Blood Thinner (Anticoagulant) Forums (Page 3)

My boyfriend began taking Eliquis in March for AFIB. (He is 68.) Right away he wasn't himself. He gets short of breath dozens of times a day now when he didn't before. Even going upstairs is a problem. He needs to exercise because of his peripheral arterial disease, and he can't because he becomes so short of breath. He was walking for an hour and a half at a time. He gets short of breath so often that it scares him and me. The doctor said that Eliquis can't cause this. He wouldn't take him off of it, so my boyfriend continued to struggle. About three weeks ago my boyfriend had an epic nosebleed that we had to go to the E.R. for. In treating the nosebleed, they stopped his Eliquis. Lo and behold no more shortness of breath. When he had his follow up with the cardiolo...

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I was taken off of Xarelto and put on Eliquis 2.5mg twice daily. Everything seemed fine. Then my cardiologist increased the dose to 5 mg twice daily because she said I should be on a “regular” dose. Within a day or two, I started with shortness of breath upon the least exertion. Also, I became constiipated. I continued until I became so debilitated that I decided to lower back to the 2.5 dose. By this time, the shortness of breath had a life of its own. Anyone else have this reaction to Eliquis? ## Hi Marilynn, Sorry to hear about your reaction to the medication. Medlineplus.gov lists the following symptoms as side effects of Eliquis (Apixaban): -trouble breathing -wheezing -feeling dizzy or faint Source: medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613032.html They go on to note that if ...

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Since Eliquis skyrocketed by 500% this year to $600 out of pocket and my Rx plan won't make an exception for a more reasonable price, my Dr. is recommending Xarelto which is significantly lower ($112.50) than Eliquis. However, I am concerned that Xarelto may have a greater potential for bleeding. I am very active and have had no problems with Eliquis after ablation for AFIB over a year ago. Should I make the switch or try filling my prescription for Eliquis online from Canada at half the price? ## it is not legal to fill it outside the U.S. And yes, you can safely switch from one to the other, if your doctor approves. The FDA lists the typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, increased risk of bleeding, and stomach irritation. Is there anything else I ...

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I began taking Xarelto again for a few weeks after my second incident of DVT and PE. Ever since I started taking it this time, I have noticed an increase in flatulence. Since this medication is the only thing that has changed in my life, besides the blood clots themselves, I am suspicious of it. Has anyone else experienced this and can simply taking gas medication take care of it. This has been a very embarrassing problem to have. ## @tmpjax30, According to the US National Institute of Health, "abdominal/stomach swelling" is listed as a possible side effect of Xarelto. I wonder if this may be playing a role in the flatulence you're experiencing? I haven't found any other articles suggesting that gas was a possibility, but if Xarelto really is the underlying culprit, I su...

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Hello to anyone interested. I have been taking Xarelto for 3 months. 20mg once a day for DVT and P.E's post knee replacement. Started searching for possible effects of the drug and have found that many people seem to have similar side effects to mine. First surprise was sudden nose bleeds. Was warned that I may get a rash or itches, and I certainly do. Bruising for no apparent reason also and increased back pain (although to be fair I do have severe spinal issues) but probably the most annoying thing is very loud ringing in my ears (tinnitus), more so in one side. I'm pretty sure that we are not just imagining this stuff folks, and for those professionals that downplay the tinnitus, it is no joke! It is making life quite difficult. Head aches (some quite severe) are also a probl...

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My VA PA has changed my prescription for DVT from Xarelto 20mg to Eliquis 5 mg because of my age (78)...The Eliquis calls for 1 tablet twice daily...I am having joint pain at night...can I just take a baby aspirin as a blood thinner and get a blood test once a month..? I do not want to take these potent blood thinners for the rest of my life considering the side effects... ## Hello, Larry! How are you? For the best results you should take the medication your doctor has prescribed. The joint pain can be a normal side effect of it, according to the FDA, you may also experience nausea, dizziness, headache, and easy bruising. Are you on any other medications? ## I got them to move me from Eliquis to Xarelto and did somewhat better. I am now on a much lower dose as my provoked blood clot is ...

