevent you from experiencing an AF-related stroke. It is very important that you continue to take it as prescribed and do not change this without supervision from your doctor. Please feel free to contact our Patient Services Team if you have any questions info@afa-us.org
BobDVolunteer
If you have AF then your stroke risk is exremely high which is why you have been prescribed an anticoagulant (Eliguis). This has nothing to do with blood pressure. Stopping it or even reducing the dose could cause you untold harm.
I suffer from chronic neck and back pain and was devastated when I started taking Eliquis as I couldn't use most of the good painkillers which up until then had kept my pain at bay much of the time. I was lucky in that I found a pharmacist who had studied the use of CBD oil and lotions with anticoagulants and I did try using some CBD medication under his supervision - starting at a low dose and working up to a medium dose (60%) and the use of topical lotions and creams for about a year. Unfortunately, it didn't really do anything for my chronic pain so I stopped using CBD. It seemed to have no effect on the eliquis in the year that I was taking it. I have since had a lot of physiotherapy and exercise at least 4 times a week at the gym circuit training and rowing and this has done a lot for my pain. Now if I do have any pain breakthrough I use a prescription strength lidocaine patch which does help. I am 79 so hope I can keep up the exercising into the next decade as keeping moving certainly helps me.
Hi! Thank you for sharing your experience using CBD. Like you, I have severe back pain also and once I went on Eliquis I could no longer take aspirin which seemed to be the only thing that helped my pain. I’ve been taking acetaminophen which really doesn’t do much at all. I started taking CBD Gummies about a month ago. I started noticing that my back pain was less severe, my mood had improved substantially and I was also able to sleep better at night. But then I learned that it is not recommended to take CBD and Eliquis together as they are both coagulants and this can cause serious problems. I’m thinking about calling my doctor and asking him if I can take half of the Eliquis and stay on the CBD. I highly doubt he will go along with that. Every time I try to talk to the doctor or pharmacist about the CBD they say there is not enough information out there about it. I love what the CBD is doing for me. I need to find someone that knows more about using CBD along with Eliquis and in a safe way.
I really do think that your doctor must be called today and he or she will tell you not to alter your dosage of anticoagulant or you will increase the risk of blood clots forming in the top of your heart and - well as you have read here - much worse.
Steve
Hi Steve. Thank you for replying to my post. I should have mentioned that I am having severe nose bleeds which have occurred over the last few days. So far I have been able to get them stopped but I’m worried I might end up in the emergency room if I can’t. This is the main reason why I would like to try reducing the dose of Eliquis to see if this helps. My cardiologist has mentioned the Watchman procedure but I’m terrified to have it done. My Apple Watch tells me I’m in Afib 2% of the time. My doctor said it doesn’t matter much how much I'm in Afib, I still need to take the Eliquis. Really?
As I understand it, it’s not entirely known that the AF itself actually increases the chance of clotting or some other aspect of the heart, for example, the size and shape of a small sac in the atrium called the atrial appendage. The Watchman procedure isn’t something I know much at all about but it sends safe and a good idea.
Nose bleeds are often caused by a small ruptured artery or vein, I gather, which is very easily cauterised.
Steve
It's completely understandable that you want to enjoy the benefits you are getting from the CBD, but I just did a little googling and one of the known side effects of combining it with Apixaban (Eliquis) is nose bleeds. Just to be clear, they are both ANTIcoagulants, so you are doubling up the bleed risk. Not all strokes are caused by clots, some are bleeds on the brain, so in effect you may be unwittingly increasing your risk.
I suspect I haven't written anything you didn't already know, but the point I'm coming to is that one of the drugs is prescribed by a physician and is a thoroughly tested and understood substance; the other (in this scenario) is not. Could you half the dose of the CBD instead, and see how that goes, at least until you can get some trusted, definitive advice or information?
Hi. Thank you for your response. Yes, I have currently cut back to 1 CBD gummy a day instead 2. I also did some research on taking CBD and Eliquis together and found the same info you did. My logic is if they both work the same way they do as far as coagulating your blood then why not stop the Eliquis and just go on the CBD? It’s all natural and much safer I would think.
I agree trace the eliquis why do you take it? Does the CBD give you any palpitations??
