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Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness

Posted by cmauncc1 @cmauncc1, Dec 27, 2021

In late July 2017 I was admitted for very high heart rate and Afib. Had been, and still am, on minimal meds. Hospitalist put me on Eliquis, 5mg 2X/day.

Within a month my leg muscles were weakening to the point where I could no longer play Pickleball or walk golf. Within a few weeks my Cardiologist did an ablation and inserted a loop recorder. For the next 2-1/2 years the loop recorder saw MINIMAL Afib, under 0.5%; the ablation did its job.

By November 2017 I needed a walker. By December 2017 I needed to be wheelchair pushed through an Ice Sculpture display as there was no way I could walk the 25-30 minutes of the exhibit.

When I finally got to see a Neurologist at Shands (Univ of FL, Gainesville) in July 2018, he ran an extensive battery of blood work tests but could find nothing to explain the muscle weakness.

Has anyone else encountered similar muscle effects following being prescribed Eliquis?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

joaf37 | @joaf37 | Oct 27 7:02pm
In reply to @fabienne38 "Hello, I live in France and use an automatic translator to write to you. I have..." + (show)
@fabienne38

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!

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I just sent you some comments. I knew you were in France but didn't think about your potential to access the sites I recommended. If you can't get to them, let me know and I'll send you the information. It's not lengthy.

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1 reply
fabienne38 | @fabienne38 | Oct 28 1:25am
In reply to @joaf37 "I just sent you some comments. I knew you were in France but didn't think about..." + (show)
@joaf37

I just sent you some comments. I knew you were in France but didn't think about your potential to access the sites I recommended. If you can't get to them, let me know and I'll send you the information. It's not lengthy.

Jump to this post

Hello,
Thank you for your answer but I do not see your comments, except this one. Can you post them again ?
Thank you so much !

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fabienne38 | @fabienne38 | Oct 28 1:28am
In reply to @joaf37 "I also have taken Eliquis for about 2 years. My experience with dizziness is also challenge...." + (show)
@joaf37

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.

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forget my previous comment I have just seen this one.
thank you, I will have a serious look, and discuss it with my doctor, she is great and ready to listen her patients !

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lizabeth4 | @lizabeth4 | Oct 28 7:29am
In reply to @joaf37 "I also have taken Eliquis for about 2 years. My experience with dizziness is also challenge...." + (show)
@joaf37

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.

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I take 1 Elquis tablet at bedtime.

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domiha | @domiha | Oct 28 9:50am

@fabienne38 Do you also take anything for cholesterol.... such as a statin drug? The side effects you describe sound more familiar with a reaction to cholesterol meds in some people. Bien des choses à vous! Mike

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1 reply
fabienne38 | @fabienne38 | Oct 28 4:12pm
In reply to @domiha "@fabienne38 Do you also take anything for cholesterol.... such as a statin drug? The side effects..." + (show)
@domiha

@fabienne38 Do you also take anything for cholesterol.... such as a statin drug? The side effects you describe sound more familiar with a reaction to cholesterol meds in some people. Bien des choses à vous! Mike

Jump to this post

Good evening (it is 10 pm when I write this message)
No, I take no medication other than Eliquis, and no health problems, all my tests are perfect. I take Eliquis as a precaution since Jan 22, after a possible TIA in July 21 (which was never proven). I was operated for AF in 2013 and completely cured, I no longer had fibrillations since then. My GP has asked me to see my cardiologist to discuss changing my treatment and to see if these problems are due to Eliquis or not. She thinks it might be and suggests to try rivaroxaban (Xarelto). So I wait for a rendez-vous with my cardiologist.
Thank you for your concern !
Fabienne

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