Taking blood thinners. Have headache every day.

I would ask your prescribing MD what you would need to do to stop talking the med. Lose weight, etc. And what self discipline do you have to make the life style changes that may/may not allow you to stop the med.

Yeah, I'm already living a very healthy lifestyle ...go to the gym 3 times a week, power walking in between gym sessions ...eat lots of veggies ...no read meat, no pork, occasional chicken or fish. Healthy weight, good blood pressure ...don't smoke or do drugs ...but I am 77, so that may have something to do with it.

I am 83 years old and have been on blood thinners since my septal myectomy at Mayo Rochester three years ago. For the past several months, I also have had a slight headache at various time almost every day., mostly when I wake up in the morning. I have thought it was allergies or sinus and never considered it might be from the blood thinner. I was on Eliquis but Eliquis was causing terrible night sweats, so my dr. Switched me to Xarelto. If that is what is causing slight headaches, I really prefer it to the awful night sweats that left me exhausted and weak when taking Eliquis. Of course, I can’t take aspirin and am allergic to ibuprofen. Tylenol can be damaging to my “old” liver, so I just ignore the slight headache. However, I will mention it to my cardiologist on my next appointment. Thank you for the heads up.

Thanks for the feedback Betty Ann. I was also on Eliquis which gave me "severe" headaches, and like you, I was switched to Xarelto, and the headaches lessened in severity. I can live with a daily "minor" headache, but research tells me that recurring headaches while on blood thinners may be indicative of internal bleeding. So, we should both definitely check this out with our physicians. Also, like you, I don't take any pain relievers for my headache. If I can tolerate the discomfort then I stay away from pain relievers.

I originally posted my experience with Eliquis as having tremendous fatigue and back pain with leg weakness. Lab tests revealed critical blood values requiring immediate transfusions. I was taken off the Eliquis immediately (March 5th) and within a week to 10 days my pain and weakness began to subside. Weekly lab tests closely monitored by my GI specialist have seen my hemoglobin go from a critical level of 4.3 to 12.3 as of this past draw (May 22nd). Of course now that my blood values are back within normal levels my fatigue has lifted and back pain and leg weakness have improved to a level expected of my age group (73).
Watch your blood levels while on this drug. It is known to cause anemia and bleeding.
I was originally put on this drug after post surgical pulmonary embolism. It was for temporary use until clot had resolved. I used this drug from May 2023-March 2024 a total of 9 months.

Wow! You really went through a tough time! It's good that your sharing your experience. Provide a warning to other people regarding Eliquis. Glad I was taken off of it before any serious side-effects. Thanks for sharing!

5.28.2024

I HAVE TAKEN 5 MG OFV ELIQUIS DAILY FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY SIDE EFFECTS. I ALSO TAKE 200MG OF AMIODARONE
DAILY.

MY DOCTOR PRACTICES AT JOHNS HOPKINS IN BALTIMORE, MD.

SUCH SIDE EFFECTS COULD COME FROM DIET AND LACK OF WATER INTAKE.

ALLEN HARDESTER
COLUMBIA, MD

MY

So happy for you that you can take Eliquis and Amioderone with no problems. You are so lucky. Xarelto is so much more expensive. I would definitely take Eliquis if I could. But the best possible quality of life is what I am after so I don’t have much choice . I also took Amioderone for several months after my surgery but it really made me sick as well. I dread the thought of having to take it ever again but will if it is prescribed. You are right on target about diet and water. If I don’t drink enough water or don’t eat a healthy diet, that affects me negatively right away. Thank you for reminding me of that important aspect of heart disease. It has been three and a half years since my septal ablation at Mayo in Rochester, and it is just in the last few months that I have been feeling better than I have in about seven years. I am so grateful. I’m 83 so I have slowed down a lot but if I pace myself and am realistic about my expectations, , I can do almost everything I want and need to do.

Aside from having my own GI specialist I have a pulmonologist and cardiologist who have all been following me. MOST IMPORTANTLY my own husband is a Harvard trained, clinical instructor in anesthesia.
Upper and lower scopes being negative and taking a conservative approach to solving my issues have proven the Eliquis to be the problem in my case. Once discontinued I am almost back to normal.
I appreciate your opinion however you must realize drugs affect different people in different ways. Read the fine print with Eliquis. You’re one of the lucky ones, may that continue.

You don’t mention the medication (Eliquis, Xeralto) or how many milligrams. I’m on 20 mg of Xeralto & have slight headache. I’m new to the medicine & will go to lower dose in about 50 days. I also developed an oral blood blister (ABH), which apparently is a possible side effect of blood thinners. I had a second DVT so I was put on Eliquis initially, then Warfarin while undergoing testing, now on Xeralto. These are powerful medicines that save lives but come with some bothersome side effects. Keep track of your particular side effects & let your doc know. Good luck. I hope your side effects lessen over time.