Stopping Eliquis Safely

I've been taking Eliquis for a couple months after a bout of a-fib. I'm back in sinus rhythm and am in the low risk (Cat 1) group for clots. Due to the side effects and cost, I want to stop Eliquis and take aspirin daily. But the FDA black box warning makes me scared to stop Eliquis. Is tapering the dose over time a good way to get off it safely? IS there a safe way, or is it a scare tactic to have me pay for Eliquis for the rest of my life? I'm really angry - if I'd known about the FDA warning, I'd never have agreed to take it in the first place.

REPLY

REPORT

I was on Elequis for 2 years. I needed to go off of it. My doctor said to just go off of it cold turkey. I did. Have been off of it for a month.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 15

In reality, this medication is usually just stopped, cold turkey, as Jo has said. Thus, I have to say that I don't quite understand that black box warning, other than to think that the FDA wants to scare people out of stopping it early, without their doctor's approval, which I do understand to a point. But, it could also create unwarranted fears, in some people.

However Jon, given that you still have some risk, it would be safest for you to consult your doctor first. Aspirin may not be enough to help lower your risk. If needed, there are other medications you can try, such as Coumadin, though it requires frequent INR testing.

The FDA lists its typical side effects as including nausea, dizziness, headache, and easy bruising.

Is there anything else I can help with?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 9

My husband was prescribed the med just in case he had PE after a visit to the emergency room. My husbands primary doctor reviewed the test results from the ER 2 weeks after and he tells us that he was given the med as a precaution and cannot just stop taking the med. He wants to go cold turkey. But of course there's a little fear. We are looking for feedback from others who have gone cold turkey.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Have been off almost 2 months now. Doctor said to just stop taking it. I did.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 9

hey jo

I have just gone coldturk yest. Did you feel anything odd/different? I feel changed suddenly this morning.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I have been off Elequis for 2 months. Went off cold turkey. That is what my doctor said. I was on it for 2 years.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 8

Doctor has instructed me to go off eliqus for 5 days before colonoscopy.
What is the risk?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had cryo ablation and had been on Elequis since Feb 2 2017 and electrophysiologist stopped Friday. Still on baby aspirin and a lower dose of sotalol.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Right. My partner was on it for 60 days for a clot in his heart. After the 60 days and he was checked the doctor said stop..and he did. Honestly..I was scared. I thought a tapering off was the normal thing to do,evidently not. It's a year later he's fine and no recurrence of the clot, and he's checked every three months. Best of luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

As an A-Fib patient I have been on and off Eliquis several times over the last few years. My doctors always have stopped me cold turkey and I had no ill effects from doing so. I am an over 65 year-old woman and the past month of taking Eliquis, I noticed major hair loss and extreme skin sensitivity. Not sure I will want to take it in the future.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 10

I got bilateral PE after pacemaker insertion gone wrong and wires poked through my pericardial sac so they had to redo the entire surgery. That resulted in pericardial effussion/fluid around my heart, shortness of breath and PE. Seems like my PE was not unprovoked, but still ended up in ER few weeks later. So my regimen is 3-6 months on Eliquis 5mg 2x daily. I feel awful. Developed insomnia, anxiety and panic disorder. I'm not sure if this is the Eliquis fault or the fact that my entire life did 180' turn after the botched pacemaker and I can't adjust - but I can't wait to get off this drug. And this is my dilemma - I'm afraid. I don't have any genetic factors of fast clotting, but there is a lot of info about rebound hypercoagulation after quitting these drugs and no simple way to monitor these levels. Was told that aspirin isn't really helpful as it works on platelets not on fibrins that Eliquis or Xarelto effects.

I'm planning to go to my haematologist to have blood work done 2 days after quitting Eliquis...but I feel these diagnostics should be done at least every other day - to make sure, and obviously no one will be doing that. The rebound hypercoagulation state lasts about 6-10 weeks and that's when most strokes happen to people who discontinue blood thinners. What did you do after you discontinued Eliquis? I tried to quit already, stopped for 3 days but got scared and restarted after a panic attack.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 6

Re: Shirley (# 10)

Read your post, Hope you can reply. May I enquire what other heart medication you are taking for the a-fib, and in the over age 65. With the new chads score they have now added being a woman gives you another 1 point to add to the score, which I don't agree on.

