Eliquis And Shortness Of Breath (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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 cardiologist a week later, he put him back on it despite what my boyfriend and I attempted to explain to him. He refused to listen and said it wasn't a side effect. He upped the dose of his metoprolol and sent him on his way. And almost immediately the shortness of breath was back and my boyfriend feels lousy again. Why don't doctors listen? Aren't they obligated to report these reactions? Maybe it other people are having the same reaction and their doctors aren't listening either because no one is writing it down.

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Metoprolol may be the cause here. I had shortness of breath and after finally getting off the Metopropol the shortness of breath went away.

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Dump that guy. They could care less about us. Follow your gut, always, with a 2nd doctor for support!

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Thank You for these replies. I had a stroke in May. 2017. (rt cerebellum) Vision affected only. I was life lighted to Main hospital here. I was medicated for the 7 days. (That's another story). 7 days there and 6 weeks in a nice rehab place. I was placed on Warfarin for 3 months. No Problems. Cardio and Neuro wanted me on Eliquis. (August 2017) 5mg x 2 a day. No problems at the beginning but for the last months I am getting spells of shortness of breath and I cannot sleep or take short walks. I looked up side effects and there it was. Shortness of breath. I called the Neuro and the Cardiologist. Hey said I was wrong and so was the articles that list breathing problems taking Eliquis. The Cardio said since I had a stroke I had to be on Eliquis and live with breathing problems as the alternative is another stroke and possibly death. It is midnight and I am typing this and SOB. Tomorrow is my blood work day. I plan on writing both doctors and telling them I want to go back to Warfarin or Coumadin as I cannot live like this. I am also very tired on this med and will fall asleep standing up but very difficult to sleep at night. No problems with Warfarin. I am wondering if Xarelto is better than Eliquis for side effects. I also plan on seeking a new Cardiologist and Neurologist that will listen to me. I am 76. Thanks for listening.

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Re: Edie (# 24)

Question your doctors thoroughly until you get answers. The doctors don't communicate with each other or look at your entire medical history. It took me years to find a doctor who gave a darn. While this new generation of blood thinners cause less bleeding, the side effects, including shortness of breath, outweigh their benefits in my book.

The exercise that you get from pushing your own furniture around may be what's keeping you alive! Don't quit the exercise! You can't quit living just because some doctor says you have to. Hang in there

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Re: EKM (# 25)

Intend to do just that. Can't just stop all of the heart (?) meds at once, but intend to lose them if necessary. I actually couldn't sleep last night, breathing was so bad, so continued research on other meds. Ranitidine? Goes back to pharmacy to be disposed of today. Won't die of stomach upset. Gabapentin? Can live with nerve pain. Tambacor (generic) Going. (Headache and anxiety with that one) Atorvastatin? Helpful, but same effects in smaller amount. Going. CITRUS CALCIUM +D? Doesn't sound likely, heh? Sure!! Going. My bones won't disintegrate. THEN, ADD CARVEDILOL (generic) AND LET'S NOT FORGET DILTIAZEM (generic). That one can cause nasal passages to dry up so you breathe through your mouth and guess what?? No wonder I feel like I'm breathing dust!!! Honestly, I felt pretty damned good until, with one episode, it was decided I had A-Fib. ONE!!! GEE! DO YOU KNOW LOW BLOOD SUGARS CAN IRRITATE YOUR HEART, MAKE IT BEAT RAPIDLY AND GENERALLY MIMIC AN A-Fib ATTACK?? THEY CAN STICK THEIR QUICK DECISIONS. INCLUDING THE ONE TO SHOCK MY HEART BACK INTO RHYTHM. THEN, BASED ON THAT ONE INCIDENT, WANTED TO SCHEDULE A HEART ABLATION WITH NO MORE RESEARCH. Well, hasn't happened yet. Probably won't. Been nearly 5 months. Meanwhile my health is being undermined by all these drugs meant to keep me alive(?). I was in low blood sugar when I called for the EMTs that day. I wonder if they really took any note of that at all?? My BP was 94/69 with a pulse of 42 yesterday. Great?? Wonder if my hearts pumping well enough to move any oxygen around. Dizziness. Weakness. Even some memory issues..all foreign to me until the past weeks as all this has been added. I'm exhausted right now from having no sleep last night. Stress and exhaustion raises my blood sugar. Gee, it's just a vicious Merry-Go-Round.

I live alone with my cat now that my hubby is in a nursing home. Spent 2 days in the hospital two weeks ago over blood sugar readings all over the place, so don't get me started on that. I'm afraid to read up on the Metformin prescribed so my insulin could be cut in half. Already know the long term effects of insulin. My great-grandma, who lived to be 2 months shy of 94, told me as a child, "THESE DOCTORS WILL KILL YOU WITH THEIR PILLS." GO GRANNY!!! Now, not all meds are bad. We all know that. But giving someone who has a nearly life-long history of respiratory problems, drugs to keep them from having a stroke (?) but that could cause you to keel over and die from lack of oxygen, seems rather asinine to me. MAYBE, I'LL HAVE A STROKE. MAYBE. BUT I'LL DAMNED SURE DIE IF I CAN'T BREATHE. And as for doctors communicating? My Primary Care clinic isn't actually a part of the hospital where I go for special services. It's like a "store-front office" only fancy. The ER doctor gave me a prescription that could have reacted dangerously with my other meds. THE PHARMACIST CAUGHT IT. THE HOSPITAL RECORDS WERE NOT COMPLETE. IF A DOCTOR CAN TREAT YOU AT THEIR OFFICE AND YOU CAN GO TO ANY HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATIONS OR WHATEVER, HOW CAN YOU BE SAFE WHEN THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF COMMUNICATION? IS THIS PROGRESS? AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT.

