I was having awful side effects on Xarelto, so they switched me to Eliquis. There was no real transition, I just started taking the Eliquis right away and had no issues. The side effects went away. I have my appointment with my hemotologist in a few weeks to talk about staying on or getting off the blood thinners. What do you know about the aspirin? Is it something you've discussed? I was thinking about mentioning the same thing.

Hi, what's the reason for your doc is switching meds? Just curious on his thought process.

Thanks for your replies!

My doctor said that Eliquis does a better job of protecting from clots but has a higher risk of bleeding. The aspirin has a lower risk of bleeding but doesn't protect from clots as well. He said these are tiny percentages of a difference, though.

He wants to switch me to something lower dose since I have made it through 6 months. (When I was in the hospital, he said he generally prescribes something like Xarelto for 3-6 months and then switches patients to something less extreme if labs look good.) I know that some people stop taking blood thinners completely after they have made it 6 months or so, but my doctor does not recommend that for anyone. (It's an option, though; he just frowns upon it.)

Studies have shown that lower doses of Eliquis do the same as the higher doses after the initial treatment, but those studies have not been done with Xarelto. I am currently on Eliquis 5mg twice a day, and will soon be switched to 2.5 mg. I hope to go to aspirin after that, but I'm not sure if my hemotologist believes in that or not.

Thanks for the info!!

Please keep me updated on your hematologist's thoughts on aspirin. I don't want to stay on blood thinners and hope that might be an option. Thanks

For sure! I return in July. When he gave me the options the other day (Eliquis, aspirin, nothing), he seemed to be leaning towards Eliquis but open to aspirin if I chose that. He seems to be pretty cautious (which I appreciate).

I just completed my 4 month course of Xarelto after PE in December. My doctor did not recommend me taking aspirin unless I was traveling. He also did not have me do any follow up tests to check my D Dimer levels. Kind of makes me nervous to just stop taking my blood thinners without any transition but I guess my doctor knows what he is doing.

Where I live they just do the D dimer as an initial screen for possible active dvt or pe and not as a follow up so I wouldn't read anything into not having that test as a follow up. Likewise on the aspirin thing, I think that's an unusual approach or maybe something based on risk factors for other diseases?

I tested negative for currently known risk factors (through blood tests).

Hi,

After my second PE I was put on Xarelto. While on the initial 30mg daily dose, I haemorraged. Things got better when I switched to the lower, regime dose but I always had issues with heavy periods, gum bleeds and bruises (I do lots of sports).

Since heavier periods aggravated my iron-deficiency and gave me anemia, after one of my follow-ups I was switched to Eliquis (lower dosage, so 2.5mg twice daily). I switched directly from Xarelto, what I did was taking my last Xarelto dose (I usually took it at 8pm at night) and started with Eliquis the day after, still at night (so, I basically skipped the morning dose).

I have been on Eliquis since June 2016 and I think this medication is a lot better for me.
I still have a (less severe) iron deficiency, but now I take iron tablets chronically and it is taking care of that.
It looks like I will stay on it lifelong, if things keep on going well. My doctors (hematologist + pulmonologist) do not think aspirin is a suitable option for me.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info, echo86! I have been anemic in the past, but it hasn't been chronic, so everything is good to know!

Just an update on this:

I went for a 9-month follow-up a few weeks ago, and my hematologist wants to keep me on Eliquis for at least another 6 months. I think this may be protocol (at least in my area). When speaking with my cardiologist, he told me it is normal to go on something like Xarelto for 6 months and then something lower-dose like Eliquis for maybe a year. My d-dimer is looking great these days (<0.27).