Hi! I’ve been taking Eliquis for two years now since I was diagnosed with Afib. I started having nose bleeds when I first started Eliquis but they went away. For the last few days the nose bleeds are back again and actually severe enough that I though I may have to visit the emergency room. So this is the main reason I would like to try lowering the dose of Eliquis or maybe consider stopping it. The Watchman procedure is not an option for me. I. Really between a rock and a hard place. And to answer your other question, no the CBD does not give me palpitations. I used to have PACs and PVCs something awful but my doctor put me on diltiazem and that seemed to help a lot.
Be careful with Eliquis. If you were prescribed it. There must be a reason. If you have Atrial Fiberation. Do not reduce or stop it without consulting a qualified doctor. The reason I say this. My mother has atrial fiberation. A general doc who had no idea about Eliquis told her to reduce the tablet from 5mg twice a day to 2.5mg one a day. She got a medium stroke in 10 days. She still recovering from the stroke and is weak. It been 6 months and we are still working on getting her arm/hand back.
Hi Steve. I’m so really sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she is able to continue to get better . I was diagnosed two years ago with a fib and was put on Eliquis right away. I am 71 now. At first I was having nose bleeds while on Eliquis and then it went away and now the nosebleeds are back, quite severe sometimes. My Apple Watch tells me I’m Afib 2% of the rime. To be, that doesn’t sound like a lot but the doctor says it doesn’t matter and I still need to be on the Eliquis. It seems I should be able to lower the dose of Eliquis and be fine but then I’m not a doctor. I will be calling him today though as the nose bleeds are starting to take a toll.
I too have the same problem with Eliquis and joint pain which I did not know I even had until I started Eliquis for afib. I had been taking Tumeric and botswella supplements which made me pain free. Then with Eliquis I could only take acetaminophen for pain (and no supplements) which does nothing to relieve any pain for me ever.
I have researched for two years and asked my cardiologist and internist and several pharmacists, and no one has a solution…. Only l Must take Eliquis and “no” to ANYTHING that thins blood.
The Watchman implant is the only possible solution here in United States that I could find; I was scheduled to have the surgery but after reading all the risks I canceled. I still suffer with joint pain every day..
My answer is: “ Sorry, I have not found an answer; I can only sympathize.”
I am of the opinion that if you suffer from a lot of skeletal pain then this iron rule of not altering your dose of Apixaban should be reconsidered. I know that Apixaban makes my joint pain worse. I became aware of this because an over cautious anaesthetist took me off it for 8 days before my first hip replacement op substituting Lovenox jabs. I noticed a significant improvement in my pain . I then started to experiment with the dose and found it was not a coincidence - yes I am sure there will be those throwing up their hands in horror or wagging fingers here but I think you have to consider your QOL . If your daily life is a misery with pain that you are unable to address because of taking a drug to prevent a stroke that might never happen then your QOL is very poor. Also the dosage of Apixaban or any of the other DOACs prescribed is very much a one size fits all. It does not take into account the genetic differences we have in the metabolism of drugs- this is quite a recent finding. It might be that those who still have strokes due to being on a DOAC are fast metabolisers and could benefit from a slightly higher dose. Equally there will be a percentage of slow metabolisers who at the standard dose are being prescribed too much. This might apply more to women who get more side effects from drugs in general because our bodies are physiologically different from those of men who have always been the medical model. I take all sorts of supplements that I consider important for my health but that should probably not be taken alongside Apixaban. I do not take the prescribed dose of Apixaban. I know this is risky but far less risky than not taking it at all. I have not discussed this with my doctor as I know he will disapprove and probably even deny that it worsens skeletal pain in some people and that would just lead to tension. Having been been poisoned more than once by FQ antibiotics I have very little confidence in doctors when it comes to their acknowledgement of the side effects the drugs they prescibe cause.
I agree with you 100%! I was diagnosed with afib two years ago and have been on Eliquis since then. I started out having nose bleeds when first on Eliquis and wanted to go completely off of Eliquis then but my doctor said to stay on it and to consider having the Watchmen procedure done. Over the last few days the nose bleeds are back and quite severe. I fear I will end up in emergency room if I can’t get the bleeding to stop. I know cutting the dose of Eliquis may not be a wise thing to do but I’m willing to try it due to the problems it’s causing. Like you, I thought about cutting back the dosage of Eliquis myself. If I could just get the doctor to work with me a little and maybe just try to cut back on it and see how it goes but he doesn’t seem like you willing to do that. May I ask how old you are and if you are taking Eliquis for Afib?
I am 70. Yes I have afib. I do increase my dosage back to 5mg twice a day if I have an afib episode . Till I can't stand the back pain any longer then I reduce it again. I also take nattokinase when I am on the lower dose.
