Edoxoban Update

[Budken]

I recently posted that my Cardiologist had put me on Edoxoban 30mg daily, instead of Aspirin which I had been taking for years. He said the Edoxoban was both safer, and unlike Aspirin would prevent the risk of stroke.

A day after starting Edoxoban, I either came down with a cold, or allergy symptoms. It has only been seven days since starting, so have not yet figured out if it is a cold, or a reaction to the Edoxoban. Since colds can last as long as ten days, I plan to wait it out. The symptoms however, seem to be waning. Otherwise I have had no ill side effects.

However this is my actual question. Along with Aspirin, I was taking half of a 500mg Magnesium/Potassium supplement. I had been taking that since I started PAF in 2010, as well as Flecainide and also Fish Oil. I was told that with Edoxoban there were no foods I could not have. What was not mentioned was what supplements I could or could not take. I read online that if you are on blood thinners ( seemed to be mostly about warfarin ) that you should not take Magnesium. I had always been told that the Magnesium and Potassium helped your heart. I do know Fish Oil tends to thin your blood, so I ruled it out at least till I find out more. But I am not sure about the Magnesium/Potassium supplements. Has anyone heard anything about taking these, while on Edoxoban? I also take 100mg Ubiquinol ( Coq10 ) This I am still taking, because I also take Simvastatin 10mg daily. Have always been told that Coq10 helps undo some of the damage that Simvastatin does to your muscles.

[BobD Volunteer]

Aspirin has little or no stroke prevention effect with AF whilst still having great potential for harm gastric bleeding. Anticoagulants help prevent strokes if you have AF.

Regarding contra indications you should speak to your pharmacist as they are the experts on drug interactions.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

May I echo Bob D's comment, it is important to check in advance before taking any over-the-counter medication, supplements or herbal remedies with the Pharmacist to ensure they do cause an issue with any other prescribed medications.

[mav7]

Good advice above by BobD and Admin.

Also, insure your cardiologist and GP are aware of the supplements you are taking. Good to have them entered into your records.

Don't be misled by advertisements for over-the-counter supplements. Check with your doctors.

[Ppiman]

I am sure it is fine to take the supplements. I have read that potassium is a more risky one to take and that the chances of being short of it are nearly nil, so I would ask your GP about that. Also, even though magnesium has never been shown to prevent arrhythmias, I gather that it is safe to take as, unlike potassium, the body only absorbs what it needs, and some do feel it works well for them.

Steve

[ozziebob]

I find drugs.com a useful information source on such questions while waiting for further medical advice.

For example, here's the interaction results (professional option) between 2 of the drugs you mentioned ...

drugs.com/drug-interactions...

I think the free version of this site allows up to 3 drugs in a comparison, but you can easily do multiple searches to cover all your medications.

[Budken in reply to ozziebob]

Actually it was on Drugs.com where I read that you should not take Magnesium with Edoxoban. My Doctor did not say anything about it. It is on my medications list that I take 250mg Magnesium and Potassium daily, as well as the Fish Oil. He did not tell me to stop either. Have been taking them for ten years, on the advice of my first Cardiologist. It was on Drugs.com where I saw it, and it simply says Anti-Coagulants. Does not actually say which ones other than Warfarin. I also do not know what kind of Magnesium is in the supplements sold at Droggeries. It simply says 500mg Magnesium. 400mg Potassium. I was only taking half a day. The Fish oil I was taking was 1000mg.

[ozziebob in reply to Budken]

My only supplement is Vitamin D3 + K2, so I cannot help re anything else. If you do a 🔎 HU search (at top of the home page) on "magnesium" you will get a lot of information about the different forms of magnesium that are recommended by doctors and AF patients. I would think it is vital to know the exact form of magnesium (& potassium) in your supplements.

PS. I just looked on this drugs.com site at an interaction of edoxaban with one random form of magnesium, and didn't find the warning you mentioned.

[Auriculaire]

Lots of people here take magnesium alongside DOACs. Fish oil capsules are probably safe as long as you don't excede 1000mg a day. They are anti aggregant rather than anticoagulant. You can get potassium by eating fruit such as bananas and oranges.

[MainlyMyself]

I have been taking warfarin for many years now so has e no experience to offer you about Edoxaban. However `I was thinking of taking some potassium to offset the night cramps I get which are a known side effect of the Ramipril I take daily. Sorry not to be able to help, but I shall follow any subsequent posts with interest.

Also, a week is a very short time period to assess any drug or supplement.

[BenHall1]

Hiya Budken,

I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in January 2010, aged 65. Up till this point my party bag of drugs was Simvastatin ( Cholesterol), Ramipril ( high BP), and Felodopine (high BP), and since 2019 - Finasteride ( prostate reduction). Come Jan 2010 was added Warfarin and Bisoprolol. In September this year I turn 80.

At no time have I experienced any side effects from these drugs I have listed above until 2023. With all this stuff rattling around inside me I have enjoyed great times - still do - 😊

In August 2023 my Surgery Pharmacist changed my Bisoprolol (5mg) to Nebivolol (3.75mg). This was because I was complaining that after 13 years on Bisoprolol I was feeling more and more like the Zombie from the Village of the Dead. After the change - no sweat. Shortly after this, she approached me and asked if I would change from Simvastatin to Atorvastatin - I agreed having listened to her justification which was that Simvastation was a rather old drug nowadays and Atorvaststatin was a more modern effective drug. Yeah ..... they are all probably good salespeople !! All diligently working for the NHS and Drug cartels ! 😀

In October 2023 my GP changed my Warfarin to Edoxaban. This was because she wanted to increase my doses of pain medication to even stronger stuff than I was previously on. Here I was conned because my GP had tried to get me off Warfarin a number of times in previous years and I refused. This time she conned me into believing that once I'd got onto the stronger pain medication the Edoxaban would be best for minimizing bleeds. Well she had her wicked way with me in the end BUT - and here is the rub - I have had no side effects from switching to Edoxavan .... none at all. As an aside I abandoned both stronger pain relief drugs because of unacceptable side effects - diarrhea and returned to my original pain killer.

Finally, right from January 2010 I have taken one capsule per day of Bioquinone Active Q10, each capsule is 100mg. No sweat - ever - with any concotion of drugs I've been prescribed. Apart from that I consume no supplements BUT I do eat a banana a day as part of my lunch. I have never ever taken supplements as such. Further, the changes in my drugs in mid/late 2023 have had no effect on me at all. In the context of Edoxaban, if I am careless in DIY work around the house I still bruise - just like I used to on Warfarin, no more ... no less.

Sorry for the length of this - hope it helps.

John

[Budken in reply to BenHall1]

Thanks! So far no side effects here; either.