Procedure For Stopping Eliquis And Going Back To Aspirin

Anyone know how to safely get off eliquis and back on just aspirin?

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Hi cynthia,

Depending on how long you've been on Eliquis (Apixaban) for, I think it would be wise to talk to your doctor about developing some sort of tapering schedule that reduces any risk of serious withdrawal symptoms. According to ucsd.edu, apparently Eliquis comes with a "black box warning label" regarding its withdrawals in patients with A-Fib (atrial fibrillation); with some articles stating that Eliquis may trigger a stroke if suddenly stopped. So working closely with your doctor to avoid that risk seems to me like it should be first priority.

Does anyone else here have personal experience coming off Eliquis who can offer some pointers on what to expect?

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Hi Cynthia I have also come off Elequis because of problems. My doctor told me to stop taking it that day and the next day start back on 81mg. Asperin. I had problems with zerelto also. Best of luck to you.

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I've been taking Eliquis for about a month, no more A-fib. Have a history of getting A-fib every couple of years and this is the new Doctor Who's put me on Eliquis. I do not want to take it any longer I think aspirin will work. Answer read the warning from the manufacturer, I think it's a drug designed to keep you on it forever. I'm going to start titrating off by taking three quarters of a pill for a couple of days then half for couple days quarter pill at cetera I figured we could be off of it and then start taking aspirin again. I don't like the possible side effects and also if you get into an accident or something you can breathe easily it can operate on you for 12 hours they have to make platelets for you first this is not a drug I like

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I had blood clots in my lungs and was put on eliquis in feb. four days prior I had cervical spine surgery. Do not know if the blood clots was caused by surgery. I do have numbness and tingeling in my legs also have lots of bumps in my leg. Dr also found out I now have liver problems. Want to get off this eliquis but am a little scare anyone else have this problem

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My doctor just pulled me off of Eliquis and put me on 1 baby aspirin per day. Mine was for a blood clot. I was not weaned off. Doctor just told me to stop Eliquis that day and switch to baby aspirin the next day. Actually, guess it's called "Low Dose Aspirin" now. Please note, the blood clot was almost gone.

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I am 36 and was put on Eliquis at the E.R. on March 3, 2016 after finding 3 blood clots in my Lower Left Leg, one of which was a DVT, after a major ankle sprain 4 days earlier. I was just warned to be very careful when my doctor takes me off Eliquis for a possible stroke or even something more fatal due to it, I dare not say it. I am freaking out and not sure what to do at this point. I feel as though I have a few months to live until this happens and I am not sure what I can do. What are the options? How does this work? How will it affect me when I come off it? Do I need to take anything after they take me off it? Are there questions that I need to be asking that I am not? I have been having nightmares about it that the thought of it makes me sick. Any information, guidance, or help would be greatly appreciated.

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I have been on eliquist for about 6 Months for atria l fibrillation. I don't have it any more at all so would like to go off eliquist. Should I cut it in half for a week then go off it? Or should I go cold turkey?

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Hi. Could I ask how you're doing with the 81 mg aspirin?

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There seems to be a great deal of confusion and lack evidenced-based data on Eliquis. I would like to form a discussion that is comprised of folks who are on the medication and would like to participate in research to see how the short term and long terms effects are being addressed. Please let me know if you're interested. Thank you.

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I am on Elequis since aug of 2016 for bi lateral embolism with no cause determined. Probably long flight. Scheduled doctors visut in May of 2017 at Cleveland Clinic but would like to view stopping or reducing does before then. Currently in Naples fl

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I have been on Elliquis for about 4 months. I had an ablation for a fib on Dec 14. I am suppose to stop 3 months after my afib ablation which will be mid March. I feel awful on this stuff with mild nausea, burning like reflux and low energy. I even feel some breathing difficulties that limit me. This is night and day for me who usually exercises every day. I can't say for sure if it is this med but is I suspect it strongly. I sure am looking forward to coming off it and I will know very soon if these weird symptoms were in fact caused by this med. I'd be happy to share results if anyone is interested.

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Am on Elequis - have A-Fib - going to start weening myslef off it! would like some help from those in the know - I will certainly go off it and will report my results, but would like some advice. So i would like to be part of your group. Many thanks to all the people who took the time to respond. Kind regards Rebecca

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I was on Eliquis for a year and a half. Like others I felt aged and stiff and off balance with neck pain. When I had been on it a year I was told to cut the pill to half for six months. I have done that and then quit. I had the blood clot in January of 2015. I need to look up dates but it was more than a year when I was told to cut back and finish what I had. I think it was August of 2016 and I finished about a month later. In December (this may be unrelated) I started having these shooting neck and head pains. My regular doctor gave me a pain killer and it helped some but I still have them. Then my leg between my knee and hip started hurting when I put weight on it and walked. I had an x-ray of my hip (which did not hurt) and was told I had arthritis and osteoporosis. All of a sudden? Pain meds increased but still bad. Don't know if this is from Eliquis. The heart doctor had changed my appointments many times with no explanation and no answers to my questions. Supposed to see him in April.

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I had to stop taking eliquis a few months ago after being admitted to hospital with a bleed from the bowel. On the 3rd day without taking eliquis I had a Mini stroke. I have to go back for a colonoscopy and the doctor has asked me to stop taking eliquis again, I'm very nervous.

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I have mild AFib and have been on low dose aspirin and 'pocket' as needed Flecainide. My cardio interventionist left town and new cardiologist changed by protocol to Eliquis and Sotolol. I've been reluctant to start the new treatment and have stayed on aspirin. I'm considering ablative...how is yours coming along and did you go to a special hospital....Mayo Cleveland Clinic?

