Extreme Fatique, Joint Pain, Muscle Weakness With Eliquis For Afib (Top voted first)

I was having extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle weakness after starting Eliquis and started to having black stool with nausea and abdominal pain. I gradually reduced the dose until no longer taking Eliquis nor ever will. It really put a fear in me. Asprin works for me via my AFIB. I can tell if my blood is too thick when my heart is working hard to pump the blood out of my heart. I feel much better when my heart is pumping normally when the blood is thinner. You sometimes have to insist to your doctor the side effects you are feeling, this is a fairly new medication. Anyone else have these side effects?

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There are sevetal things to consider with ANY anticoagulant I had a massive saddle pulmonary embolism at the beginning of February. It recurred barely two weeks out of tbe hospital while I was on warfarin. I was taken off warfarin a month later because my INR was so unstable I had to have the tests done twice a week and it still yoyo'd between 1.5 and 4.5 (my goal level was 2.5-3.5 due to apparent unspecified clotting issues). I was miserable on warfarin, and I had the rare side effects, change of taste, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, and GI distress every time I took it. Warfarin has the advantage of an antidote with Vitamin K. It also has the disadvantage of taking up to 48 hours to INCREASE anticoagulant effect if your INR drops too low. It is slow-acting.

I've been on Eliquis for a little over a week now. I'm experiencing some of the fatigue and joint pain, though for me it is very hard to tell if it's a flare of my rheumatoid artnritis or the Eliquis. I've been off my Humira and methotrexate disease-modifying drugs since the pulmlnary embolism, so it could be that. Assuming it's the Eliquis, though, there are three things to consider. I'm at a very high dose, 5 mg. That can be adjusted to 2.5, which is the standard dose for most. Anyone taking 5 mg and experiencing side effects should ask if they can try the 2.5. A poster stated they were taking 1.5 mg, but I could find no information on that dose; in the US, at least, it is not offered. But if you are on a 5 mg dose, there is definite room to reduce.

The second thing to consider is that, yes, Eliquis has no antidote. But it has an effective duration of about 12 hours. That means if you do experience excessive bleeding, you have a short time before it wears off. To me, this is no more dangerous than warfarin, where a bleeding event would mean time to travel to the ER, be diagnosed, and receive Vitamin K. The 12 hr duration of Eliquis is also why you take 2 a day. If you take one a day, you are essentially bouncing between a coagulated and anticoagulated state every 12 hours, which for most of us would be very bad. Don't reduce to one a day...if you feel you must go off Eliquis without a doctor's assistance, then cut the pills and take lower doses, reducing gradually. I don't usually advocate coated pill-cutting, but the dosing info states it can be crushed (though crushed was given through a naso-gastric tube, not swallowed). At any rate, if it was administered crushed, cut should be acceptable.

Which brings me to the third point. Don't just stop taking Eliquis. Going off it cold turkey is associated with increased chance of DVT and PE above the usual risk when you stop taking an anticoagulant. With its short duration, you can transition to any other anticoagulant within a couple of days or go off it and not risk the increased clotting chance.

I have taken many, many medications over the yeats, many of them with severe side effects. All you can do is a cost/benefit analysis for you, personally. In my case, I am disabled and can't work. At this time, with pulmonary hypertension, RA, and risk of another PE, the side effects from Eliquis are acceptable, though I'll see if I can try a reduced dose. Everyone reacts differently to drugs...my dad has been on warfarin for ten years,and couldn't understand why I had so many problems with it. I love Eliquis in comparison. He threw a blood clot while on Xarelto. He loves his warfarin. Mileage varies. Your most-hated drug can be someone else's miracle.

