Hi, I love cycling and have been on Apixaban for around four years and never had a problem with either the drug or the cycling. Someone told me today that the standard advice is NOT to cycle while taking AC drugs. I was surprised. They said it was incase you fall off and bang your head resulting in a bleed.
I’m conflicted - has anyone else heard this? I’d be gutted to stop cycling as I bloomin’ love it!
No doubt you wear a helmet. I juggle chain saws occasionally with warfarin which they say is dangerous. (Well I use them to cut logs for the stove)
My consultant said just wear a helmet. Exercise is good for you, she said the same about skiing and caring for a and riding horses too. She also said don't take up a sport like skiing but if it's already a part of your life then carry on.
Don't get up in the morning cos it's safer than walking around.Just go cycling and forget the advice.
Reference bobd's chainsaw activities I don't think it would make any difference whether or not on anticoagulants if the leg was chopped off LOL
Sit in the middle of a padded room and don't move ........... 🤪
I've never heard this specific advice and I used to cycle until recently. Obviously if you come off and bang your head badly it is advisable to go to A&E and mention that you are on anticoagulants. However, I have banged my head frequently in the garden and in other ways and only once gone to A&E when I fell badly and hit my head on the kitchen work top (just last week) - by far worse than any bump I had had previously from any other accident I had had in the, house, garden or on the road. All found to be OK. I don't wear a crash helmet in the house but do when skiing and cycling - not that my skiing or cycling is bad but have had accidents with other people bumping into me - only skiing - only on accident on my bicycle when cycling to work on a frosty morning but fell on my bum that time. Maybe I should try wearing a crash helmet everywhere now after that fall last week! 
.... but when you go to bed at night do please remove your helmet ... for a good nights sleep ! 😂😂😂😂
LOL.
Make sure you carry your anti coagulant card (just in case) and enjoy the open road
What is an anti coagulant card? Of course I can imagine - but is this a thing? I was not told about it? I have wondered if we should wear a bracelet etc, but never followed it up.
Do people carry anti coagulant cards? 😮
I’ve just looked them up and yes they are a thing. I’ve just bought one for £5 on Amazon / a simple wristband saying ON APIXABAN, it seems like a good idea to me esp when cycling or doing things that may potentially be risky
There's usually a card inside the box of medication. I carry one in my phone and purse (as I get one every month!)
I get one in every new packet of my anticoagulants (Eliquis) which you fill in ad keep on you. I have to say I don't always have it on me as being a man don't always carry a bag or wallet with me everywhere I go.
I have a neat neoprene bracelet which I wear on my left wrist (usual spot for pulse checking) when out and about. This is just in case of an accident that left me incapacitated to ensure the paramedic, or whoever, would be quickly aware that I was anti-coagulated.
So far I've not needed it 🤞
my cardiologists and GPs know I cycle, they have never said to stop. I wear a sports wristband stating I’m on anticoagulants when I cycle alone, just in case I fall off.
Far more important to do what you love, that's what like is about I think. I'd stay on cycle tracks but that's just a personal opinion, lots of drivers at least in the uk have terrible eyesight 😠
Luckily where we live we have plenty of quiet lanes/ cycle tracks and although the main roads are busy they are not mega busy so we are well placed for good cycling. I did bump my knee on the bike the other week and had a massive bruise so I can see the sense in the advice I was given but I’m not sure I care to follow it - life would be pretty miserable without a bike.
I bicycle before and after my ablation and being prescribed Eliquis. I was told to continue biking but be mindful of the increased risk. Make sure you wear a medical bracelet and go to the emergency room if you hit your head. While some have made fun of the advise it is true that every decision we make that increases the risk of bleeding must be weighed with the benefit of the activity I, for one, would not stop bicycling. Good luck and happy cycling!
If you love cycling carry on with it - you can of course make sure you protect yourself whilst cycling - end of the day anti-coagulants could pose a problem if you have a fall but you could fall or bang your head anyway without being in a bike - I nearly knocked myself out walking through a plate glass door a few years ago and all was fine so it’s not a given should you fall but obviously you need to take care - life is for living
sorry but that information sounds like it might be rubbish. You can fall over and bang your head crossing the road ( or get hit by a car etc), and you wouldn’t even have a helmet on. Maybe we should start wearing helmets all our waking hours 😂😂.
Wear a helmet, carry the warning card. It's highly unlikely this scenario will happen. Discuss with EP if worried but DON'T GIVE UP CYCLING 🚴🚴🚴🚴😂😂. Best wishes
I wouldn’t worry about it. I ride ride the gravel tracks and dirt roads at least 3-4 times a week, and have yet to fall off and bang my helmet covered noggin on anything. If I did fall, my watch would call 911 emergency if I did not respond, so I’m not worried.
I am on Apixaban and I cycle on the roads regularly. Neither of two Electrophysiologists nor a Cardiologist whom I have seen advised me not to cycle. The only advice in relation to cycling was from my cardiologist who was advising shorter cycles to reduce what he termed the "cardic load". I am careful when cycling and over decades have not suffered a bad fall or a head injury. I of course wear a well fitting helmet and I carry the Apixaban card as I believe that there is a reversal agent which should be available in hospitals if I should be admitted following an accident.
I cycled about 30,000 miles, competed in 1 world championship (in my class) While taking Apixaban. Only fell off once due to my front fork failing, but the speed is so low relatively that I came to no harm.
All the best Roy
Get a static bike - I love mine, I have it on my patio which is roofed and enclosed with folding glass doors, and I pedal away and watch the birds in the garden in all weathers (unless it gets over 35C, then I give it a miss)😀
Nice idea but it’s not for me - I love the journey as much as the cycling. Happy cycling.
Hi, I was on Edoxaban for a few years; now removed, still on Clopidogrel.
I regularly cycle and did so, while on the anticoagulant. As the others have said, wear a helmet and have some form of ID; I wear an sos talisman.
I am a also keen rock climber, I discussed this with my cardiologist and he was ok for me to continue while on an anticoagulant - just wear a helmet and no soloing ie. use ropes; always done both. Climb conservatively and avoid long whippers too 😀 Inevitably, I picked up some knocks and bruises, as well as cuts but it was all manageable.
happy cycling
At 65 I retired. Then I got bored and went back to my old job, bus driving. I retired for the second time on 5 July 2024, aged 79 ( 80 in Sept ). Its a manual sort a job but I've always taken care of myself ( 'cos no other so and so will ) .... and I'm still alive. I'm on Warfarin and am a delicate flower !
Always remember the 'Nanny State' is alive and kicking. Political correctness is also alive and well. Covering yer ass is also alive and well .............. damn well go for it, if that's your chosen endeavour, just take all reasonable care and enjoy.
John
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