APIXABAN

[kocoach]

Just got home from the ER. I had a CT scan done of my head and everything was fine so they let me drive home. There is a lot of discussion and worry about "apixaban" and bleeding and other problems. I want to put everyone's fears to rest. Got mad at myself about 3 hours ago and slammed my head against the wall and it hurt really bad and then I remembered I was taking apixaban and I needed to go to the emergency room and get checked out for possible brain bleed or swelling. They took me in right away and ct'd my brain and after an hours wait they came out and said everything looked fine (Thank GOD) and I could leave. I want to let all the readers know I have plaster walls and if anything was going to cause me to bleed this would've done it, I mean my head is still sore and the Dr. said I could take tylenol if it hurt. I know all the caution and fears of taking apixaban were dispelled for me. Funny thing, while I was in the ER waiting room an eliquis commercial came on the tv saying it was cardiologists # 1 pick for an anti-coagulant, this made a believer out of me; and I fought my EP for years about taking it and it's been about 3 years now and no problems. Hope this helps someone out there who is on the fence about taking this. GOD Bless and have a great day.

[Hidden]

May I ask your Apixaban dosage please?

[kocoach in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bill, I take 5mg morning and evening.

[sassy59]

Glad you’re ok and good on Apixaban. Take care

[kocoach in reply to sassy59]

Thank You very much. We all know it's GOD that is the real DR. and healer. GOD Bless and have a great day.

[Tickerprobs in reply to kocoach]

So where is GOD when all the nasty things in the world happen. ‼️‼️‼️

[kocoach in reply to Tickerprobs]

He's watching all of us destroy each other.

[Tickerprobs in reply to kocoach]

I’m not a believer but I do agree that we are all destroying each other. I think we are definitely due an Asteroid strike and let’s start over again. Get shot of all the ‘morons’ of this world. ‼️

[Desanthony]

I've had similar experiences and one scan like you. I haven't noticed that I bleed more easily, bleed more or for longer but I do bruise more easily and this would be of concern when banging your head against a hard wall. It can be worrying though so always best to check for anything internal. All in all I am pleased with my experience on apixaban - think I am coming up to 6 years on it and no problems.

[kocoach in reply to Desanthony]

Same here, bruise easily but not bleeding any more than when I wasn't taking it. Thank You. GOD Bless!!

[Karendeena in reply to Desanthony]

I tend to get more little bruises on my legs! Don't know how or why I get them but they are usually in the same place

[Threecats]

Glad to hear you’re ok. I’m a bit accident prone so it’s good to know the Apixaban has worked well for you despite your best efforts to knock yourself out! May I just respectfully suggest that maybe it’s time to find a less painful way to release your frustrations, I’m sure both your head and the wall would be grateful!

[kocoach in reply to Threecats]

I'm starting to realize that. No damage to the wall though it's plaster. Thank you for your response, still smiling. Have a Blessed Day!!

[Threecats in reply to kocoach]

Thanks Coach, you too😊

[fibnum]

You were courageous to do a crash test of Eliquis for us all, but I hope you will forego doing any more!

[kocoach in reply to fibnum]

Thank you, just lost my head for a second. (no pun intended). I remember when I was in boxing I used to actually punch myself in the head with my knuckles very hard getting ready for a fight. Stupid and Dumb things we do at times! Have very Blessed Day!

[rathlee]

Been on Rivaroxaban, had bleeding episodes from the various apertures of my body, advised to change to Apixaban; apart from the hassle of twice daily dosage of 5mg, rather than once of Rivar. my experience has been great; no probs. after 18 mo. I am 60 and have a tolerable AF; no other meds.

[oscarfox49]

Glad it all ended well, but I am a silly old duffer of 76 too, and I remember a year or so ago (after a stroke) when I started taking Apixaban and read all the warning leaflets, I was terrified that it could so easily cause a bleed on the brain. I got up in the dark one night and forgot that we have Velux windows beside the bed which stick into the room when open, and I cracked my head painfully on one.

I went to the loo immediately feeling like I was about to pass out, weak in the legs and convinced that I had caused fatal damage to myself. There was nothing at all wrong, just shock and fear! And since then our over enthusiastic dog has head butted me and I have banged my head on tree branches when chainsawing and really, the dangers are not as severe as we might fear.

Of course it makes sense to take care and not indulge in contact sports and so on, but we can still lead perfectly normal lives.