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I had one episode of Afib 2 years ago. My cardiologist put me on Zarelto. I had severe fatigue and told the Doctor about this. He changed it to Eliquis which is no better. I am taking daily 3 hour naps and feel tired even when I wake up. Coffee is the only thing that gives me energy. My Doctor said he would put me on an Aspirin therapy but then said due to my age 68 he decided not too. I checked the CHADS score and it means congestive heart failure, High Blood Pressure, Age over 75, D diabetes. If any of these pertain to you it has point system. I was 0 which showed to just take an Aspirin a day. You can google CHADS for information. It's been 3 days that I stopped Eliquis and my energy is back and have not been tired. No more blood thinners

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I didn't realize that fatigue was a side effect of the med! I have NO ENERGY AT ALL LITERALLY!!!!! I sleep almost all day long and have to force myself to go anywhere and I'm only 55 years old! I know I feel fatigued because of my fibro but never line this it seems like things have gotten worse since beginning this med! Does everyone take it twice a day?

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What to do for muscle weakness when taking eliquis

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YES,YES. I can hardly move . Muscle pain, back pain, knees, also blood shot eye. I have to get of this poison as it is killing me.

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Here is a solution go natural. Quit listening to them doctors, they really don't care about your health. They along with big Pharma are in the medical business to make money. No way in hell only a prescription drug made in a factory can prevent, treat, or cure blood clots. Cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, water, fasting, nattokinase are among the natural alternatives.

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Yes, you are not the first person to post about these types of problems with it.

If the Aspirin is working well for you, then it is likely a good idea to stick with it, unless your doctor has some other reason for not doing so.

Is your INR checked regularly?

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I'm experiencing the same thing. Developed a blood clot in my arm due to birth control, otherwise I'm a healthy 28 year old. Started on Xarelto and developed widespread muscle and joint pain 3 weeks into treatment. My doctor switched me to Eliquis and the symptoms disappeared 2 days after switching. However, the same thing has now happened. Around 3 weeks after starting Eliquis, I developed widespread muscle and joint pain. My neck is so sore that I can hardly sleep at night or turn my head. I also feel like I'm getting cold/symptoms. Yeah, I feel like crap. Don't know what's next, warfarin?

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I`ve been on Eliquis for 2 months due to AFIB, which I didnt know that I had to begin with.. Since I`ve been on this drug, I`m having AFIB and dizzy spells along with fainting feelings. Hell I feel worst on this drug. Dr says, dont quit taking Eliquis. I`d like to get off this drug.

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I too am experiencing fatigue and tiredness. Lack luster to say the least. I'm also experiencing painful muscle and joint pain. Will see my doctor about stopping Eliquis.
Was previously on xarelto and had no side effects.

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This is the most horrible drug that I've ever been on, all it does is make me dizzy and I never know when it's going to hit and then from there I turn into a wreck and go into a panic attack. I am begging to get off this drug and they won't but I called GP today and he said take 1, at bedtime. I have a mitral valve repair coming up on 6/1 and my life has been ruined with this drug, they tell me, go out, enjoy your life, kiss my grits, what's to enjoy when you have no idea when the merry go round is going to start.

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I just posted in another thread about this very issue, and yes.. I'm bedridden now. Can't drive, can't cook, can't walk, can't stand to take a shower, nausea, severe pain in neck, upper body, arms, shoulders, so weak I need help walking or doing anything. And I've only just scratched the surface here. Going to call my cardiologist about getting the Watchman device so I can come off Eliquis and stay off. I was put on due to AFib, Atrial Flutter, and SVT (the last I'd had my entire life) and a TIA in 2013. My life is basically ruined and with NO quality of life whatsoever.

Eliquis is a scary drug. Be sure to contact the manufacturer and report your symptoms because that's the ONLY way they will take notice and let doctors know what the risks actually are. They also have to report the complaints to the FDA which may help in the long run as the FDA will be forced to report these issues to the public eventually.

Oh, I've been on Eliquis for about 2 years now and was, prior to taking it, a very active person who was still able to work, take care of myself, drive, walk, etc. I can no longer work.