Hope to hear from you. We are all here to learn from others.

Thanks.

Lena

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Jon H. To heck with the FDA warning. What matters is that each individual case is different. Have your doctor/cardiologist make the call. If he agrees 325 Bayer Aspirin works for me. Not have nor will I ever be a spokesperson for them. I have suffered many years with a s*** load of open heart operations, drugs (Eliquis) and ablations. Once you achieve sinus rhythm; I would switch to the 325 MG Aspirin once a day after breakfast and I can only say it works for me. Talk to your doctor.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Rick (# 7)

As you probably figured out you need to stop Eliquis and/or any Aspirin medication because of massive blood loss if he were to remove a phloyp. Eliquis and Aspirin are blood thinners and reduces your body to clot. When/if he/she removes a phloyp he cuts it out inside your intestine.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: John (# 13)

Still on Bayer 325 MG Aspirin instead of Eliquis. Always check with your doctor. Works/still working for money. Saving money.

Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jo (# 4)


When you stopped did u feel funny because your body was use to not getting the drug?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

HI. I WAS TOLD AFTER A SONAGRAM I HAD AN QUCULAIR ABNORMAL BLOOD CLOT FROM MY KNEE TO MY HIP. WOW, THEY PUT ME ON ELIQUIS TWICE A DAY FOR 6 MONTHS. MY SWELLING AN PAIN IN MY CALF WENT AWAY IN ABOUT 2 TO 6 WEEKS. I WENT OFF THIS MONTH, WENT FROM 2 A DAY TO 1 A DAY FOR 15 DAYS. I START ASPRIN 81mg NOW EVER OTHER DAY. WHY ASPRIN? IT ACTED FAST ON THINNING MY BLOOD IN THE PAST. REMEMBER, KNOW YOUR BODY IF YOU CAN... WISH ME LUCK

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Rick, your doctor told you to remain off Eliquis for 5 days after colonoscopy due to the blood loss you would experience if he removed phylops.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Just had an ablation 2 weeks ago taking Eliquis 5milgrams twice a day I find now I cannot walk stand the pain in my ankle calves and hip joints are unbearable When I stop taking ELIQUIS for the ablation the pain became less and less. Can one switch back to Warfarin in one day till the 8 weeks of scarring heals?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: eva2000 (# 11)

Hi Eva,
I really feel for you. I'm a newbie on Apixaban and trying to get over the horrors about unprovoked internal bleeds, stroke if I go off it for surgery, etc.

I'd be interested in where you got that info on "rebound hypercoagulation state lasts about 6-10 weeks", and was it for Apixaban/Eliquis or one of the others? I know each drug is different and that Rivaroxaban has a rebound, but can't find any actual research on Apixaban....

thanks,
Dianne

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

Re: darla (# 3)

Same with me. Was on Coumadin for years. But that requires constant test. Maybe you should ask about Xarelto. I’m on Eliquis. Love that there are no eating restrictions. There are other blood thinners out there that might be better. I am flag I no longer take Coumadin. I too had 4 clots. & a PE. I’m on thinners for life

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

The reason for the Black Box warning is that when you go off any blood thinner it raises the change of developing blood clots. There is other danger is stopping Eliquis all at once.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Ditto. I've been on it for years. I hate all the bruising and other side effects - and the huge cost. I want off of it too. I asked my doctor if I could reduce the dose; but no. I comb through the internet for what could happen if I go ahead but find mixed comments. They are that "you can't stop it" to go gradual to just stop.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: DON (# 17)

I was just prescribed Eliquis for a inclusive test in my lung I don't like how it makes me feel I have alot of anxiety now what should I do.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took elequis for over two years and the side effects were gradually becoming worse! I was scared into continuing with this drug by the doctor and the pharmacist! Eventually I lowered the dose to half the quantity but the only thing that changed was less
pain in my toes. About two months ago I began talking it every other day and then I stopped it altogether. I don’t know if this was the correct way to stop it because the only advice I got was to continue. Elequis may be a wonderful drug for some people but to me it was a poison. I have now told my doctor and I hope to be prescribed aspirin! I feel so much better, it took about 6 weeks for my body to recover from elequis. I have far less joint pain, stomach pain, I sleep better, I can move more, my hair is better and my hearing is beginning to improve. I would love to know what elequis does to your body because to me it was really damaging!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: darla (# 3)