[kocoach in reply to oscarfox49]

Thanks for response and possibly helping others that are hesitating taking apixaban. GOD Bless!

[Tickerprobs]

Can I just say to you, without sounding unsympathetic and not knowing why you got mad at yourself … what a ridiculous thing to do. I hope you had to pay for your scan.

[kocoach in reply to Tickerprobs]

No, I get free care from the VA and no it doesn't bother me what people say, after all this is what freedom is all about, freedom of speech, unless of course you live in the U.S. as I do Biden is trying to take all of our freedom away!! Have a Wonderful day.

[DawnTX]

I am so glad that you are OK. May I suggest next time put a pillow between your head and the wall. We all do silly things at times. I am thankful you didn’t have anything serious going on afterwards. I once bounced a lasagna off the kitchen wall. It might’ve looked like it was my head. They did it, but only the lasagna and my hands scrubbing the wall later suffered.

Hugs

[kocoach in reply to DawnTX]

Stress and anxiety have funny ways of coming out of us, never again. I thought all this was finished when I quit boxing. Have a Blessed day!

[DawnTX in reply to kocoach]

I agree, hon I guess we need to count to 10 before we react but it’s easier said than done. Usually my anti-depressants keep me in check take care of yourself.

[Snomis]

I have been taking apixaban and bisoprolol for almost five years now,have the blood checks every six months I also take one each night of atorvastatin.I swim everyday my heart rate is excellent,so no fear of meds.just make sure that you have the blood checks for kidneys etc.good luck to you and all on health unlocked

[kocoach in reply to Snomis]

Thank You, I too take atorvastatin at night. Thank GOD no problems related. GOD Bless and have a great day.

[ozziebob]

Good to hear Apixaban is working well for you. However particular medications have different effects in different individuals. A few years ago I didn't bang my head against brick wall, nor even a plasterboard one, nor did I crash trying to break a cycling speed record, but I still suffered chronic bilateral subdural haematomas. Fortunately I survived without surgical intervention, just a course of steroids (absolutely horrible!).

So my brain bleed was unexplained, and I live with the fear of a repeat event, especially as I could not avoid one suggested possible cause of my bleed as "straining on the toilet" (yes, really). Well, not for the rest of my life anyway.

Because of my individual situation I have so far chosen not to begin the anticoagulation recently advised.

Although, good news for Apixaban, I was recommended Apixaban above other DOACs because "it has lower risk of brain bleeds".

This is good news for me if I start anticoagulation, but for others the standard recommendation in my area now is the cheaper Edoxaban. So perhaps not such good news, although I know many have good experience with Edoxaban.

[Countrydweller2 in reply to ozziebob]

Interesting. I was ill on Apixaban, fainting everywhere, so changed to Xarelto but my legs are so painful on that so dr gave me Edoxaban today but reading it up on line that looks very risky bleedwise. Don't know what to do.

[ozziebob in reply to Countrydweller2]

Try it, others report on the Forum taking Edoxaban without problems for years.

[Countrydweller2 in reply to ozziebob]

Thank you!

[kocoach in reply to ozziebob]

I agree, there is no one pill fix for everybody. I think maybe because I was hit in head so many by 230 lb. guys while boxing it might have hardened ny brain. Who knows, only GOD!

[oscarfox49 in reply to ozziebob]

Nobody is saying that Apixaban is risk free of course, but it is far safer than most other anti coagulants, even aspirin, which has a long history of causing intestinal bleeding.

This table comes from a research paper in the American College of Cardiology and the very low risk of 0.33% from Apixaban must of course be offset against the much greater risk of ischaemic stroke affecting the brain, if the patient was not taking the anti coagulant.

Table 2: Intracranial hemorrhage among patients taking NOACs

Drug and dosage Trial Population (n) Events Intracranial bleeds ITT (%/year)

Dabigatran 150 mg bid RE-LY16 6076 36 0.30

Dabigatran 110 mg bid RE-LY16 6015 27 0.23

Rivaroxaban 20 mg od ROCKET-AF17 7131 67 0.57

Apixaban 5/2.5 mg bid ARISTOTLE18 9120 52 0.33

Edoxaban 60/30 mg od ENGAGE AF19 7035 61 0.39

Edoxaban 30/15 mg od ENGAGE AF19 7034 41 0.26

Of course, it is a horrible tragedy for anybody who suffers in such a way from using any anticoagulant but we are in the business of trying to reduce risk not increase it, and sadly there is nothing that will reduce the risk to nil.