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have been taking Elequis for 8 days now after coming off cartia for AFIB, now am getting the sneezes and cold/flu like symptoms and feel like crap, anyone else suffered this and gone off elequis?

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I`m taking this twice a day and feeling washed out, tired and dizzy. Wonder if the doctors are wrong in ordering a 2 a day dose

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Hi RC , think you may need further advice from cardiol as I was taking cartia daily to stop risk of stroke as suffer from a/fib. I have had a dual lead pacemaker put in back in 2014 which helped and continued with cartia until last Sept when I had a mini stroke, after this I was started on Elequis as told cartia not strong enough to thin blood anymore, this was advised and reason being if had mini stroke on cartia the risk is now to high for more serious stroke hence the elequis now which is 1 5mg dose twice daily. Luckily the mini stroke had no effect except a bit of loss of vision in right eye for about 15 mins. I have been as said on the elequis now for nearly two years and exercise reg, no pain anywhere, sometimes a bit of fatique but nothing I feel is out of the ordinary for my age of 66.. hopefully you will get some positive advice from a good talk with a good cardiologist, I hope you can enjoy your life kind regards, Johnb

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My husband has been on Eliquis for 6 months and had his pacemaker replaced in Nov. at 70 he has been very active until he was put on this drug, thought it might be new pm but now thinking its Eliquis. He has no energy and his legs have gotten so weak and are tired& heavy. Will call to get it changed, if possible.

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I was taken off Eliquis after 2 months and put on Aspirin by my haematologist. after 24 hours the terrible side effects were almost gone. He said he had over 100 patients on this drug and had never had any experience these symptoms and was about to send me to emergency department as he thought there was other problems underlying. I insisted I had heart monitoring recently with perfect results. Kidney Ct Scan all perfect, he sent me for a Ct scan of lungs, all perfect. As we can see by all these reviews on the Internet, we are not the only ones experiencing the debilitating side effects that make you feel 20 years older instantly with pain and weekness all over. We can't change these doctors and pharmaceutical companies "spill" but we can listen to our bodies that tell us something's not right and fight for change and we are not made to feel like we are imagining things. I feel normal again, full of energy, enjoying life.

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Yes. And my energy level is zero with eliquis. Will see dr again very unhappy

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I red your problems with ELIQUIS and I can tell you this is not in your head.
This drug was given to me just about 2 years ago for Atrial Fibrillation despite a cardiologist telling me my Carotid Arterial scan,Echo Cardiogram and 24 hour tapesx2 all fine.
G.P. thought it a good idea to prevent a stroke BUT I really wish I had never started on it especially since I suffer from Osteoarthritis with Spinal Stenosis Now Ive severe palpitations which I never ever had.!
Recently travelled abroad and I think there was an adverse reaction with this drug and the heat temperatures of 34-36 which have never bothered me before now back in this country[u.k.] it has settled down.
Always remember your time difference if you travel take it the same times you take it at home or you will mess it up.
I have severe joint pain hands knees and spine is worse on it.I also urinate much more and it seems to act as a diuretic for some reason.
Doctor who started it WILL NOT take me off it as she doesn't want me to have a stroke.
PLEASE never stop this medication by yourself and do Not take any n.a.i.s d like brufen. You must come off it gradually its a very dangerous drug and there is NO antidote unlike Warfrin .

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I was on Eliquis for almost 3 months. Think I slept at least 2/3 of the day because it kept me awake most of the night. Very bad bone pain especially from hips down both legs. Gained weight also, seemed to crave food even when not hungry. Headaches. All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball. No energy. Would begin to feel a little better as morning dose would start to wear off but then I would take second dose and curl up again. Also caused my stomach to hurt and I had trouble with BP and pulse increase. Dr took me off about a week now, beginning to feel human again. Not sleeping all day, have more energy. BP and pulse still elevating but feel so much better as the days pass. Hated that medication and the way it made me feel. It did what it was supposed to do I guess but so glad I'm not taking it anymore.

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