Hi! I’m just curious as to how long you’ve been adjusting the amount of Eliquis you take on your own. I like the idea of taking less or taking more when you need it. Why not? I haven’t had an Afib attack that I know of for year but I’m on 5 mg of Eliquis twice a day. When you want to take the 2.5 mg do you cut your tablets by yourself or do you have a prescription for the 2.5 mg? I don’t think my doctor is going to give me the prescription for the 2.5 mg and I have two bottles of the 5 mg that I hate to waste because of the expense.
Less than 2 years . It is 2 years since I was taken off for my first hip op. For awhile I took 3/4 dose taking the whole pill at night. I cut the pill in half. There's no way my doc would give me the half dose as I don't fit the official criteria - too young, too heavy and with good kidney function tests. My afib is symptomatic. I do get episodes that start when I am sleeping but they wake me up . I have never had an episode less than 8 hours . I always have to get up in the night anyway so I often check my pulse. I know that what I am doing is risky and unorthodox but I am not prepared to live everyday in pain. I get side effects from painkillers too so they are not an option for me even ones like opiates and Paracetamol that are supposed to be ok with anticoagulants.
the watchman is not the only solution in the States. I had a wolfminimaze procedure October 19, 2022. I haven’t had fib since then and I am no longer on Eliquis since the left atrial appendage was clamped.
There are more cardiothoracic surgeons in the States ( and I know of one in Japan and the UK) who are doing the minimaze or something slightly different called the convergent hybrid.
I could not be more pleased with the wolfminimaze procedure and the Houston Methodist Hospital where it was performed.
Best luck and prayers! 🙏💕
Hi! I’ve never heard of the wolfminimaze procedure or if they even do it here in Ohio. The only thing my doctor has offered me is the Watchmen procedure and for me that’s not an option as I’m not willing to have it done. Do you know how the wolfminimaze procedure different than the Watchman procedure?
If you google wolfminimaze you will get lots of info at the site.
Only Dr. Wolf does the wolf minimaze at Houston Methodist as he pioneered this procedure to stop AFIB in 2000- 2003.
He has performed thousands successfully.
Other cardiothoracic surgeons may do a type of minimaze but only he and a Japanese MD do this precise procedure ( or so I believe).
Your best bet is to check Cleveland Clinic ( maybe?) and check if they do minimaze or more than likely they do a convergent hybrid.
My research led me to Dr. Wolf and I traveled from PA to Houston, Texas. I am a retired nurse and Houston Methodist is stellar; like no other.
I will send links to you later today for your research.
Best!!
Thank you! I will do some research. Hopefully I may be able to find somebody locally that can give me more information on it or maybe even perform it.
many cardiologists /EP’s never heard of it or prefer not to speak about it since they can’t perform it ; must be a cardiothoracic surgeon.
I am on a Facebook wolf site where hopeful soon to be patients or patients of many years
Chat with each other; asking questions and or empathizing. I can invite you if you wish but I will need your email
Address to do this.
Research is the best!
Why not stop the expensive gummies and take Mirtazapine 45mg. It will make you happy without knowing why. It also helps with sleep unlike Sertraline that kept me awake.
Hi, Thanks for you reply to my post. I am currently taking Lexapro antidepressant. The main reason I like the CBD gummies so well is that they help with my sleeping along with my back pain. I even noticed that my mood improved immensely and asked the doctor if I can discontinue the Lexapro which she agreed was ok.
You say you want to "try" and reduce your Eliquis dose, and see if it matters.........well, the only problem with that is the only way you will see if "it matters" is if you have a stroke. Then you'll know it mattered, but it will be too late.
I understand what you’re saying but after all the problems I’ve had on Eliquis I am willing to take that risk. Not only is the Eliquis causing severe nosebleed’s but I live in constant fear of cutting myself or falling and having a brain bleed which my doctor said if that happens there’s nothing they can do for you when you’re on Eliquis. So I’m really torn at this point as I don’t want to have a stroke. I called the doctor this morning and the nurse said she would transfer the information about cutting the Eliquis in half.