I was on elequis for over 2 years. Dreadful side effects. It was when I was being put on pills to cover the side effects of the pills that I decided enough was enough! I first reduced down from 5mg twice a day to 2.5mg twice a day. The side effects didn’t improve much so I just stopped taking them. I have my life back. I had so much pain in my joints and shoulder a rash on my arm also fatigued. Very sore toes! Stomach pain and occasional bleeding. My doctor doesn’t know I have stopped them yet and I am going to now take a small dose aspirin in it’s place. I have allowed my body to heal first and get over whatever damage elequis has done to it. To me this tablet is a poison! I have Afib and still take 3.75 mg bisoprolol a day.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jo (# 1)

Are you taking another blood thinner?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Verwon (# 2)

I don’t think changing to Coumadin (Warfarin) would be the best choice because there are a lot of dietary restrictions with them. That’s why they came out with Eliquis. Coumadin limits you with anything with Vitamin K (green leafy vegetables & others. Plus you need to have your INR checked on a constant basis. After being on Coumadin for many years due to leg clots & a PE, Eliquis was easy. I didn’t have any side effects & no more testing. If you can deal with Eliquis, I would stay that way. You would still have to discontinue if you plan any surgery or dental procedures. Hope this helps somewhat.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My daughter is on Eliquis for blood clots in the lungs. They told her 3 to 6 mths then they look at her legs to see if her clots came from there and nothing. She was on a birth conrol know to cause clots she is now off of now if thats what caused her clots if shes not taking them anymore then no more clots should form after those ones cleared from the eliquis right?? So tell me why the vein doc says he wants her on it for 2yrs now? Is it to line their pockets because that's what its feeling like i mean 500$ for the script being she has no insurance due to shes not a minor nor has a child nor is in school she dont qualify for anything sp we cant do the 10$copay card. Anyways if she stops the meds that caused the clots why does she need on it for 2 years shes clumsy and im afraid shes going to end up bleeding eternally and cant be helped and her bleed out. Can't she just take baby asprin? Isn't that less damaging anyway?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Joyce (# 30)

I had one incident of AFib resulting from a surgery, severe dehydration, diarrhea and immobility.. dr started me on eliquis 5 mg twice a day.. after 7 days my knees were swollen and I could barely walk.. my arms and hands also hurt. I have arthritis but this was totally different from Arthritis stiffness. I cut dosage in half and took for five days then I switched to 81 mg aspirin a day. I also am taking metoprolol and anti inflammatory.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I have been taking eliquis for 4 mos, because of a clot in my leg. I have recently been diagnosed as having heterzygous,...

5 REPLIES

I have been taking Eliquist since October 2015. Three weeks ago, I developed a severe rash on my right calf and hive lik...

1 REPLY

Hello, I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. My m was on blood thinner eliquis for several years and do...

14 REPLIES

Anyone know how to safely get off eliquis and back on just aspirin? ## Hi cynthia, Depending on how long you've been...

188 REPLIES

A very large blood clot behind my left knee resulted in several blood clots in each lung. My vascular clinic rolled me d...

3 REPLIES

I was on Eliquis for 4 PEs and 1 DVT for roughly 6 months. I had a CT scan and ultrasound that verified they were gone a...

1 REPLY

I had a pace maker put in and stopped taking Eliquis for 6 weeks. When I started taking it again I am not bruising. When...

1 REPLY

My son had SEVERE ADHD to the point of hitting teachers when he was 4 in preschool, so he was tried on many meds and fin...

1 REPLY

I have been of Endcot for over a year. How do I get off of these? ## How much have you been taking and how often do you ...

1 REPLY

I have been taking 10 mg/day of Lisinopril for 3 months and have developed a tightening in the chest and flu like sympto...

127 REPLIES