1. < Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases

My Dr wants me to take Eliquis, I have no Afib and a stroke rate of 2%

Posted by craces @craces, Apr 10 12:33pm

Hello,
I recently visited my cardiologist, and he wants me to take Eliquis for stroke prevention. I have had no Afib in over 3 years and my chance of stroke is only 2%. I don't think I should take it. what does the Mayo Clinic suggest?

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arctic22 | @arctic22 | Apr 11 7:17am

I was on Plavix for over 10 yrs. July of 2022 it stopped working and no one noticed causing me to have a stroke on the right thalamus gland, which only 15% of strokes happen on this side. I have had 11 heart caths and 5 heart stents since 1999 last stent was in 2009. Cardo switched me to Britilla or something like that side effects were so bad I could not breath. PCP switched me to Eliquis not long after that, it is very expensive to say the least. Bristol Myers Squibb has a patient assistance that can help many with the cost of Eliquis. Is there a reason you do not want to go on it?

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2 replies
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Apr 11 11:31pm

@artic22 I was in the same situation however my cardiologist agreed to let me take a full strength 325 mg aspirin everyday.

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1 reply
craces | @craces | Apr 15 3:26pm
In reply to @arctic22 "I was on Plavix for over 10 yrs. July of 2022 it stopped working and no..." + (show)
@arctic22

I was on Plavix for over 10 yrs. July of 2022 it stopped working and no one noticed causing me to have a stroke on the right thalamus gland, which only 15% of strokes happen on this side. I have had 11 heart caths and 5 heart stents since 1999 last stent was in 2009. Cardo switched me to Britilla or something like that side effects were so bad I could not breath. PCP switched me to Eliquis not long after that, it is very expensive to say the least. Bristol Myers Squibb has a patient assistance that can help many with the cost of Eliquis. Is there a reason you do not want to go on it?

Jump to this post

I’ve never had heart issues other than my heart rate dropping below 50. Stress test and echo show my heart is healthy.

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craces | @craces | Apr 15 3:27pm
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@artic22 I was in the same situation however my cardiologist agreed to let me take a..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@artic22 I was in the same situation however my cardiologist agreed to let me take a full strength 325 mg aspirin everyday.

Jump to this post

Did or do you have any heart issues? What’s your % chance of a stroke?

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SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Apr 15 4:55pm

@craces I had a mini stroke in 2007. The cause is unknown, and it was not harmful.

I had A-fib about 4 years ago. After 2 years of Eliquis and no reoccurrence of A-fib, the cardiologist said I can take only aspirin.

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hfp | @hfp | Apr 17 7:23am
In reply to @arctic22 "I was on Plavix for over 10 yrs. July of 2022 it stopped working and no..." + (show)
@arctic22

I was on Plavix for over 10 yrs. July of 2022 it stopped working and no one noticed causing me to have a stroke on the right thalamus gland, which only 15% of strokes happen on this side. I have had 11 heart caths and 5 heart stents since 1999 last stent was in 2009. Cardo switched me to Britilla or something like that side effects were so bad I could not breath. PCP switched me to Eliquis not long after that, it is very expensive to say the least. Bristol Myers Squibb has a patient assistance that can help many with the cost of Eliquis. Is there a reason you do not want to go on it?

Jump to this post

How did you find out that Pkavix was no longer working? After a cerebellar stroker 6 years ago Ive been on Plavix. After about 2 years O had s blood test that showed that the plavix was still working. Last year I had another cerebellar stroke (more severe, on plavix). The doctor suggested the addition of baby aspirin and that I could go off Plavix if I choose. I'm really hesitant to do that. Should I have another blood test to see if it's working? Thank you and good luck to you.

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arctic22 | @arctic22 | Apr 17 7:52am

I had a stroke in the thalamus gland on the right side, which only 15% of those kind of strokes happen on that side. They found out the Plavix had stopped working and my body was no longer metabolizing it. I have been on coated aspirin for 20 years.

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jenatsky | @jenatsky | Apr 20 7:51am

Typically a 10 year period without any symptoms is the cutoff point when to consider stopping an anti-clotting drug, I believe.

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