I started Eliquis around January 1 of this year. I followed if for about three years before I pulled the plug and started using it. My cardio and PCP kept telling me to take Coumadin for about five years, but I resisted (stupid me), I took 325 mg of aspirin instead. So a little over a year ago I had a stroke. Believe me, you don't want one of those. I was fortunate, the initial speech problems and right side hemiparesis resolved in a few days. However, I still cannot see with my right eye more than a little past midline on the left side. Of course, there's always that fear of complete loss of control if it happen again. I started Coumadin when I had the stroke (12/31/2013). The blood work every two weeks was annoying (I knew from the lest time I was on it about 10 years ago for six months when I had a DVT with pulmonary embolisms). Now I knew I needed an anti coagulant for life.

When I switched to Eliquis I had to stop the Coumadin for five days. I had a little nosebleed for the first day or two (while both drugs were in my system). But now all is well. No other issues.

If you have AFIB, you most probably need to be on some anti coagulant. The downside risk of not taking anything is huge. Eliquis works better than Coumadin. It's very expensive, make sure your insurance covers it. I like the fact that it has a 12 hour half life, so if you need emergency surgery, the drug is out of your system relatively quickly. The antidote is about a year away, so don't get in a major car accident or cut your arm off. Then again if you did those things with Coumadin you would most probably be in the same boat. Any other questions, ask away.

Oh yes, I see that you are a young female. You should seek advice from some young women to see how this effects the menstrual thing.

Bleed risk with ALL anti-coagulants is highest with older more frail patients. Unfortunately, they lump 35 year olds with low HAS-BLED scores with those older people with high scores. And then there is the issue of lumping brain bleeds with other bleeds. Those with diabetes also represent a large portion of bleeds. Even with old, frail, and diabetic patients lumped in with young people with low HAS-BLED scores, the bleed risk scores are very low for Eliquis and similar anti-coagulants.

Source and criteria: One bleeding event per year in ARISTOTLE and AVERROES trials.

Major bleeding was defined as clinically overt bleeding that was accompanied by one or more of the following: a decrease in hemoglobin of 2 g/dL or more; a transfusion of 2 or more units of packed red blood cells; bleeding that occurred in at least one of the following critical sites: intracranial, intraspinal, intraocular, pericardial, intra-articular, intramuscular with compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal; or bleeding that was fatal. Intracranial hemorrhage included intracerebral (hemorrhagic stroke), subarachnoid, and subdural bleeds.

Eliquis: 2.13% major bleeds per year
Intracranial: .33%
Fatal: .06%

So you see that the likelihood of you having a bleed (because you are not old/frail/diabetic) is tiny. The likelihood of you dying is not even measurable.

You can't say the same for stroke. And that isn't reversible.

There are protocols for reversal as simple as applying pressure.

Eliquis has a lower bleed risk than Warfarin/Coumadin and Warfarin/Coumadin isn't as reversible as you think. It takes time. It's better not to have a bleed in the first place.

The reversal agent is months away for Eliquis also.

I would worry more about social security being there when you get to social security age... what is social security age for people as young as you? 99?

petey


petey

No issues with Eliquis for me, been on it for over a year and doing fine. I used to worry about bleeding to death in case of an accident but have gotten over that for the most part, I do wear a bracelet that shows I have afib and am on a blood thinner, in hopes if there was ever an accident they would know what to do for me. The only issue I can really attribute to the Eliquis or anything thinning agent I have been on for the past several years is I do show microscopic blood in my urine at routine physical with no infection present, This will be my second time of getting a scan and scope done this past week, hope to have those results soon,but thinking it is just the thinners as before but better to be safe than sorry so I opt for the tests. As Paul mentioned you are so young, a good point to find out about the monthly, you may have to have a dose adjustment and still be covered for the stoke risk, I am post menopause so cannot answer question. Good luck!

I take Eliquis and like it. I had nosebleeds on Xarelto, but none on Eliquis. All my doctors, cardio and otherwise like Eliquis. The only hassle is that you have to take it 2x day.

I got an online coupon to cover the cost from the manufacturer.

As for Paul, I also had a stroke just after surgery because I had to d/c anticoagulants. I lost 30% of my vision but its is now mostly scotomas (blind spots) and I have (sort of) adjusted.

Good luck.

My first afib I was put on Eliquis in the ER as requested by the Cardiologist/EP I had chosen. I have not any issues except remembering to take nightly dose at right time. In fact had to get a mole removed and they were quite happy at the ease of stopping the bleeding.

My Mother is in semi assisted living, her roommate is 49 and in there for a stroke. She will be leaving soon but will still need a caregiver, good reminder to take my meds.

I was concerned about bleeding as I do not accept blood transfusions, talked to two people on coumadin and they want off as it is a pain to be tested, adjusted and diet and bleeding is still a fear on coumadin. I am staying where I am at knowing I will be in doughnut hole for at least a month or two.

I have enough hatred of meds no way I could willingly takd rat poison

laurab

I took eliquis for about 2 months I think. Soon after starting it I started noticing an itchy scalp. Since I had recently changed shampoo I thought it might be that. I tried different shampoo and hairspray, etc trying to figure it out. The itching gradually spread to my face, neck, and chest and I realized it had started about the time I started the eliquis. Eureka! No eliquis....no itching.
Otherwise I had no problem taking it...no stomach issues, no bleeding issues.

I'm a man in his mid 60s so I'm not sure this is pertinent.

I've been on Eliquis for a little over a year. I've had pulmonary embolisms so I didn't like the idea of using aspirin. Coumadin/warfarin is a pain because of the regular testing and finding a testing facility. I travel fairly frequently. I was in Peru last October and hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Trying to keep my INR at the proper level while there sounded like more trouble than I wanted. I had some problems getting tested when I was in Arizona visiting family. I chose Eliquis in part because it is taken twice a day and there's no testing.. I run and hike in some rugged country where the chance of tripping and falling is relatively high. I wanted an anticoagulant that minimized my risks of bleeding out while protecting against stroke so a shorter half life sounded better than a long one.

I had a good sized skin tag removed surgically with no problems about 10 days ago.

I've had zero problems with it. It has certainly made things easier for me.

Todd

Todd, I would definitely lose the aspirin. Im not even sure why cardios still suggest it. If youre active running, and youre not already, I would also take some good Vit K along with the antis.

Hwkmn: I don't use aspirin and Vit K doesn't help with Eliquis. As was mentioned in the original post, there are no antidotes (yet) for Eliquis.

Sorry it took so long to reply. I just got back to California from doing a day hike at the Grand Canyon. Wanted to see the two main trails to the river so I did them both on Wednesday. I've been kind of out of sorts with a cold, the travel there and what I assume is afib leaving me short of breath at times.

Thanks,

Todd

Hi Todd: I did those trails when I was 21 or so. I couldn't do them today. We are almost the same age. I'm amazed that you can still do something so challenging.

I did them in 1995. Coming back up was a big surprise.

Yep, it was over 90 degrees on the bottom, and snow on the rim. The next day I had to pull myself out of my tent by my elbows ... my legs refused to work for a while.

Glad to hear others here have done it. I'm very blessed to be able to do these things. I still have hopes of going back and doing the double crossing in a day. Knowing the trails on the south rim makes it seem possible. I'm fighting a lot of different physical problems right now. Afib is not one that will prevent me from doing it. It's an inconvenience but not an impediment. One or more of the others could. I'm blessed just to be able to consider it.

Stay healthy,

Todd

Todd, sorry, I must have been looking at Pauls first post on aspirin. Congrats on all the trail blazing.