I have edema and increased joint pain that I believe are a result of taking Eliquis. I have had some bleeding and fluid build up after falling that took several months to resolve. I also had knee replacement surgery that resulted in requiring a vacuum pump for 10 days due to Eliquis. After much research, I decided to cut my Eliquis dosage in half. As a point of information there are trials going on right now testing anticoagulants as pill in the pocket. The theory is that it might be ok for some individuals that are aware of when they are in AFIB, and with consideration health and age . I am on Metoprolol that mostly controls my episodes and when I have a breakthrough I know it. At that time I increase my dosage to the fully prescribed amount for a couple of weeks. I know there are some risks to what I am doing, but I am willing to take them. I am 75 years old. Oh, and my doctor does not approve.
I did ask my doctor about the pill in the pocket as I thought that was a great idea. The only thing with that is you have to go into the hospital for a trial to see how you react to the medication. I’m thinking if it’s that potent it may not be such a good idea. Like you I would like to cut my Eliquis in half but my doctor seems to be resisting. Since my nose bleeds has started acting up I called this morning to ask again. I do have the whole tablets and I thought about calling them and half but the pharmacy said not to so I’m not sure what to do if the doctor doesn’t want to cut the medication in half. Are you cutting your pills in half or did you get your doctor to give you a prescription for the 2.5 mg?
As another contributor mentioned the trial for PIP use of anticoagulants, I'll give you the link I have ... news.northwestern.edu/stori...
Oh wow! Thank you so much for sending that information. I have an Apple Watch and it tells me every week that I am in a fib 2% of the time. I would be interested in being included in this trial that they’re doing. I will do more research. Again thank you so much for sending that!
You are not alone in your dilemma, Debjimmay. There is a paucity of reliable information about the interaction between cannabis products and apixaban and other anti-coagulants. When I was diagnosed with (persistent, asymptomatic) AF two years ago, I asked my cardiologist about the possible effects of my use of cannabis on my condition. He said "We don't know" and that was that. The reason there has been so little research is that cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug in the US. Despite its legalization in many states and increasingly widespread use, most doctors still act like a deer in the headlights when patients bring up the matter. I received a scornful frown from my physician and the message was: "I don't want to hear anything about it." I'm also on Eliquis, and I do use cannabis fairly regularly, though not a product with specifically high CBD content. From what I've read, THC has less anti-coagulant effect than CBD. I also refrain from smoking it, taking it instead orally in the form of cannabis-infused ghee butter or as a tincture. So the fact that you're taking CBD as gummies is, at least, better than it would be if taken via inhalation through the lungs. But what you really need is a qualified physician, perhaps a naturopath who also has the requisite medical training and knowledge, to help advise you. True, there are insufficient scientific studies on this matter, but an experienced doctor who is also holistically-minded and realistic about what many people are doing these days should at least be able to help you weigh the risks and benefits. Like others on this forum, I would be wary of adjusting my dosage of Eliquis on my own without any discussion or advice from a physician. The difficulty, of course, lies in finding a doctor who is more broad-minded than the conservative, conventional, constantly-worried-about-lawsuits type we mostly find. A certain Dr. Sergio Fazio, a cardiologist in Portland, Ore, seems to be of the more open-minded type: "Anytime someone says that they were able to get eight hours of peaceful sleep because they used a little bit of marijuana, their cardiovascular health will likely be better off with the use of marijuana,” Fazio said. “When you move to the purely recreational use, that’s where the risks associated with heart problems potentially outweigh the benefits.”
Thank you for sharing your information about CBD and Eliquis. You are right about the deer in the headlights look from doctors. I even called the pharmacy where I get my prescriptions filled asking if it was ok to take CBD gummies with Eliquis. They weren’t able to help and told me to contact my physician. I sometimes wonder if I even need to be taking Eliquis at all. The last time I had an Afib attack was a year ago in November 2021. My Apple Watch says I’m in Afib 2% of the time. I’m working with my cardiologist now. He knows I would like to go from 5mg to 2.5mg. I’m waiting for a call to see what he will do. I thought about cutting the 5mg in half put the pharmacy did tell me it was not OK to do that and to check with the doctor….of course.
I have severe joint pain, I am on Eliquis and Flecainide. I also have glaucoma and wet macular degeneration. I wanted to try CBG, as it is not supposed to raise your IOP in eyes but perhaps lower it some. I asked my Electrophysiologist about it since I had read CBD wasn’t safe, his answer. “ I don’t know, no research on it, its listed as a food, don’t know if it safe with Eliquis or not”. I have it but have not gotten the nerve to try yet. It supposedly has many good benefits that I need, like appetite, pain relief and helps with sleep. I have the oil that you drop under your tongue. Good luck getting any answers from your cardiologist.
