Eliquis side effects

@debkuz & @jer22 Would not surprise me in the least. That is why a have a major Pharmaco-phobia. It scares me to death to start taking any new medications and I will research it to death and even then start at 1/2 the recommended dose. Some of the good old medicines ie dilantin, coumadin are more reliable than the new 2nd generation medications. I do know that I would benefit greatly from an antidepressant but had a seratonin syndrome episode and am petrified of a repeat! Was up, agitated, sleepless for 4 days before the 1/2 life allowed me to be symptom free. Unfortunately medications do have side effects and the way to treat the side effect is with another medication and around we go. Would rather live with the anxiety/depression/insomnia without the worry of side effects. Sounds crazy but I have had some very unfortunate experiences with medications, poor surgical outcomes, missed diagnoses resulting in further medical issues. Not a strong proponent of the medical care available where I live and seek outside larger medical facilities affiliated with highly respected Medical Schools, Ie Duke, UAB, Norman Center in Tampa. I will continue to strongly advocate for myself always!

@plantskidsdogs
Thank you. An associate mentioned a connection between commencing Eliquis and the onset of a “bad back”, only to lose the back problem upon cessation of the Eliquis. I suspect that I have the same connection and your post reflects my symptoms. You highlight what may be a significant concern for some and I thank you.

I started taking Eliquis and Jardiance about three months ago. My systolic, previously aligned in the 60's, is now consistently in the mid 50's at rest. I was a bit alarmed at the hospital yesterday when it had dropped to 31. I had skipped breakfast to get there early, but it was still a half day wait.
After I after I ate something, it bounce up to 41. After I got home and after lunch, it was back in the low 50's again. But 31 was a little spooky.

I've been on Eliquis for about a year and I'm ready to start risking a stroke rather than stay on this horrible medication. My legs are so weak I have had to give up performing as a musician because it so awkward to get on and off stage, and recently I had to ask someone else to drive three hours to give a report I was supposed to give at a meeting. I have poor balance anyway, and with the weakness, I am terrified of falling. Tylenol has no effect on me, and because (naturally) you cannot take Advil with Eliquis, I must endure every migraine, ache, and pain without anything to help. Do not let anyone tell you this is an innocuous medicine.

@shepsiccle
I’ve been on Eliquis for 17 months since a heart attack and I started noticing problems with my legs a month after I started it but at the time I didn’t associate it with the medication. I Thought I would only have to take it for the first year and then be off it but my cardiologist wanted me to stay on it and my legs keep getting worse and worse just to walk around in my yard. I need a cane. I have issues climbing stairs, even just standing and grocery shopping walking around when I get home I’m exhausted. I tried to tell my doctor about the side effect, but was told it wouldn’t give side effects as far as weak muscles but after I joined this talk session here I realize there were other people that are having the same issues with their muscles at this rate if I’m on it much longer, I’ll probably be in a wheelchair. However, I did tell her back in March that I wanted to get off of it so she put me on the warafin blood thinner, which I was only on for three weeks and asked to go back on the Eliquis. The side effect with that one was I was losing my hair and I had stomach issues. I would eat something and I would get very nauseous sometimes would last into the night, so I went back on the Eliquis even though my legs seem worse. I really don’t know what to do.

@ruth36
Hi Ruth36 - sounds like we are having much the same journey. I also use a cane, and now a rollator. I have an appointment coming up with my cardiologist to discuss putting in a Watchman device, which deals directly with the part of the heart that causes the AFib. People I know who have this device are sooooo much happier than those of us still stuck in the drug formulary. I have started framing my questions and discussions with the medical people beginning with "this is not an acceptable long-term solution - what else can we do?" I think we are conditioned to accept that "that's just how it is" or "but your labs look great!" instead of our quality of life being up for discussion. I'd suggest reading up on the watchman and asking for a serious conversation with your cardiologist. I'll report back after my appointment in a few weeks.

I am on apixaban (generic Eliquis) and I am having severe hip joint pain in both hips. It is now 4:37 a.m. and I have only gotten 3 hours of sleep so far because of the pain. I took two 8 hour Tylenol about 4 1/2 hours ago but it is not reducing the pain. I was on Xarelto for awhile but I kept having bleeding from the bowel, so I was switched back to apixaban. I have discussed other options with my cardiologist. He says I need to continue taking a blood thinner or get the watchman product inserted into my heart because of my history of stroke and also the A-fib can come back any time. I used to have intermittent A-fib and I had a stroke and lost my speech 12/17/23, but fortunately it was reversed when the local ER gave me TPA and I got my speech back. I had an ablation done 2/14/25 and have had no A-fib since.
I was on Eliquis for 2 years after the stroke and had some hip pain but not this severe. If I go for the Watchman Product, I will still need to be on a blood thinner for another 6 months (3 or 4 months waiting to have appointment with the electrophysiologist MD), and then continue with blood thinner for another 3 months after that. My cardiologist says there is a much higher risk for bleeding on warfarin. So, I feel stuck not knowing what to do. Any comments or suggestions?

@shepsiccle I am on apixaban (generic Eliquis) and am having sever pain in both hip joints. Eliquis is not an innocuous medication. Tylenol is not working for me either. (See my post, my user name is Larry1844).

@larry1844 I'm so sorry you've had such a time. It amazes me when doctors don't understand when a "cure" is worse than the condition. I would have to take blood thinners also for a while if I get the watchman device. But that amount of time will pass, and then presumably I will be free of blood thinners forever. That feels like a win to me. But I have not yet had the conversation with my cardiologist, so I don't know what is possible. The only thing I can suggest at this point is to make an appointment with your cardiologist, saying "I want a thorough discussion of the watchman device because the side effects of the medicines are unacceptable." Write down all your side effects and how they are affecting your life, and especially your sleep. Good luck - please report back. I will also report back after my cardiology appointment in a couple of weeks. Best of luck!

@shepsiccle
I guess I’m skeptical about the watchmen device.. My cardiologist had mentioned it last year, but I don’t want any device put in my body even though I’m having The side effect of weak muscles in my legs I’m still up in the air and what I should do but I can see how less active I am from this time last year. I want to do things, but I can only do a little bit at a time and then I have to stop. Walking around a standing up, my legs are taking a lot of energy from me. Let us know how you make out after your appointment