Abixaban

[Vonnieruth]

Do you ever get use to taking this medicine and all the ifs .I'm dreading my first cut or gum bleed let alone a bang on the head .I work with dementia and am now wondering if it's time to hang up my boots

[Rosie1066]

I’ve been on Warfarin for nine years and have had many cuts and even the odd bang on the head and I’ve never had a problem. Providing it’s monitored and kept within range you shouldn’t have much of a problem. Just have to be a bit careful. But try not to worry about it and I’m sure you’ll be fine.

[Vonnieruth in reply to Rosie1066]

Aw thank you I am a worrier which doesn't help .anxiety gets the better of me Reguarding a bang to your head when do you class it as necessary to go to hospital please .

[Zena166]

Hi Vonnieruth. My neighbour who is taking warfarin for AF fell onto her face and scraped the skin across her nose. No obvious other injury but when she went to the walk in centre they said any head injury on warfarin should go to A&E. Which is what she did. So I guess any bang to the head warrants a check up. I would say It’s worth a visit just in case. Take care. Zena

[Nanne]

Don't worry. I regularly cut myself with my kitchen knife or out in the garden. Just keep a pack of plasters to hand! What I do find is that cuts take longer to heal. I have to take mine 12 hourly and if I need surgery it's safe after 48 hrs. I've banged my head several times with falls (due to low b.p.) but once I've sat quietly for a while am fine

[Vonnieruth in reply to Nanne]

HI thanks for message .So when do you deem going to hospital due to a bang to head

[Nanne in reply to Vonnieruth]

Hi. If I feel really dazed, if I'm unconscious for more than a few seconds or if it's a hard bang. Generally if I'm not ok after 5 minutes I would get an ambulance

[Nanne in reply to Vonnieruth]

Hi. I was at the GP this morning for a medication review and the topic of Apixaban came up. She has worked in A&E and told me that any sort of bang on the head beyond a light tap needs investigating at A&E. I've obviously been very lucky up til now!

[Vonnieruth in reply to Nanne]

Thanks Nanne. Will remember to keep my head out of the way of things

[Potatohead123]

Hi there, just a quick comment as I, like you am very concerned about apixaban. It's not the same as warfarin, which is very controlled. All the new anticoagulants do NOT have any antidote like warfarin, which is vit K, to stop any internal bleeding should this occur. These new tabs are given out as it suits the medical profession who do not have resources to constantly monitor warfarin. After going through the mountain of scary information I waited 2 months before I eventually took 5mg x twice a day. Made me feel dreadful so I went onto half that dose. Cardiologist said that's ok. I started last Nov and all seemed fine until I banged my leg, nothing to speak of, but the bruise was amazing, it went from my knee to my ankle, proving to me just how thin my blood is now. Thank God I didn't bang my head. It seems to me your damned if you take them and your equally damned if you don't. Research is still on going for an antidote. Take care.

[marian25]

I am taking blood thinners medication. I hit my head and went to A & E. I had a CT Scan but all was fine. I have also had small cuts with no problems.

[RoyM]

The new anticoagulants work very differently than Warfarin and some have a 24hr life and some a 12hr life. If you have an accident resulting in heavy bleeding it will be dealt with medically in the same way if you weren't on any Anticoagulants. The fact about a reversal agent is a white elephant. My last point is in regard to the term Blood thinners" none of the Anticoagulants thin the blood (including Warfarin) what they do is to slow down the blood clottng mechanism. The viscosity of the blood remains unchanged.

[Vonnieruth in reply to RoyM]

Areally right So it's the time that is different So how does that help prevent clots

[RoyM]

It is, you will notice if you cut a finger or have a nose bleed it may take a little longer to stop than it would if you weren't on Anticoagulants. Sadly, the term "blood thinner" is used by many including some medical staff. Also, many articles in newspapers will use the term 'blood thinner " too. None of the Anticoagulants which includes Warfarin actually change the viscosity of the blood one bit. The benefit of Anticoagulants in people with AF is to reduce the risk of stroke. the irregular heart rhythm can create blood clots in the heart, hence the important of tasking Anticoagulants. Take care