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I take 20 mgs of xarelto daily. With this drug can I take raw shelled hemp seed? ## I would think so - raw shelled hemp seed is a consumable food grade product sold in grocery stores. It does not contain any of the psychoactive or medicinal aspects of cannabis. In fact, hemp seeds and hemp milk are known to be nutrient rich and good sources of protein, phosphorus, and more. I hope this helps! Do you have any other concerns about this? ## Thank you Roy for the information regarding XARELTO & HEMP HEART SEEDS. HELPFUL. ## You are very welcome Zoe! Just as a fun fact, I'm not sure if you knew this or where you are located, but hemp seeds are cultivated in a large scale in Manitoba, Canada. ## Thank-you for the information regarding possible interaction if using heart health hemp se...

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Can I cut a 5mg eliquis in half, instead of getting the 2.5mg ones? I need to reduce the dosage after a successful ablation. Please comment. Thanks! ## Can I split a 10 mg pill of Eliquis in half? ## Does the tablet have a score line? It appears that the Eliquis tablets are film coated according to what I see on DailyMed. If there's no score line then I would not recommend it. ## Eliquis does not come in a 10 mg. tablet, just 2.5 and 5 mg. 2nd Eliquis is not scored, 3rd Eliquis is not film coated, just a simple compressed tablet. The tablet is so small it would really be difficult to split evenly. ## What did your doctor tell you to do? If he/she told you to decrease your dosage, why can't they give you another Rx? I don't think Eliquis is a drug you can or should cut in hal...

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My hematologist wants to switch me off warfarin for one of these three medications - Eliquis, Pradaxa, or Xarelto. I have a history of CVT and a chronic blood condition. Bottom line, whatever he switches me to, I'm likely on it for a long time unless I have complications. But that's the thing. I seem to always be the person who has the ultra-rare side effect that no one ever reads on the fact sheet. So I'm asking, which of these three is tolerated the best? While I've been on warfarin I've gained nearly 60 lbs. I'm vegan. I ride centuries (100mi bike rides). As a result of all the weight gain, other health issues are becoming more pressing. Arthritis, muscle aches, the threat of diabetes, not to mention what it's done to my self-esteem and marriage. I have ab...

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since being on Eliquis after cardiac ablation, for a-fib my leg muscles hurt so bad hard to walk. Have dizziness serve pain in my legs, out of breath when walking, have to sit down and rest. Nausea, Tired all the time. ## Hello, Roxie! How are you? According to the side effects details provide by the FDA, those are all common side effects of taking Eliquis and quite a few other people have complained about similar problems. Some have even had to stop taking it. Other possible side effects may include easy bruising, joint swelling, cough and insomnia. Is there anything else I can help with? ## thank you I have had all the side effects while on Eliquis. bruising, leg pain is the worse, nausea, tired all the time, I am going back aspirin, never have I felt so terrible, since on Eliquis, ##...

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I found a pill on my floor and I dont know what it is. Its round and a pinkish pink color. It had a capital E on one side and 34 on the other side. ## This is listed as containing 75mgs of Clopidogrel, a generic for Plavix, which is used to help prevent blood clotting. ## Will this pill thin my blood and help with blood flow?

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Does ANYONE know if you can eat grapefruit while in Eliquis. NOBODY seems to be able to give me an answer! ## According to Poison Control you should avoid grapefruit while taking Eliquis: "You can take Eliquis® (apixaban) with or without most foods. You should avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, marmalades, limes, and pomelos while you are taking Eliquis®. These fruits prevent the breakdown of apixaban and may increase side effects." Source: ## Thank you Roy! How hard could it have been for my doctor, even for Eliquis' manufacturer, to either tell me or point me to this article? ## You're very welcome! And yes, apparently too hard for them lol ## :) Thanks again

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Pradaxa at first seems like a good substitute for warfarin ( coumadin ). It does not require regular blood tests and it actually works better. But there's a HUGE problem in the event you develop a bleeding problem whether it be medical such as a stomach ulcer or traumatic such as a traumatic brain injury. In either case it is important that your system be returned to normal clotting function as soon as possible. If you are taking coumadin this is virtually no problem. They merely need to infuse you with an effective antidote, PCC, which will rapidly return your clotting function back to normal. If you are taking Pradaxa, this can be a very big problem BECAUSE THERE IS NO ANTIDOTE FOR PRADAXA that an ER doctor can give you which will reverse the effects of Pradaxa. None. The only thi...

