Is any one using Eliquis as a Pill in the Pocket?

IT should NOT BE used as a PIP. The whole rationale is that, as soon as you are in AF, you are at risk of a stroke. Some authorities say the first 12-24 hours are low risk, but I don't buy it. The problem lies in the poor flushing of the left atrial appendage due to the chaotic rhythm. If there is a chaotic rhythm, doesn't the poor flushing start at the same time? And if that poor flushing can lead to stale blood that wants to congeal, and then to clot, won't that clotting be dangerous if it dets dislodged when the heart lurches back into normal sinus rhythm? Yewbetcha!
The DOACs (direct acting oral anticoagulants) are meant for prophylaxis...meaning prevention. You can't prevent a stroke when it's already taking place! You want the prophylaxis in place before it is needed....right? So, once you get a diagnosis of AF, you should be placed on a DOAC immediately and take it continuously until you are deemed to be free of a risk of a stroke from AF...meaning the AF is strictly controlled. Since that risk is always there, most electrophysiologists and cardiologists will insist that you take a DOAC for the rest of your life. You can always return to AF, as happens in about 50% of all ablation cases. When you do, not if you do, when, you'd want your system to be infused with a DOAC.
What you can take for PIP are anti-arrhythmic drugs like Flecainide or diltiazem, or propafenone, which are relatively fast-acting (40 minutes to a couple of hours, typically). https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/2992/what-is-pill-in-the-pocket-for-atrial-fibrillation/

This may be a silly question but exactly what is PIP?

"Pill in the Pocket". It's an expression for taking a medication only when needed in response to a particular event, not taken at regular intervals like most medication. An example of this would be an antiarrhythmic drug ( such as Flecanaide) taken by a person with paroxysmal A-fib, when he/she feels the symptoms of the A-fib occurring, in the hopes that the medication will stop the A-fib. I guess carrying the medication around in the pocket would make it available anytime the person feels the need for it.

I’m taking Eliquis at the 2.5mg level 2x a day and haven’t noticed any side effects, except to my budget. But that’s because of the pulmonary embolism that I had several years ago, not afib. And got a lecture that it wasn’t ‘safe’ for me to miss more than one dose.

Eliquis is not a fast acting medication for any indication Not good

I’ve only had two afib episodes in my life, 11.5 years apart, both determined to have been brought on by a very stressful moment. After extensive testing the first time around, the cardiologist said that I had a very healthy heart with a slightly leaky valve. The last episode I had was over 5 years ago. The first time they electrocardioverted me in the hospital. The second time, living in a different state, in a relatively new hospital that didn’t have a cardiologist on staff, they simply got my heart rate below 100, sent me home with some beta blockers, a prescription for new beta blockers and Eliquis and I cardioverted on my own in my sleep.

I did see a cardiologist but in our small town it took 3 mos to get in so I didn’t start the Eliquis and I kept the beta blockers separately. I already take extended release metoprolol, 25 mg a day beta blocker prescribed after that very first afib episode, along with the lowest dose blood pressure medication (Losartan at the time, Lisinopril now).

The cardiologist I saw, told me that unless I started having more afib episodes, I didn’t have to take the Eliquis daily. He prescribed Flecinaide (sp) to go with the single dose of metropolol for a pill in a pocket solution and said that if I did have another afib episode, to add a daily Eliquis pill for 5 days afterwards as a preventive measure. As it is, if it ever happens again, I’ll have to get updated prescriptions for the beta blocker, Flecinaide, and Eliquis as they are way past their expiration dates.

Obviously, I’m an outlier in regards to afib episodes. The fact that I’m now 74 and a woman, practically (or does) put me in the Chad score of needing to take a “blood thinner” every day to guard against a stroke, afib or not, but I don’t quite buy into that precaution.

That is perfect, ,thank you! I have only had the one episode after a super stressful event and nothing since. I need to talk to the cardiologist again, the one prescription fits all approach does not sit well with me.

pill in the pocket

thanks for your reply. The two studies I have read seem to indicate for persons like myself, with so far rare incidents, it may be a good option. I knew when I had the incident and wear a watch to monitor, with a Kardia to double check. My heart is in excellent condition otherwise. Each body is different and I am super sensitive to any kind of drug..