Apixaban vs Edoxaban Acid stomach

[riverside22]

Last week I had a call from my practice about switching from Edoxaban to Apixaban. I switched starting Tuesday. Well ever since I've been having acid reflux, acid stomach heartburn etc. I was actually sick at one point. I've not changed my diet at all, and wondered what had changed, Well it does seem the only change was me switching these two. Has anyone else noticed this? I can't put up with this, I'm taking bicarb to try to stop the acid, but, it's not a solution. I was 2 years or more on Edoxaban with no issues.

[babs1234]

why did. They change you? I’m on apixaban but take lanzoprazol for acid reflux. Been on that for years. Now you mention it I do find I’m having to take Gaviscon now and again too

[riverside22 in reply to babs1234]

A sort of sketchy, "offers better protection" thing.

[CDreamer]

I’ve been on Apixaban for 10+ years and not had problems but switched from Dabigatran which did give me acid reflux - we all react very differently to different meds.

[riverside22 in reply to CDreamer]

Yes, I'd never had a problem with the Edoxaban I was on either.

[Peony4575]

You need to ring up your pharmacist or whoever changed you and demand to be put back on Edoxaban . Why should you suffer side effects or have to take another drug to suppress the side effects when you were perfectly alright on Edoxaban just to save the practice a few bob . What do you think your GP would do if it was him/her in your situation ? I would ask them politely and if they refuse tell them I would be putting my complaint in writing .

[riverside22 in reply to Peony4575]

yes I have a mind to, however it wasn't the GP that phoned me it was a medication adviser person or some similar title.

[Peony4575 in reply to riverside22]

Well either phone your practice and ask to speak to the pharmacist . If that does not work put it in writing addressed to your GP. Am afraid you have to stand up for yourself these days, sad but true

[ozziebob]

A recent Post mentioned that the reason for recent attempts by surgeries to switch from edoxaban to apixaban was that apixaban was now the cheaper drug. You might find that Post informative ...

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

But it should be a switch that has the agreement of the patient and doesn't cause additional medical issues. Good luck.

[riverside22 in reply to ozziebob]

Well I'm sure the cost will be the main reason

[ozziebob]

You mentioned that an explanation offered for the switch was "A sort of sketchy, "offers better protection" thing".

Well, if you want research evidence to support your "sketchy" evaluation, look no further than this article ...

Comparison of clinical outcomes of edoxaban versus apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation in Germany: A real-world cohort study

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/347....

And I agree with Peony4575 's suggestions.

[riverside22 in reply to ozziebob]

Right! after reading that DEFINATELY, requesting to go back to Edoxaban! Thanks for the articles.

[Threecats in reply to riverside22]

Do bear in mind that the authors of the study in Ozziebob’s link all have close affiliations with the company who manufactures Edoxaban.

I’m also on Apixaban and had no issues until I was given a different brand on one occasion. I can only assume it was one of the fillers in that brand but, whatever it was, it gave me horrible heartburn and digestive trouble. After a week of that I asked to switch back to the previous brand and peace was restored! I just thought I’d mention that as another possibility. I hope you get things sorted soon.

[iris1205]

I had to return to Xarelto when switched to apixaban due to a significant increase in joint pain. We all respond differently- get switched back! Take care!

[riverside22 in reply to iris1205]

I rang them, the "health adviser" took all the details and said the Practice phamacist" would be in touch within 48 hours, but couldn't advise on which antiacids to take... so it'll be the bicarb for now then :/

[pusillanimous]

Yes I changed from Xarelto to Eliquis because it is believed to be better for Afib patients, but I woke up every morning with dreadful heartburn which I had never experienced before -now back on Xarelto or iXorolo as it's called in Africa and no heartburn !

[riverside22 in reply to pusillanimous]

Weirdly it seems to be easing a bit, maybe it's just specific foods in combination with the Apixiban that cause the issues.. We'll see what she has to say, I've been promised a call within 48 hours... but the last thing I need is an extra tablet turning into an extra 3 with anti acids to go along with the 2 Apixiban, as I'm already on about 60 tablets a week!

[pusillanimous in reply to riverside22]

In my case it did not matter what I ate. I eat my last meal of the day at 5pm when I took the Eliquis (Apixaban) 1st tablet, and the second at 5am in the morning (in Summer here it's light at 4.30am) but the heartburn started before I took the 5am tablet. I tried eating a biscuit or a squareof chocolate before I went to bed, but it made no difference, so I just asked my doctor to put me back on Xarelto(Rivaroxaban). The heartburn cleared up in a couple of days. Here in South Africa it is the most expensive anti-coagulant, but the Medical Aid Society to which you belong pays 90% of the price. I would love to know how the pricing works between countries.Here a pack of Eliquis (28 tabs) is R850 - divide that by 22 to bring it to pounds, so I would expect 28 Eliquis tabs to cost about 38 pounds in the UK.

[riverside22 in reply to pusillanimous]

I'm not sure how much they cost, as we're not told here, it's just all on prescrition.

[pusillanimous in reply to riverside22]

👍

[wilsond]

Makes me so angry. Last year the exact opposite was happening because Edoxaban was ,at the time,cheaper!If its not a medical reason,agreed with your DOCTOR ring or go up to surgery and bang the table( metaphorically) tell them you require to be put back on Edoxaban immediately due to the effects you have had.

These Clinical Pharmacists seem to act in a rather draconian way,in my own experience told.

Not good enough. Best wishes

[Peacockmumma]

interesting..I only say because I was put on apixaban…in the last yr I think , from no thinners.. and have started coughing at night and first thing in the am only. I had a real bad cough in July and thought the cough was the tail end..but a friend who also has afib..has silent reflux and is given famotidine for reflux. I am away at the moment but first job when back is to see dr for something to help silent reflux if it is this. Hope you get it sorted

[exmouth]

Hi you’ve really made me wonder I have a reflux cough and I’m on Apixaban. Although I’d say I don’t really get a lot of acid , I’m now wondering if it’s the Apixaban. I also take a stomach tablet once a day Hope you solve the problem, will be asking Dr on next visit. Take care.

[riverside22 in reply to exmouth]

I will say it seems to have eased with me since the original post, but the first few days weren't good.

[riverside22]

so as an update, today the pharmacist rang, and we had quite a chat, and agreed I could go back to Edoxaban, with a warning that I might not be getting the absolute best protection, and sugesting riveroxaban, Which I said gave me a dry night cough. So, back to "normal", if the acid reflux remains then it can't of been the Apixaban. but at lease I'll know.