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If you or a loved one has ever taken the drug Pradaxa, please pay close attention to what I have to say because this may be the most important message you ever read. Recently the blood-thinning drug PRADAXA has been linked to life threatening and sometimes fatal internal bleeding and heart attacks. A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that Pradaxa was “significantly associated with a higher risk†of heart attacks and acute coronary syndrome compared to similar blood thinning drugs. Over 500 cases of hemorrhaging have been reported to the FDA in the first quarter of 2011 alone. Since this drug was prescribed primarily to the elderly, the number of deaths and serious side effects are much more common among those 65 years or old...

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Hello, Hope someone can help. I've been hitting a wall of fatigue everyday about 1pm to the point where I need to take a 2 hour nap when my daughter is napping and its painful to wake up even after that. I take Xarelto everyday with dinner to treat a DVT. I've been on it 4 months. Is this a known side effect? I tested my theory when I started to realize this began after taking Xarelto and skipped a dose one evening. The following day I didn't need a nap and didnt have that same debilitating exhaustion. I'm only 34 this is no time to be this tired after a full nights sleep! It feels like a crash, an unnatural exhaustion. Thanks! ## Hi! Sorry about the problem that you're having. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a lot of side effect information on this dr...

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I have 3 stents (seven years) and a heart valve replacement (5 years) but have thin blood, which can cause nose bleeds and prolonged bleeding after cuts or injuries. So my cardiologist put me on Aspirin rather than Warfarin to help prevent blood clots/stroke. Since then I have had only a handful of minor heart issues (palpitations but no chest pain, heart attack or stroke). My cardiologist recently retired and my new specialist has insisted that I need to replace the Aspirin with a combination of Xarelto and Clopidogrel. I fear if i make this change I will have serious side effects, including serious nose bleeds (I once spent 3 days in hospital with a nose bleed). If I choose to stay on the Asprin will I be at serious risk of having a stroke? ## You could ask them to check your clotting...

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My 91 year old Mom was switched to Eliquis and has been totally exhausted and suffering from confusion and memory loss. Anyone else having the confusion/memory loss issue? ## Hello, Freddie! How is your mom doing? Yes, those are known side effects of taking Eliquis, along with bruising, fainting and headache. Side effects should start to taper off in severity after about 4 weeks, as her body adjusts to the medication. But if they don't, or if they worsen, her doctor should be consulted. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Yes, my 88 year old husband has been on Eliquis since July and he is experiencing major confusion, and I believe even had a night terror. When I carefully skip a dose he regains his usual mental state back. It's very frustrating as the doctors aren't...

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I have had RLS for as long as I can remember (33yr old female). However it only affected me once maybe twice a month and only ever at night for a few hours and was associated with physical fatigue or alcohol sessions (which were few and far between) and was controlled by taking a cold and flu nighttime tablet. Just over a month ago I collapsed at home with DVT and subsequent bilateral Pulmonary embolisms. In hospital I was on twice daily clexane inj's. and then discharged with Xarelto. Once I completed my script of oxynorm for the pain and it was out of my body my RLS has been unbearable...24/7, I cant get to sleep before 5-7am in the morning (when I suspect the Xarelto has worn off and due to take the next dose). This has been happening for 2 weeks straight, sitting on the floor ro...

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I had PE in October 2016 and was put on Pradaxa for DVT. They tried me on it for 6 months, checked my blood work and the doctor said I could go off it. I started to gain weight on it so at the first 5-10 pounds of going up, I cranked up the workouts and protein diet, got my macros in order and the hematologist put me back on it saying since I had it once, PE could happen again. I gained more weight over the course of a year (237 to 256), call it water, muscle, fat, my pant size went up. The doctors were like, "we don't know anything about weight gain as a side effect." Well, brush up doctors, even the FDA has this one logged. I'm asking to go off of it for 30 to 90 days, then recheck my blood work, so if there is a problem I will go back on. But let me lose some weight! ...

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I've been taking clopidogrel, amlodipine and statins for years now. Over the last year or so I have developed inflammation of the duodenum, confirmed by endoscopy. The consultant wrote "duodenitis caused by clopidogrel" on his summary of findings. However, since then doctors have declined to go down the route of trying alternatives to clopidogrel, and deny it being the cause. I'm not sure why the resistance to this diagnosis? If my diet was so poor, wouldn't I be getting inflammation in other areas too? Why just the duodenum? My diet seems to have very little effect on the condition. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Are the doctors just trying to avoid expensive alternatives, or do they genuinely believe clopidogrel is not the cause? Has anyone suffered the same si...

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