Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness

I had the "Watchman Procedure" that eliminates the need for Eliquis. Research it !!

I was diagnosed with AFib after having Cardiac Catheterization surgery just shy of 3 months prior. No AFib was found and I was given a clean bill of heart health.

The morning after starting taking the sample pack Eliquis pill, I had a very difficult time getting up to use the bathroom and I didn’t know what was causing it. Day 2, same thing but it was worse.

I can barely walk! And I stopped taking the Eliquis and I was prescribed Xarelto. Same thing happened to me.

My Cardiologist said that it’s NOT related to me starting the Eliquis!

What can I show him so that he can see that it’s rare but it is definitely a side effect?

My PCP recommended the Watchman but the Cardiologist said that I would not qualify. As if I am making this up!

I have no life enjoyment whatsoever.

I don’t know what to do anymore.

You say this started right after a cardiac procedure. Are you sure something from the cardiac procedure/anesthesia didn't have something to do with your problems? Did you start Eliquis immediately after the procedure? Your time line and history is hard to understand. That is why I am asking. If you do not have Afib then they are using this as a "preventative". If so could you taking to them to see if you can come off it for a few days to see how you feel. My brother has to come off his blood thinner for a number of dental procedures as long as he is not in Afib he is OK. You can always move to Coumadin. It is more work to keep you properly anti-coagulated but if it got rid of the fatigue you would have your life back.

It’s very difficult when a doctor doesn’t take our concerns seriously. Do as much investigating as possible. Did you have any of these problems prior to introducing Eliquis to the equation? Try to be specific, date time etc. if possible find a person to assist as your medical advocate, maybe a family member or nurse.
I’ve had a reaction to Eliquis and critically low blood values and finally I found my GI specialist agrees. Been off Eliquis 2.5 weeks and labs are looking better.
We know our bodies better than anyone…if something doesn’t feel right it’s not right. Keep seeking until you find the cause.

I started a response to this but was cut off .. you may see a partial response. I have been taking Eliquis for about 2 years. I am traveling or I would look at the enclosed sheet that comes with the RX. From the beginning I either was told or read in that document that a side effect of Eliquis can be muscle weakness. I clearly recall that as a concern I had . I am on the same dose as you described. The effect I do have is with the AM dose. That can vary at times. When it affects me most often I feel very "loop-y") with the AM dose for about an hour. Never with the night dose. However per the above comment about muscle weakness, my neighbor had it prescribed and had severe muscle weakness from the start with the Rx discontinued as a result. I just looked on line (Google) on your behalf. I input "Eliquis side effects". The few items noted don't report muscle weakness. However I did this a second time and entered: "Eliquis muscle weakness" it was the third in the list that popped up. Hope this helps a bit.

Have you had your blood tested recently? My hemoglobin dropped to 4 which is critically low. This required immediate transfusions. Eliquis is known to cause anemia and bleeding. This could explain your weakness. A simple CBC will show this.

This is precisely why I joined this group. If you read my posts you’ll see my major complaint while taking Eliquis has been muscle weakness and fatigue. I have stopped taking this per doctor’s order. I developed critically low hemoglobin requiring transfusions. With no evidence of bleeding our attention was focused on the Eliquis since it is known to cause anemia and bleeding. I have been off Eliquis 2.5 weeks now and feel somewhat stronger. I’m sure the transfusions have also assisted in feeling better.

I had cardiac catheterization surgery in December and it was determined that NOTHING was wrong with my heart. Nobody EVER believes that when you have a 15 year old hip replacement joint and you’re having an echocardiogram, your pain is intense. My replaced/revised L hip implant is starting to click and stick. I asked if my intense pain could cause my echocardiogram to make my R ventricular pressure appear higher than it normally is. No. Like I don’t know my body and how much agony I was in. The table they use is pressboard with a laminate coating and no cushion whatsoever. I started using the pillow for my head to put under my hip because I had a few follow-up echoes. They were a lot better. In early December, they had a student in the room with the Technician and I was distracted and I forgot to ask them about a pillow. My R ventricle pressure was back up. They refused to allow me to have my hip replacement surgery. Well, FF to March 2024 and now I have severe AFib. I was injured during the procedure in December of 2023 and mine is not temporary. It’s permanent. I was given a sample pack of Eliquis and I started taking them and the next morning, I woke up with EXTREME muscle pain down both legs (front and back) and my spine was sore. I couldn’t imagine what was happening but I was still digesting my diagnosis and I took it on the 2nd day too. The 2 morning after, I almost did not make it to the bathroom in time. My muscular leg pain was INTENSE. I realized that the only thing that changed was my starting Eliquis and I so, they gave me Xarelto. Same thing happened. I have a consultation with a Cardiologist to determine if I am eligible for The Watchman. I’m praying that I am. Oh! And on 3/20/2024, I was ready to go into the OR to finally get my new R hip and my AFib went berserk. Heart rate was 120 and my surgery was cancelled. Again! Now, I can barely walk. I live alone and I am 62. Has your muscular pain ever gotten better? I’m not sure how I can live alone anymore! I’m so scared! Plus, how can I possibly recover properly from hip replacement surgery if I can’t walk? I think I am in trouble here. AND, nobody seems to really believe that this is actually happening to me either! I have now done a LOT of research and the clinical trials of Eliquis were pretty much fudged and they did them in China! They didn’t want to injure Americans but the FDA approved it ANYWAY! Please tell me that you are much better now! Thank you!

Thank you! I didn’t think my first attempt at posting this worked because I didn’t see it. I see it now but I posted another comment about the same thing. Since I posted this, I am actually worse. Stopping Eliquis and Xarelto hasn’t helped. I am MUCH worse. My PCP pushed my Cardiologist and I am meeting with the Interventional Cardiologist for a consultation and hopefully I will be approved for the Watchman procedure because I can’t take the blood thinners and I watched Coumadin kill my Mother. Her doctor even told her that it’s “Human Rat Poison”. I read about the “fudged” clinical trials of Eliquis in China. The FDA still approved it for all patients. It’s “Human Rat Poison” too. I just turned 62 and I can barely walk. I live alone. My Mother and my boyfriend died a week apart in 2018. I am completely alone and devastated by this! The walls are helping me to walk and I have gained almost 10lbs because I can’t burn any calories and I am now too heavy for hip replacement surgery anyway! I’m a mess. If you’re at all religious or spiritual, please say some prayers or send good thoughts to me. Thank you!

I have been off the Eliquis since March 5th and there has been significant improvement in my muscle weakness in my legs but especially in my back.
Since they discovered the severe anemia (4.8 hemoglobin) and transfused me with 2 units packed cells my lab values have somewhat improved and hemoglobin has risen to 8.0. It has maintained at that level since transfusions.
My GI specialist agrees with me that the Eliquis had been a great contributing factor in the critical and is and accompanying fatigue and muscle weakness.
I have an appointment with a hematologist on Thursday to address the severe anemia and how we will treat it.
Have you had your labs done recently?
It’s not in your mind, this drug was definitely poison for me.