Eliquis and AFIB

@marybird -Thank you for all of the details. I have a Medicate Part D coverage via Wellcare so I guess I wouldn't qualify for this pricing. It's great that you can get the special pricing.
Separate, but related, any time I have pursued manufacturers' special offers in the past they have required a copy of my income tax return and there's no way I'm giving a drug company that information!
Thanks again.

@afiber
Eliquis is a blood thinner, more sophisticated than Aspirin, but does a similar job. Baby Aspirin 81 mg is also used to prevent stroke. It is worth checking listed side effects for Eliquis: https://www.drugs.com/sfx/eliquis-side-effects.html

I had tiredness and weakness after one 2.5 mg dose of Eliquis. It was prescribed as 2.5 mg twice daily to start the drug, also for A fibs.

To answer original question, if Eliquis is required with occasional AFibs. I had occasional AFibs detected on Holter, once every 2-3 weeks, and my first cardiologist did not prescribe Eliquis. Then another cardiologist prescribed 2.5 mg Eliquis twice a day, for the same frequency of AFibs, when I had low mobility. Looks like taking Eliquis with low frequency AFibs may be optional. People with better physical mobility are at lower risk for stroke and may not need Eliquis with occasional AFibs. But listen to your doctor, as there may be other factors.

@altabiznet Mobility has little or nothing to do with the risk of clots during episodes of AF. The risk lies at the rate of a whopping 90% from poorly flushed blood in the small pouch at the extreme left of the left atrium known as the 'left atrial appendage'. Pooling blood in the LAA happens when the atrium is fluttering or fibrillating. When a patient is in the paroxysmal and persistent and long-standing-persistent stages, not to mention if their AF is 'permanent', clots can form there soon after the arrhythmia commences, and they can be dislodged at any time, either when the heart resumes normal sinus rhythm (NSR) or just on happenstance. Those clots will then travel to the brain, the lungs, or to the heart's own blood vessels where they can lodge and cause tissue death. Believe me, you do not want a heart attack, clots in your lungs, or a stroke because of a clot in your brain.

I've had fibromyalgia since 1989. Have been taking cyclobenzaprine and it still works (except for those times I tell myself 'I'm cured' and stop. Then all the symptoms come back in full force. ) Now I've been diagnosed with AFib and prescribed Eliquis 5 mg bid.
Frankly, I'm afraid of this stuff. But I don't want a stroke and I don't want to take Eliquis and I can't have the best of both worlds. I've been a vegan 98% of my life (fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables), exercise everyday, even when my legs were broke (I could always do pilates), walk 3-5 miles a day. But I don't drink enough water. Very important. You have to drink lots of water.
I guess I'm just venting. The holistic treatment is more my speed, but even they say to combine holistic with traditional medicine. My aim is to start Eliquis tomorrow. And to get thru my anxiety. I'll let you know how it goes. It really helps to have this community. God bless you all.

I don't take any blood thinners at all.

Starting in 2015 I have had afib with very rapid heart rate, once a year, or even had a two year interval. This past year I had one episode in late August 2023, two in early October, and I just had one two nights ago, 4/16, with heart rate peaking around 200.

I am meeting with a new cardiologist at a teaching hospital and am going to ask about the "pill in a pocket" approach meaning short term anticoagulation. Some say a month, some say less time. And there is a lot of difference of opinion on how long it takes to form a clot.

When one of my episodes lasted 7 hours (usually they are 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours) the hospital did an echocardiogram to check for clots.

A cardiologist pressured me to take a blood thinner back in 2015 and I declined. He later told he he agreed (much later) and that they were "probably" overmedicating people. Then again, my mother had continuous afib and had a stroke when off Coumadin for 5 days.

How often do you have afib?

@gloaming

Just to clarify, mobility has to do with general risk for stroke, regardless of AFibs.
People with lower mobility are at higher risk for clotting. Presence of AFibs is adding to that risk.
AFibs usually require blood thinners. But based on my experience, those are not always prescribed. In any case, it is better to consult with your doctor.

@afiber I have been on Eliquis for 5 years. No problems.

@altabiznet Mobility has little or nothing to do with the risk of clots during episodes of AF. The risk lies at the rate of a whopping 90% from poorly flushed blood in the small pouch at the extreme left of the left atrium known as the 'left atrial appendage'. Pooling blood in the LAA happens when the atrium is fluttering or fibrillating. When a patient is in the paroxysmal and persistent and long-standing-persistent stages, not to mention if their AF is 'permanent', clots can form there soon after the arrhythmia commences, and they can be dislodged at any time, either when the heart resumes normal sinus rhythm (NSR) or just on happenstance. Those clots will then travel to the brain, the lungs, or to the heart's own blood vessels where they can lodge and cause tissue death. Believe me, you do not want a heart attack, clots in your lungs, or a stroke because of a clot in your brain.