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Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness
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?
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@jer22 I asked the cardiologist that and the reply was no. There is a lower dose but it’s only authorized for the elderly and the way under weight group. So if it’s too strong for a person or they’re allergic to it, the person must go to a different blood thinner.
I am new to the side effects of eliquis and metoprolol and have been on both for 5 weeks.. but 5 days ago I woke up to a very painful left ankle that had no trauma/injury to it. The pain increased and went to ER, hoping there was no clot involved. ER ran tests, ultrasound,exrays and determined no DVT or gout, but could not determine a cause of the severe ankle pain and sent me home.
Does this sound familiar to anyone?? Eliquis or metoprol side effects???
@wjackp probably the statin and not the Eliquis!
@lwools I got a pill splitter and cut it in half. Feeling better.
@smalls eliquis causes muscle and leg weakness don’t let anybody tell you different. Doctors may say no but
the proof is in the pudding
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1 ReactionThat's really not a broad coverage statement for everyone on Eliqus. It may or may not affect someone and if it did affect someone it may not be the same out come for all users. It's the same probably for most pharmaceuticals.
@smalls yes, I have noticed pain like that in one wrist and one ankle on occasion. It only lasts a short while and goes away. Never had it before I was placed on Eliquis, a drug with a lot of side effects and also contraindications for other meds, including OTCs. Going for a Watchman if I can qualify, just to get off Eliquis. Read up on the effects of taking both Eliquis and metoprolol. People are different, some may not tolerate well. Ask your doc and your pharmacist to go over your meds, all your meds. Get regular blood workups.
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1 ReactionI appreciate your response and will continue my suspicion that meds are participating in this ankle pain...like you said, l never had this issue before taking eliquis and metoprolol..
My first cardio/EP appointment is Monday and want to feel confident that if metoprolol doses are going to be increased to address heartrate control that they will not increase unwanted side effects as well.
Thanks for your input
Did your doctor confirm whether the muscle weakness was directly caused by Eliquis, or could it be linked to another condition or medication?
@wesbadamio
No docs or ED could verify or diagnose the origin of the pain..I think the detective work is best served by someone else!