Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness

Are you doing any thing else?

Hi. I don't have Afib but trying Eliquis or Xarelto both have definitely caused muscle weakness and fatigue, calve swelling, and headache and bone ache. I had 2 DVTs one in each leg following surgery (and a prolonged hospital stay) and a lengthy illness since 2002. A third clot showed up in a lung a year ago but I suspect because I had to quit taking ibuprofen for a year that that set me up for the lung clot. I have a unique medical history and suspect that I don't need to take either Eliquis or XARELTO long term and there are other methods to prevent clots. My regular doctor suggested Pradaxa but patients with Afib have had issues with it so it's a maybe for me.

Google the side effects of Eliquis. No need to read teeny tiny print on labels or ask a doctor. The list of neg side effects is enough to make you dizzy, and that is one of them. When donkeys fly would I swallow a pill with those side effects.

I started taking Eliquis in January this year for newly diagnosed A-Fib. I started having leg weakness in about March. Then I had weakness & pain in both arms. I have mild CP & thought the weakness was b/c I’d been out of the gym due to back surgery. Now after reading all of these posts, I’m beginning to wonder! Thankfully, I just had the Watchman procedure & will be getting off Eliquis in another month!

I had a massive pulmonary embolism in my lungs called Saddle Block on May 4. I was admitted into ICU for 7 days. I was administered IV heparin drip and clot buster medicine. The heparin caused me to bleed in my urine. I was discharged home on Eliqise 5mg , twice a day. I have to take this medication for the rest of my life. Ever since I have been taking Eliquise , I am having constant muscle, joint, and vein pain, swelling I my knees, and being unable to rise from a sitting to standing position without experiencing severe leg and knee pain and weakness. I have to walk with a walker and cane and may need a wheelchair in the future. I have never had these symptoms before taking eliquise. I told my doctor but he thinks it may be arthritis or autoimmune disease. Even though I have Osteoporosis, Osteoarthitis, Fibromyalgia, and lower back problems for many years, these symptoms are new and debilitating. It seems the Eliquise exuberant my conditions. I cannot stop taking eliquise because I could get another massive blood clot. Can anybody else relate to the symptoms I am experiencing?

Can you ask to switch to a different blood thinner ? Just to see if it helps . You’ve been through enough. Try a second opinion if your Dr. won’t listen . 🙏

It is sad, that Doctors believe the Drug Companies more than their Patients. I tried Eliquis twice, and also Xarelto. Same thing! Both gave me excruciating Nerve Pain in my entire Body. Eliquis made me so weak and it gave me such horrible Night sweats that my entire Body was just dripping. Ended up in ER because of dehydration. I was sweating out the Electrolyte s faster than I could replace them. I research ed all of the side effects and even on the Eliquis Website it states that Neuropathy can be a side effect!!

Hello,
I live in France and use an automatic translator to write to you. I have been on Eliquis 2.5 mg since January 2022. However, for about 2 months my legs have been "burning" at night, it started with my feet and now it's my whole leg. And for a few days things have been getting worse, I also have pain in my legs during the day like stiffness, and I feel weakness in my legs and also like dizziness. I am 60 years old, I am in good health and I do a lot of big hikes in the mountains. My doctor started talking to me about tests with a neurologist because she does not understand why I have these "burning" legs and the rest. I wonder if I am not developing a side effect related to Eliquis. I called the laboratory in France, who told me that it absolutely could not come from this treatment ... some quick research brought me to this forum and I will translate and show some testimonials to my doctor. I have two questions, even though I know that everything depends on the patient:
- the first, can a side effect for a drug appear suddenly, after more than two years of use?
- What is the risk if I stop Eliquis? (my cardiologist is currently on leave and in any case, he will tell me that no, Eliquis cannot cause this kind of side effect…).
Thank you for your answers!

My husband had an echo done prior to his 6th month checkup with his cardiologist. It showed a “significant” left ventricle apical thrombus(blood clot). Due to a massive left ventricle heart attack in 2020 his systolic function is severely decreased and his EF=25 +- 5%. He was on 5mg Eliquis for almost 2 years due to Afib but came off 1 1/2 years ago following Watchman placement(right ventricle). He is now on 5mg/2x/day and his Metoprolol has been increased from 50 mg/1x/day to 62.5mg. We have complete trust in his Cleveland Clinic cardiologist and because we left soon after the appointment for the next few months in Florida an appointment was set up with a Weston Cleveland Clinic cardiologist who we saw last week. He explained further what the concerns were, the risks of a heart attack or stroke and answered all questions that we had. He’ll fly back to Cleveland in January for another echo and appointment with his main cardiologist. So far, he’s having no side effects from the Eliquis or Metoprolol increase but will now watch for this side effect from Eliquis too. We haven’t been told yet how long he’ll be on them but suspect that even if the echo shows the thrombus has dissolved he’ll be kept on at least 5mg for life. I’m so sorry that you’ve not only had to deal with the terror of having a blood clot in your lung but now the damage from a rare side effect of the blood thinner.

I also have taken Eliquis for about 2 years. My experience with dizziness is also challenge. I take the Rx twice a day and typically have dizziness or feeling "off" in various degrees with the first dose after about 15 minutes of taking the Rx. It is not an issue with the second dose. That effect can last for a relatively short time but most often as much as a couple of hours. There's no question that the two are related although my MD said that Eliquis shouldn't do that. I've concluded that my taking other Rx during the day that pertain to the Afib may have some relationship to the Eliquis lack of that dizziness impact per the second dose each day. The irony in seeing your comments today are that I also now have started feeling a burning sensation in the top of my feet mostly at night. That has only been for the past 2-3 weeks. I planned to cross check on line to see if that is a symptom of the Rx. You may wish to access Web MD under "Blood Thinners" and Healthline under "Eliquis Side Effects" .. both symptoms are noted.