Medication dosage

[Calypso76]

Hi, everyone here is so helpful that I feel confident to share my concerns and confusion with you. Please bear with me. I was recently diagnosed with AF and put on Eliquis, which I have not yet begun to take for so many reasons. First and foremost, I'm scared of the bleeding side effect (I've had bleeding in my stools twice), then I have kidney issues and I've been given a 10mg dosage twice a day. Is anyone on 10 mg? I'm 76 female. I read an article in Medical News Today that only mentions side effects of 2.5 mg vs 5. Why was I given 10mg? I appreciate your support.

[mjames1]

This should be a question addressed to your doctor, which none of us here are.

However, I will say standard dosing for afib is 5 mg bid (twice a day) and in certain cases 2.5 mg bid.

My understanding is that 10 mg BID is only for DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and then only for a short period of time before reverting back to 5 mg bid.

Jim

[Calypso76 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks for your quick response. I did read that standard is 5mg, 2.5 is for people 80 and over. I'm calling my cardiologist tomorrow to make an appointment. I'll keep you posted.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Good Morning

Anticoagulants are a vital component in protecting you from the high risks posed from having AF - an AF-related stroke. It is well known that some of the common side effects from the medication is the risk of bleeding and bruising. It is understandable to not want to take the medication so therefore you must raise your concerns and discuss with your own doctor who will be able to respond to your question about dosage. You may also wish to download our 'Preventing an AF-related Stroke' booklet from our resources tab on the AF Association webpage:

US: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

UK: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

booklet

[wilsond]

That sounds odd. My husband had a dvt and even he was only on the same dose as I , 5mg twice a day for 6 months, then 2.5 indefinitely. I'm on 5 mg twice daily for life.

Never heard of anyone being prescribed 10mg twice ( in other words 20mg!!).

Please investigate surely not right!

[mjames1 in reply to wilsond]

Never heard of anyone being prescribed 10mg twice ( in other words 20mg!!).

"...have recently had a blood clot (within the last 6 months) is two 5mg tablets taken twice a day, for the first 7 days. After that, you'll take one 5mg tablet twice a day..."

nhs.uk/medicines/apixaban/h...

Jim