If it's getting worse then I'd consider switching. They may be telling you to stay on because sometimes medication side effects can disappear after a while.

I'm on Xarelto for several years now and haven't had any side effects. Would you consider Xarelto? I was on warfarin for years prior to Xarelto. Did fine on warfarin too but it's a pain in the butt to be on it long term. It's a touchy drug that requires a lot of dosage tweaking and monitoring.

It took me a few months to feel half way decent after getting out of the hospital from my PE. Any chance some of what you're feeling is recovery related?

Thanks rmb. Yes I've considered Xarelto, but most reviews and discussions I've read say that if you have an issue with Eliquis, you probably won't tolerate Xarelto well either. Very similar drugs. I have no issue giving it a try, but my doctors are not very responsive if I were to have an issue with it. Like I said, they pretty much dismiss my complaints. I only need to be on blood thinners 2 more months so I'd rather just find what has the least side effects.

Yes, I was just thinking about how I feel as it relates to the PE itself. What's strange though is I felt a LOT better the first week I was discharged from the hospital compared to now. I can feel just as bad resting as I do working out and being highly active. 50% of the time working out makes me feel better, the rest of the time no so much. But both make me feel exhausted.

Yeah I felt decent after getting home too. I suspect it was because I was still sort of out of commission, not doing much. After a couple of weeks you start doing more, even basic stuff like cleaning your house, laundry, going to the store, trying to incorporate mild exercise, and it’s almost too much. So it’s this weird thing where it feels like you are taking steps backward when really your body simply is exhausted and trying to recover, not only from the PE but also from being in the hospital. It completely depletes you.

Anyway not trying to dismiss your concerns about the medication or blame it all on recovery. I just think recovery is not a straight line, that we may be over doing it even if it doesn’t seem like it. I was dizzy a lot my first month after being home. I cut back on my coffee and increased my water intake and that seemed to help. But who knows.

Xarelto and Eliquis are similar because they are in the same drug class but if you compare the potential reported side effects there are a few differences listed. A pharmacist may be able to guide you on side effects better than a doctor.

I tried eliquis for 2 days but it didn't like me. Ended up back in the ER with sharp chest pain and trouble breathing. Mostly I've been on xarelto this past year. Trying pradaxa now in hopes the chest pain and brain fog won't be as bad. Jury still out.