atrial fibulation and eliquis (apixaban)

[cheritorrox]

hi i'm returning to this forum after, on doctor's advice, stopping taking sintrom (like warfarin - used here in Spain) in december 2021 for DVT in june 2018.

I had an ischemic stroke in june. Thanks to our marvelous spanish health service this was treated within the 3 hour window and i'm nearly fully recovered. They have put me on apixaban after discovering i have atrial fibulation (irregular heartbeat) . I dont know if it is new or was undiagnosed when i had DVT.

I'm currently awaiting appointment with cardiology, but meanwhile would be interested to know if apixaban "cures" AF..... I really don't want another stroke!

any advice will be gratefully received !

[roshough]

Hi there Cheri....we met in Think Thursday Thinners a while back.... you've done much better than me at keeping it off.So sorry you have had these horrible things happen and glad you are now on the mend. Looked up the new anticoagulant you are on. Tablets like these don't cure the atrial fibrillation but it reduces the risk of clotting and stroke if you've got it and they cant actually stop it. They use these new drugs when you have already had one serious episode in the past. It is new and worth asking the cardiologist about whether there are things you shouldn't eat, or other meds which might interact. Hope you stay fit and well. Good luck.

[cheritorrox in reply to roshough]

Hiya and lovely to hear from you... as u can see I'm out of the habit of HU and to be honest I forgot I posted this (duh woolly head strikes again). Thanks for the advice - I'm still waiting for the appointment but meanwhile "progressing well!)

of course when our annual feria kicks in the rationing beer to meet 14 units a week sort of goes out the window.... but back on it now, just got to stop pigging choc.... weightloss forum really does need revisiting SOON!

[Hidden]

Not seen or heard from you for ages!

How's things in sunny Torrox?

[cheritorrox in reply to Hidden]

hola see reply to roshough! Thanks to our marvellous health service i'm on the mend from the stroke. Sunny Torrox is indeed still sunny and warm and in big need of rain (but preferably not a hurricane!)

hope to see u in weightloss group soon when i stop stuffing carbs!

[iannoah6]

Hi, I've got AF and have been prescribed Apixaban which is an anticoagulant and also Flecainide which controls the irregular heart beat. Before all this I had cardioversion which helped.

[cheritorrox in reply to iannoah6]

firstly thanks very much for your info and apologies for not replying before. I'm still waiting for appointment with cardiologist but will look up flecainide and cardioversion.

Do you have "symptoms" of AF? i haven't noticed any- altho i do get woolly headed from stroke and am still reeducating left side as it was left weak but fortunately not really bad

[iannoah6 in reply to cheritorrox]

Hi. Initially the cardioversion corrected the AF. I was then given Flecanide which should keep the heart beat regular. The Apixaban is an anticoagulant. I’ve been taking both meds for many years with no side effects but do occasionally get AF which I just live with. It doesn’t concern me any more.

[Hullensian]

I have been taking Apixaban for a lot of years and understand that it does not cure AF, it controls it. If you have not already done so, I recommend you read the information leaflet that comes with the medication. I always wear an ID band detailing my drugs (I am taking a few), just in case I have an accident. Plus, you will need to make your dentist aware that you are taking Apixaban.

[cheritorrox in reply to Hullensian]

thanks for this goodadvice x

[Suebo2 Moderator]

the apixaban does not cure AF, but helps prevent a stroke which could be caused by the AF

PUT SIMPLY:-

In AF you atria, top chambers of the heart, do not contract well, but ‘fibrillate’. On the left atria there is an appendage (looks like an elephants ear) which fills with blood. When the atria is fibrillation the blood in the appendage does not empty (as it would if heart beating correctly) and can form a clot. If and when the heart chooses to beat correctly, with increased energy, there is a risk that the clot could be forced out and travel to the brain and cause a stroke,

But

If on blood thinners, then clots hopefully don’t form and this reduces risk of stroke.

I apologise for being so simple in my explanation.

Good luck in the future

[cheritorrox in reply to Suebo2]

i'm all for simple explanations..... especially after trying to translate intense medicalese in spanish from my discharge report from the stroke unit ...which mostly resulted in intense medicalese in english!

Thanks very much for that x

[SASlk]

I take Apixaban as I have had two DVTs following surgery. I believe it’s to stop blood clots not atrial fibrillation.

[cheritorrox]

Sorry for not responding earlier and thanks for the advice

[Suebo2 Moderator]

hi, welcome back.

Anticoagulation does not ‘cure’ AF, it simply prevents stagnant blood in your atria from clotting,as, when your heart beats normally , and empties fully, the clot that could have formed is pumped out and could thus cause a stroke.

[CAanonymous]

Hi cheritorrox, I'm new to this forum and I am so glad that it exists!

Afib was a scary experience two years ago. My doc first put me on apaxaban which caused painful stomach cramps, and then switched me to eliquis. I understand that eliquis does not "cure" afib but it thins the blood and thus prevents a stroke. I'm taking it twice a day, and I have to remember to take antibiotics before every dentist visit, but it's definitely worth it - until a cure is found.