Hello, I must say I have never come across a pharmacist or Dr who would not advise or look up the information you’re asking!
I am on Eliquis and was told any over the counter even herbals you should seek advice before mixing the two. I asked about multivitamins and high strength fish oils and while I waited the pharmacist checked and said the vitamins were not an issue but high strength fish oils should be avoided as they increase the risk of bleeding.
I personally would go to a larger pharmacy or if there is a medicine management team at your GP ask to speak to them. I’d presume it important not to stop the Eliquis and seek help for pain through GP or referral to a pain management clinic
Hope you find some answers
Thank you! Very good information and advice. It seems every time I ask for information about CBD, the doctors act like they don’t know anything about it and don’t want to answer any questions about it. So I’ve had to turn to the Internet looking for answers and it’s mostly says that CBD and Eliquis were not good tween taken together. The CBD actually coagulates your blood just like the Eliquis so they basically said it would be like overdosing on Eliquis. It so frustrating sometimes.
when you say CBD coagulates your blood just like Eliquis - not same as Eliquis - which is anticoagulant to stop coagulation therefore if CBD is coagulant (which I can’t confirm or deny whether it does cause coagulation but if the CBD does that then it’s Doug what you don’t want to happen - puts you at risk of thrombosis (clots) & stroke
So you’re not overdosing on Eliquis which is to thin your blood so the latter don’t happen hence I said previously you need your pain relief managing to get you hopefully off the CBD which seems to be the main risk issue
The Drs will not want to give information about CBD as it’s not usually prescribed and maybe trials haven’t been extensive -I don’t know
Hi! I’m sorry, I don’t think I fully understood what I read about taking Eliquis and CBD and the coagulating effects they both have when taken together.. Below is something I copied from an article I was reading and I think that it best explains it but I really don’t understand it. All I got from it was that it wasn’t safe to take both together.
The body breaks down Eliquis mostly by using the enzymes CYP3A4 and P-GP. Studies have shown that CBD can inhibit both CYP3A4and P-GP in humans. Since these are the enzymes that remove Eliquis from the body, taking CBD at the time may increase the levels of Eliquis in the blood.
ok, as I’m not a doctor/pharmacist I do not really want to advise further other than I do want you to be well and safe and you do appear to be confused about both these drugs and what they do
I STRESS I DO NOT ENCOURAGE you to stop Eliquis - if this is YOUR prescription recommendation by qualified medical prescriber to try to prevent your blood clotting.
If CBD is NOT medically prescribed for you I would say I do not personally think it wise to continue until you have been medically assessed by a fully qualified practitioner.
I am not telling you what you should/shouldn’t do other than possible risks/consequence of mixing could be catastrophic for you as worse case scenario or lucky dip it might not - you can’t beat professional advice and training so please seek that and stay safe (don’t do lucky dip)
I use CBD and take Eliquis.
Did you notice anything unusual when you first started both the CBD and the Eliquis together? I started having nose bleeds after taking CBD for two weeks. I believe adding the CBD while taking Eliquis is what caused the nose bleeds but I don’t know for sure. I did have nose bleeds off and on for 3 months when I first started taking Eliquis two years ago. I think. I would love to get off of this drug. I worry too much on it but I don’t want to have a stroke.
I replied to you above but you’re worried about stroke - they aren’t just caused by clots but also haemorrhage so my post above says seek professional advice and don’t lucky dip this lottery x
Maybe it is best if you consult with your Dr ref the pain and try and get on a pain management course or get better pain management as well. I have not had worse pain since I have been on eliquis - in fact because I have been doing more to reduce the pain and keep myself mobile without taking NSAID's and antiinflammatory drugs my pain has got a lot better and I am taking fewer pain killers.
Hi Debjimmay. I wonder how you got on if you continued taking Eliquis and CBD. My stepdaughter is currently taking both and is concerned about the nose bleeds she has had two after taking CBD for 5 days. We spoke with consultant prior to taking CBD who said she didn't think it would be an issue but would try to find out more from the manufacturer. It feels similar to your questions 9 months ago we are either told by pharmacists or doctors there isn't enough information for them to answer or they say there hasn't been enough research so they cannot comment. We wondered if you continued taking CBD and Eliquis together? My stepdaughter has a different condition Ewing's Sarcoma, so chemo, Eliquis and cbd, we hope your well and thank you 🙏
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