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I was on Atenolol for so many years for another heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. And with age led to afib when the upper heart chamber had to do the work the lower chamber would do, but can't due to the cardiomyopathy. Fun. So I lost consciousness on a neighbors lawn June 2016 and received a defibrillator for that, and the afib diagnosis, and Multaq and Eliquis instead of the Atenolol. The Multaq didn't stop the afib events so they put me on Lopressor 1/2 dose too. I had the ablation surgery 12/21/16 and have stopped the Multaq a few days ago, this is my second attempt at quitting it, had what I thought were afib events, but the doctor reading my defibrillator said no, it's not afib. Eliquis is next, they said we'll see in June 2017 when he declares me "fixed" I guess, but in the meantime I'm having horrible dizzy spells, on the edge of feeling faint, feel like I can't think clearly, feel tired and slow all the time...I'd love to try to stop taking this drug too...have you done it yet?

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I've been off Eliquis for 3 weeks now. The strange shortness of breath has disappeared thankfully. I can now exercise normally again. Getting off Eliquis was simply a matter of stopping and switching to 81 mg daily aspirin. I suspect the warning that comes with stopping Eliquis has more to do with your underlying condition. Meaning, if you have a problem that has not resolved such as a blood clot or afib, suddenly stopping Eliquis could produce serious consequences. If your problem has resolved then stopping Eliquis should be fine. As always, your doctor should assess your situation and make the call. My afib had not happened in over 3 months so my doctor said to simply stop Eliquis. I did and had no issues.

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I would like to know how it went when you stopped the Eliquis. I was just given this drug and the first pill gave me a headache and made me dizzy. I have afib and am a candidate for a stroke if I don't find something. I'd rather do the warfarin -- I was taking an aspirin a day to keep things under control. I don't want to take any more Eliquis after taking this first one!!

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I am sheduled for colonoscopy and have been given instructions to stop taking eliqus for 5 days.Looking for advice.

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Hi Pete--

Have you noticed any difference in how you feel since coming off the Eliquis in March?

I gave a cardioversion scheduled this month and then an ablation if needed after that. I think the Eliquis has contributed to my insomnia and moodiness in the last five months.

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Re: Carolyn (# 63)

Hi Carolyn, Did you go off Eliquis and then onto baby aspirin? I was also having numerous side effects after taking Eliquis for almost three years. My doctor would not lower it, so I took half doses for 1.5 weeks and then off of it now for a week. I feel fine. I am not sure if I will take baby aspirin or not. I am 79. I had a blood clot in right leg and lungs in 2020. An ultrasound shows it it gone now.

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Re: Bootsz (# 3)

I was put on Xarelto 25mg when I got my pulse down to 33, I have Afib. That was August 2022, I had several problems with that Med, I had it change to Eliquis supposedly one in the am and one in the pm…I have been taking 5mg Just on the Pm and I intend eventually to stop, I’m a fitness instructor and I don’t have the energy I used to have. I do believe that lots of time docs(pharma)want to keep ppl on meds for ever…sorry not this woman. I don’t have any medical problems whatsoever except that once Afib

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Re: Marty (# 9)

I would be happy to discuss my experience with Eliquis if it could help prevent the type of side effects I was having. They switched me to Xeralto and it cut the side effects probably by 40%, but still these must be powerful drugs.

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I don’t know how you get off but I do think it increases pain. I have several things that cause chronic pain and when I started Eliquis it seemed the pain got worse but doctor doesn’t think so! That’s no surprise! What gets me..they get you on a medication and then you can’t get off of it without a major ordeal. Also the ones you can’t stop are super expensive! What’s wrong with this picture? Some meds that used to be cheap are unaffordable now! Big Pharma seems out of control!

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Re: Marty (# 9)

Does A fib come and go? I have A fib. My blood pressure is fine.cardiologi dr said to go on eloquis. Did not take eloquis for two years because cost? Never have had any sign of stroke . took 81 Milligrams aspirin for the two years Have been on small does of digoxin for irregular heart beat for 25 years. recently just went off digoxin after asking cardiologist if I could stop. Went off. No problems. I have been on eloquis now for two years. I bruise easily. still don't like the cost , $125/month. Can I stop eloquis

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Re: Janice (# 13)

One of the side effects of Eliquis is osteoarthritis.

Musculoskeletal:
Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, back pain, pain in extremity, osteoarthritis, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, arthritis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Muscle hemorrhage, joint swelling

(source)

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I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clots from legs lodging in both my lungs) 12/2020 and had a thrombectomy procedure to remove them. I was put on 2, 5mg Eliquis tablets a day until 12/2021 and now have been told that I can stop taking Eliquis. My question is, do I stop 'cold turkey' or wean myself off and if I wean off, how how should I do this?

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Re: Bootsz (# 3)

I thought we were not supposed to split a tablet unless it had a score line on it? The components of a non scored tab are not always spread out like they should be.

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I have been on Eliquis for occasional a-fib since Feb. 2021. For several years, in addition to blood pressure meds, I was taking baby aspirin twice a day. Within the last several months, had a few a-fib attacks. When I went to my doctor, he took me off the aspirin and put me on Eliquis. Now, I have two problems with being on it......my colonoscopy doctor wants me off of it for 3 days before performing the procedure. My cardiologist is saying he will approve 24 hours. PLUS, I now discovered yesterday at doctor's, that I have arthritis in my lower back which at times is excruciating. He did give me a cortisone shot which has helped. But guess what? He cannot prescribe any arthritis medication because I'm on Eliquis. I really would love to get off of it, but know my cardiologist will say no - (I am believing he is a pill pusher). Anyway, any advice out there?

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Re: Marty (# 9)

I have been put one eliquis because of Afib diagnosis and am scheduled for an ablation. Where you able to do the study you mentioned in your post? I would be interested in your results or joining your group. I am having back and joint pain which are impacting my daily life. Thank you for any info you can give me.

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