My Mum is 89 and has been taking 2 x 5 mg daily for many years. She also takes 1digoxin tablet daily. She is on other medication as well but I am concerned that the level of Apixiban is too high for her frail body.
Her health has deteriorated dramatically since October 2020.
Advice would be much appreciated. I feel like I am talking to a wall when raising concerns with the doctor.
Thank you
Hi Jimichew, I do understand your concern but honestly I still think the best person to give you your answer to this is your mum's GP. I'd just persist. I know that, especially just now, it's quite hard to even get as much as a phone consultation at times, but you are worried and this is important. Failing a GP, does your mum have any kind of qualified nursing help, as in that case he or she could act as an intermediary and ask on your behalf. Otherwise I'd call the surgery and explain you are your mum's carer, say that you have an urgent query with regard to her medication and don't allow yourself to be put off. If you ask, her GP will have a duty of care to explain why, or not, your mum's dose of apixaban should remain the same.
Thanks very much for your reply.
Hi there. I think you have a valid concern - some of the anticoagulant dosages do reduce for the elderly. With Apixaban, it is generally reduced if the person is over 80 and either has dodgy kidneys or weighs less than 60kg although obviously this is a clinical decision based on the whole of a person’s medical history. The decision has to be weighed up against the risk of stroke etc by a medical clinician. Here is a link to the official guidance on Apixaban, if you are interested. Perhaps you could use it as a starting point for a discussion with your mother’s GP.
The dose reduction will depend on your mothers renal function in the main. Although if over 80 and weighs less than 60kg should be reduced anyway. Get hold of her last serum creatinine then you can calculate her creatinine clearance (use an on line app)
I’m on the same level of Apixaban but I’ve asked my doctor if I can go back on Warfarin as the side affects are really awful, hope you get on ok.
my mum has also just come out of hospital 89yrs old and they have put her on apixaban and she’s getting severe leg pain /knee and muscle weakness - I agree with you on the dosage as I am wondering if it’s too much for her frail body too, I m going to ring the doctor tomorrow to find out as I m also concerned by the side effects and the dosage for her weight which is 57kg ~ dosage is 5mg twice a day . Her doctors are pretty good so hopefully I will be able to let you know .
I was on apixaban 5mg twice a day after my extensive DVT and I have other health issues and on lots of other medication. My dose was reduced to 2.5 mg twice a day after a year. Is your mum having blood tests to monitor her levels I’m tested every 3 months to check liver kidneys white cell count etc . Hope that helps xx
Hi, Thank you for replying. I have asked for an explanation as to why my Mum is still taking 1x2 5mg of apixaban per day despite her age and weight loss. Informed it was because her kidneys were working well, but they will investigate and get back to me ASAP. My Mum also taking 1x 25 mg of Digoxin per day and I requested a blood test to check levels. Tested on Monday, Doctor rang this morning to inform me that it is too high a dose and will change immediately. I am concerned that it is a little too late. Thanks everyone who has answered my post.
Coming off apixaban
Finishing with Apixaban
Apixaban 
Apixaban
