Cardiologist suggests I can stop taking Eliquis. Any thoughts?

Wow same here Im also a senior with Mitral Valve repair on Eliquis
Please keep me posted thanks
Ps.
I keep a eye out on my AFIB with my fitbit

I'm not offering advice, just an opinion, or telling you (honestly) what I would do in your situation: I would switch to a baby aspirin daily and call it a deal. This would be only if a recent CRP shows low systemic inflammation, and if my heart really is only getting the odd PAC and no runs of AF or flutter (flutter tends to want to stay in flutter, so pretty sure this is a non-issue for you...you'd probably have symptoms by now). I agree with you that there comes a time when taking both a statin and a DOAC don't make so much sense any more, and you may very well be there.

I also have AFiB since March 2022 and was previously on Plavix/Clopidagrel and Aspirin at the time due to previous stroke. Those removed in 2023 and now on Eliquis to prevent blood clots from Afib causing a stroke. My Cardiologist and EP Cardiologist both want me to remain on Eliquis. Only other option to possibly stop Eliquis I understand is to have the Watchman procedure implant which has been recommended for me by Cardiologist #3, but my EP Cardiologist wants to wait on that and I am in agreement! I have a Pacemaker and do not want to rush into another second implanted device. I had not had an AFiB episode for 15 months following Ablation until Jan 2025 and it all started again. So am actually glad I have remained on Eliquis.

Exactly...it is always a risk of a thromboembolic event once the heart is electrically disordered. Even for up to six months after the last episode of AF (no matter why it was a last episode, whether the heart's decision, or due to a successful ablation, or due to successful medication).

Have been on 81 mg ASA for years now but cardiologist does not think that is enough. I do track my heart rhythm and rate via my Apple watch and have had no runs of Afib since my procedure in 2020.

I can understand his position since the two drugs are only complementary, and are not substitutes for each other's method of anti-coagulation. I hope you get it sorted out for yourself and can move on without looking over your shoulder all the time. 😀

My husband was told he can stop taking eliquis after a time of no AFib incidents. He had a successful ablation a few years ago, 2020 I believe, and wears his Apple Watch.

Interesting, I was told that after no episodes of afib, a successful MAZE procedure in 2020 and a Mitral Valve replacement to start taking eliquis. I'm on the fence and doing some research as I have a follow up appointment next month. Good luck.

If I had to guess, it's the mitral valve. When they replace one outright, there has to be disrupted tissue, maybe tissue that is incapable of repairing itself fully and restoring the original surface geometries involved. When blood flow is turbulated by disturbed/altered tissue surfaces, it might increase the probability of clotting. Again, just my mind working on what I know from other instances of a similar kind. If your risk of clotting arises, maybe from a history of AF, even if remediated, and your left atrial appendage was not closed off (LAA), and you have had surgery to repair a valve, your risk is generally higher for clotting and eventual stroke. If this is what the reasoning is, then it follows that mitigation of risk can be achieved by asking the patient to use the prophylaxis afforded by a DOAC (direct-acting oral anti-coagulant).
But there may be other factors that the CHA2DS2-VASc calculation takes into measure, and maybe it's just that score that your cardiologist is going by. If your score is 2.0 and above, it would almost certainly require the cardiologist to ask you to take a DOAC.