I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation about 3 weeks ago after over 3 years visiting endless doctors and specialists with a range of diagnoses. My specialist put me on Eliquis 2 weeks ago, but the side effects were horrendous. I had constant pain and aches throughout my body, especially in my shoulders and right leg from my groin to my feet. I felt like I was floating on air and a zombie. My sleep was continually interrupted. My husband took me to emergency on Saturday night because I was in a terrible pain and felt like I was having a heart attack. They said that all was ok with me?????. I went to my GP on Tuesday and had a blood test and went back to her yesterday. All my bloods show that all is ok. She has now put me onto Pradaxa and also Panadeine Forte (1/2 tablet) at night to help me sleep. Last night I slept until 3 am but since then have had the same terrible pains and aches, although I don't feel like I am floating as I did on Eliquis. But I feel like my quality of life has gone. Any advice would be appreciated.
Written by
Brightman
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Hi there. I am so sorry you are having such a rough time. I do not have AF, I had blood clots, but all the side effects you describe from the blood thinners are exactly as I experienced. Firstly, what you are describing IS down to the medication and lots of people have similar side effects. Equally many people have no side effects at all, so it is sometimes hard to get Medical professionals to take these side effects seriously. Whichever anticoagulation med you take going forward, it is unlikely that you will ever be totally free of side effects, since you react so badly to them, but hopefully things will improve for you. It seems like your GP knows what they are doing because Pradaxa works in a different way to Apixaban and is often tolerated better by people who react badly to Rivaroxaban/ Apixaban.
My advice is to stick with the Pradaxa because it took at least six months on it for the damage caused by the Apixaban to go away in my case. I have been taking Pradaxa for two years now and find the side effects are much less. I don’t know if your GP warned you, but Pradaxa is very harsh on your digestive system. It is a very acid drug and you should take it with a very large drink of water to ensure it reaches the stomach before the capsule dissolves. You will probably find that it is not a good idea to take it just before lying down and if it makes you feel sick, experiment with taking it before/during/after/without food etc. I take it with food and have no problems in this regard. Also remember that with all blood thinners, you should have blood tests every six months or so to check liver and kidney function and to check your blood count.
This is all so new and scary for you right now - take one day at a time and hang on in there and I think things will settle down for you in time.
Ps. If you do have problems with acid on Pradaxa your GP can prescribe you Omeprazole, but try not to take it if you can as it lessens the effectiveness of the Pradaxa.
I am also a new passenger on the blood thinner train. Out of the blue in February, I was put on Apixaban and much like yourself, I got the joint pains and when I walked felt like i was wading through water. The fatigue is the worst thing though.
I am four months in and still with it. The main problem is that because of the lockdown, seeing a specialist is impossible in my area at the moment and the ability in my GP's surgery varies so much.......
Your response is much appreciated. I am in South Australia where our lockdown isn’t too bad, but doctors are difficult to get into. You have informed me of more information than I have been given by doctors. Thank you.
Just read your story. Ì am on endoxiban 60mg since April 2020 . Ì had no joint pain before taking this . Ì am now in constant joint pain. Ì am trying to get it sorted with my GPSI thought I was being paranoid but it seems to be some side effects for some people. Ì hope you have been sorted
The effects have eased. However, pre Apixaban I already had joint pain and used to take brufen (Naproxen) to keep it in check but this isn't compatible with Apixaban
What my GP game me were Lidocaine patches which you apply to the area of pain - and they work brilliantly, much better than the brufen
Thanks for getting back, they say I can’t have naproxen or any other anti inflammatory because I have asthma , I can only take paracetamol I am glad you got sorted, I just want to get back to getting some pain free days
I will have to ask my go . Can I have lidocaine with asthma medication . It’s terrible isn’t it, they give you a medication to cure one problem then you have to have take another medication to take for the side effects of the first drug.
It will get better. I have AF and was on pradaxa now, for two years, on Apixaban. Took quite a while and there are still odd flare ups. Much better than the alternative which is a blood clot. Good luck. X
Hi there..hope u r doing better..i too am struggling with blood thinner side effects..i hd catheter procedure post which i was put on aspiri fr 6 months..after reading ur post i realised im in a terrible woe....god knws what all i will hv to go through..already im fatigued and down with tremendous weakness n constipated too...nywys..god luck 2 u..tc
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