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I'm also experiencing short of breath. Had to stop going to exercise class, also have muscle weakness and fatigue. Thought I've been to cardiologists and breathing doctors, none of them see the correlation between Eliquis and shortness of breath.

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Bob I have severe shortness of breath on ELIQUIS. What should I doRobert

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I agree, doctor's don't listen. Went to my Primary and constantly complained of my shortness of breath. She used to be a ER doctor, and she didn't pick up on it either. So after a year of this problem, I pestered her so much she finally sent me to a cardiologist. That was ruled out as a problem. Now I'm going to a lung doctor, he's not finished testing with me so we can either count my lungs being the problem or not. I stopped taking Elilquis 6 weeks ago and I have not seen my breathing getting any better.

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Re: Kravhammer (# 16)

Hello - I was wondering what every happened with your breathing. Did it finally return to normal? Did you get off of Eliquis? I am only three days in and experiencing the same issue and I have asthma. I am wondering if I should stop and take natural remedies and aspirin. Appreciate whatever insights you may have.

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Re: Beatrix (# 5)

Hello - I just got put on Eliquis. Wondering if you ever got off of it or how your breathing turned out as I am also experiencing shortness of breath, in addition to hot limbs and sore joints. I am a bit worried - does it get better or worse as I am only three days in.

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Re: Queticopete (# 7)

Hello - I just got put on Eliquis. Wondering if you had any further side effects long after being off Eliquis? I am worried about irreversible damage as I am getting shortness of breath after three days in addition to hot limbs and sore joints. I am a bit worried - does it get better or worse as I am only three days in.

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If you are only seeing a cardiologist that does NOT specialize in Electrophisoly of the heart I suggest finding a cardiologist electrophysiologist. This made all the difference in how my afib was treated.

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I had the same reaction with xeralta and Pradaxa. I am now on Coumadin and no sob or chest pressure. Doc said it a not we don’t believe you but. If you read the insert the med company provides with the med. it is called a severe allergic reaction. Maybe the doctor should read that

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I have posted before. This is added info. I have a 30 day monitor on now. My Cardio is the one that RX'd the Eliquis. I see a Stroke Neuro and the Cardio and a psychiatrist for PT. A 30 day monitor was at my door last week. A Electro doctor's name was added. I did have a stroke and was told I must be on eliquis for life. About 4 months on 5mg x 2 a day, I started having shortness of breath. I asked the Cardio and the Stroke Neuro about Eliquis and SOB. NO, they said...Does not cause shortness of breath. I feel they are mistaken. My feet and lower legs are also swollen. When I was on Coumadin for 3 months, I had skinny feet and no SOB. I read Coumadin is not as powerful as Eliquis, Xarelto and pradaxa. (sp) They are assuming I must have A-Fib happening thus causing the stroke. I am anxious to see the Electro doctor as I feel I will learn a lot more. I do not like wearing a monitor for 30 days but if it can clear things up and answers, I am all for it. Have a good weekend.

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Why do doctors not believe this shortness of breath is a side effect of Eliquis? I was on this med for almost a month with shortness of breath getting worse. They suggested that it might be a blockage as I have two stents. No problem there so went back on Eliquis. As expect the shortness of breath started again. I was on Coumadin for over seven years with no issues. Eliquis was supposed to make my life easier. NOT. PK

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Was given Eliquis after afib brief episode. Had nuclear stress test 5 months ago, no problems. Was dizzy one day about 1 April 19 and urgent care sent me to hospital , said I had Afib. I was given nothing in hospital . Released after 4 days with bottle of ELIQUIS (Bristol Meyers) I am 75. Developed shortness of breath taking 5 mg of Eliq. twice a day. Trying 2.5 mg twice a day now. May have to stop it totally. Funny when you have AFIB, they do not tell you how to possibly stop it . Why not? One thing
I read was just to drink some cold water. Ha. Just want you to take their stupid drugs. If reduced amount does not work, I will try the baby aspirin approach.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I couldn't have said it better.

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Mary I would go get a second opinion. I see a hematologist for my blood thinner. I get blood clots after surgery so this is what works for me. I get joint pain and weight gain which isn't a symptom, but found out other people said the same thing. My hematologist listens and we have tried a couple different ones. I don't like any of them and have problems with all of them but I have no choice. Doctor's do not know everything, if he doesn't listen see another Doctor don't be afraid to offend him, it is his body and is quality of life. Hope he does this.

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Re: Suzie (# 3)

Glad I'm not the only one. I'm 74 and am starting to develop Afib, actually I've had it for several decades but it seems to affect me a lot more lately. So my doctor put me on 2 Eliquis 5mg tablets daily, plus a heart pill, Cardizem. Right away, I noticed extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and pressure in the top of my head. If I bend over, it increases the pressure greatly. My tinnitus kicked into overdrive and I can hardly sleep at night because of the breathing issues. I can barely get out of my own way, gardening has become a drudge and I tire immediately. I'm beginning to think that the cure is worse than the ailment!

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I have been on Eliquis for 6 years. Last summer I went into AFIB and cardioversion did not work. Dr put me on Diltiaz along with my Eliquis. In March I had a WAtchman filter put in my heart. Dr told me that it is possible I can stop the Eliquis in 6 months. I hope he is right. I am extremely tired all the time , cold and weak leg muscles.

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