Edoxaban

[charley1953]

Good evening. After being on Warfarin for over 10 years, my Dr has asked me how I feel about changing to Edoxaban. I have a bit of a mental block about changing as I'm concerned about only having 1 blood test a year. Any advice would be very welcome. I am 71 if that helps. Thank you.

[jeanjeannie50]

I started on Warfarin almost 20 years ago, it suits me and I have no desire to change to any other anticoagulant.I have my own INR testing machine

Jean

[charley1953 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you, this is how I'm feeling at the moment. Maybe I should invest in a testing machine 😊.Ros

[BenHall1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Mornin' Jean, hope you are fit and well.

Just a question for my own interest if I may .......... does your surgery fully support you via an INR Clinic 'in house' ?? Also, do you/have you followed a diet very strictly ?? Must say my surgery when I lived in Surrey was very, very supportive and now I'm down here at the pointy end of Cornwall my surgery is equally supportive, brilliant in fact. My diet - both food and booze - has not followed any set advice, I do just what I want. The most important thing I've found is whatever one eats or drinks - Warfarin loves, just loves - consistency.

😂'Ave a good day. Just gonna disappear into my wind/waterproof bunker !! 😂😂

John

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to BenHall1]

Morning John

Yes, my surgery fully support me regarding my INR in house. Thy send me a text message once a month to ask for my INR and always supply lancets and test strips when I need them.

I still heed two recommendations you offered many years ago. Avoid oats (now have a breakfast made from buckwheat, milled seeds and fruit) and stop eating yogurts (didn't realise until later that was giving me a sore stomach). So thank you for those tips.

Now I never eat or drink anything containing artificial additives and I believe that is what has helped my heart rate the most. Also I don't wear any tight clothing around my body.

My heart rate now flits between 60-90bpm and although I still get tired days (don't we all as we age) I can cope.

Jean

[BenHall1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

Very glad to hear that my earlier advice has been of help to you. I have to say I try as much as possible to stick to my diet guidelines, not always successfully though – that said I still do not touch yoghurts, I’m also very selective with my greens – not because of any impact on Warfarin and INR but because of their impact on my digestive system/ gut. Am also very selective about what beers I drink. Red wine is no problem 🍷🍷

Thankfully all my AF related stuff is now very well controlled – to the point – that it only seriously kicks off once every 4 or 5 years. That is thanks to my choice of mediction for life, the support of my GP in this direction of travel, and even more significantly my willingness to go the diet route.

Having said that I did need to visit a new Cardio Consultant in April 2024 at which time he was happy enough with my heart status but wanted me to get more physical exercise. So I went this route and during the summer months all was well but as we moved deeper into winter I developed more and more breathlessness. End result the diagnosis of mild COPD !! Now I’m on a Blue Inhaler ( Easyhaler with Salbutomol ) ………….. so now I’m wondering if I can get me money back on account of old age ( just jokin’ ) 😀😀.

Glad that your heart flits around that level, mine stays pretty constant at around 74 bpm, I’m chuffed with that as it is the level which enables me to function best ……… Yep, the tiredness still gets me too, I think it is a battle weary heart but aggravated by the latest COPD. Nevertheless – when spring gets a grip down here I do plan to return to exercising. Luckily around the Hayle area there are some delightful walks.

Stay well, stay safe.

John

[brit1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

why avoid oats? Just curious

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to brit1]

They gave me a sore stomach. I now use rolled buckwheat in my cooked muesli like breakfast.

[Peony4575]

can only say I have been on Edoxaban for a couple of years without problem. Easy, take one tablet in the morning and you’re done

[Fidodog]

I have been on Edoxaban for few years all good an only once a day

[Redwing30]

I have been on Edoxeban for 7 years with no problems.

[BenHall1]

Hi,

I was put on Warfarin in Jan 2010 (15 years ago) when diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. Stayed on it until November 2023 when my GP put me on Edoxaban - came off it and returned to Warfarin at my own initiative in April 2024.

GP put me on Edoxaban because of the treatment of a new medical condition I had been diagnosed with and my GP felt it would respond better with Edoxaban rather than Warfarin. So she claimed ! That said, she had been trying to get me off Warfarin for some years prior and I had kept refusing. Incidently I had never had problems with Warfarin and like Jean I have my own self testing device and had always tested at home - absolutely successfully getting my test strips on NHS too, even though I bought my own device too.

Why did I return to Warfarin ? ................ after starting Edoxaban all was well, then gradually, I started dreaming , these dreams got more and more frequent, more intense, more disturbing and more vile in content and intensity. Disturbed sleep every night. I felt I'd done my bit giving Edoxaban a go so I wrote a hard copy letter to my GP telling her my new experiences and telling her I have elected to never take Edoxaban again nor would I take any of the other three NOAC's either .... I will return to Warfarin immediately.

She never argued with me and has continued to sign off my prescription Test Strips to be used when taking my INR test on my test device at home. Now I'm back on Warfarin I'm as happy as a pig in muck and having no problems at all.

BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE there is no way I would recommend anyone ditch Warfarin in favour of a NOAC particularly if Warfarin has given no problems. Whilst Warfarin makes a number of demands on a patient it is far more tried and proven in the real world today than the NOAC's. I must also say/stress - I'm only talking about those who have been on Warfarin for any length of time in the past. I'm not including in my discussion here, those who have NEVER BEEN on any anticoagulant in their lives and whose anticoagulant journey is just starting with a NOAC.

Good luck in your decision.

John

PS ......... just remembered .......... whilst on Warfarin I had three surgical procedures ( the most significant being knee replacement surgery ) which involved me stopping and restarting Warfarin each time on each occasion ......... no problems, no sweat ! 😀

[charley1953 in reply to BenHall1]

Thank you, my feelings are ' if it isn't broken, why try and fix it'. I've been absolutely fine on Warfarin and like you, I've had surgery but it's been no problem getting my INR back to 2-3.

[lawspear]

Edoxaban is more effective than warfarin at preventing cardiovascular events and carries a significantly lower risk of bleeding. Listen to your doctor.

[MarkS in reply to lawspear]

The INR values of the warfarin patients in the DOAC trials were sub-optimal. For instance, in the edoxaban trial, the warfarin comparison patients were only in the therapeutic range 68% of the time, which is considered poor by NICE. If the time is 70% then warfarin is equal to edoxaban in effectiveness. If 75% or more is achieved then warfarin is superior. I'm in range 99% of the time as I monitor my own INR.

[charley1953 in reply to MarkS]

That's very interesting, thank you.

[LadyLawson]

I’ve been on Edoxaban for five years with no side effects. Easy to take and no need for regular tests.

[Dudtbin]

i am on edoxaban and have blood tests every 3 - 6 months .

[Karendeena]

DOACs Carry lower risk and do not require the regular monitoring that you have with warfarin. Annual blood tests are the norm.

[Silvasava]

Been on Edoxaban since 2019, no issues whatever. Have had tooth extractions and major abdominal surgery with no issues either.

[Spanl5]

Hi, I was on Apixaban and changed to Edoxaban for financial reasons, this started in 2021 after Afib diagnosis and before my stroke. Last November I spent a week in a vascular ward having developed a limb threatening clot the length of my right leg.(Fortunately sorted with heparin.) The doctors persuaded me to change to Warfarin as being a more effective guard against clotting. I feel that it is better because of the regular INR checks. Jan 79 years

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Spanl5]

I am taking warfarin. I can’t tolerate any of the DOAC’s. I was also told, by an AE doctor that l was on the best one, although some on here will disagree. Reliable, been around for over 50 years and medics are experienced in dealing with it.

The blood check is not a problem as it’s just a finger test and over within seconds. A test is taken approximately every 6 weeks, unless you have a home monitor and take it yourself.

It amazes me how the medics., In a crisis, always revert to warfarin?

[Qualipop]

If it ain't broke why fix it? Does your G P have any specific reasons for suggesting a change? If you're quite happy on warfarin why change?

[charley1953 in reply to Qualipop]

He booked a telephone conversation with me to suggest changing because my INR went up to 3.1. First time in 2yrs that it's been out of 2/3 range. I think it was just a blip because my last result was 2.4.

[Qualipop in reply to charley1953]

Stick to your guns if you're sure it can be kept stable.

[Sleepyzz]

I find being on Edoxaban much easier that Warfarin. No issues with diet affecting it. I know it works because I’m very clumsy sometimes I managed to prove that I bleed a lot through small cuts 😂

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Thank you for your post and it is understandable to be anxious about changing medications that you have been taking over a prolonged period of time. Many of the members have already offered their advice based upon their own experiences, but if you would like any advice or support, please do not hesitate to contact our Patient Services Team:

UK & International: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

US: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Alternatively, you may prefer to download 'Preventing an AF-Related Stroke booklet which provides an overview of all anticoagulants.

UK & International: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

US: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[charley1953 in reply to TracyAdmin]

That's brilliant, thank you Tracy

[sdweller]

Edoxaban has shown “less chance of major bleeding events while showing similar effectiveness”. And you only need to test your blood once a year. Seems pretty straight forward. It is human nature to be opposed to change, but things get better, we make improvements to most things…. Why not take advantage of that? For me it seems like an easy choice to make.

[wischo]

Only ever been on DOACs first apixaban which caused itchy hives and then Edoxaban which is fine. Seen several people on Warfarin including my late father and never really fancied all the fuss with diet and testing they had to do. I find it grand.

[MarkS]

As mentioned higher up, "Edoxaban has shown less chance of major bleeding events while showing similar effectiveness" only applies with poor INR control on warfarin. Get good INR control with modern methods such as Coagucheks, and warfarin is superior.

[Alan1947]

I was changed about 3 years ago. I am very happy with Edoxaban - less testing, less worry about what I eat etc, and no side effects. Looking back Warfarin feels very old fashioned and fiddly.

[northernsoul1]

Can't believe they're still prescribing warfarin. I changed from Warfarin eight years ago and have never looked back. Fitting an almost weekly blood test and a full time job was almost impossible