Pain in leg muscles, tendons, and knees after Bilateral PE on Eliquis

Posted by smasneri @smasneri, Jul 6, 2023

One month after massive bilateral PE and taking 5 mg twice daily. Experiencing constant and continual pain in legs, mainly behind both knees, in tendons, and some muscle flare ups. Have had two ultrasounds and a CT scan on both legs since I was diagnosed June 6 and they are negative. My D Diemer is .43 and all vitals strong and regular. Echocardiogram shows no strain on heart. We have ruled most everything else out. No trauma to legs, no cuts, bruises or strains. Is this related to the Eliquis? My local hematologist wants me on it for another 5 months, I won’t be able to make that unless this subsides. Anyone else out there having this issue? Recommendations?

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Profile picture for ruth36 @ruth36

@michaelalexander
Hi, i’ve been going back and re-reading messages about Eliquis wondering how you made out are you still on it or were you switched to another blood thinner?
After my heart attack, I was taking Eliquis for 15 months and month after starting it I noticed my legs were stiff in. It was hard to walk since then they’ve been getting worse. I had x-rays done and was told I have arthritis in my knees, but my issues in my legs are more than just arthritis in the knees. I find it very hard to walk around and I feel the same way. It just keeps up. I will be in a wheelchair but a few months ago I told my cardiologist I wanted to get off Eliquis. I mentioned to her about the side effects with my weakness and stiffness in my legs, but she denied Eliquis had any side effects like that so she put me on Warafin.. well, that was just as bad. I was on it for three weeks and of course I had to go twice a week to get blood work done so they could regulate the dosage but after three weeks on it I also had stomach issues most every day I would feel nausea and I had hair loss. I told my doctor I wanted to go back on Eliquis. I really didn’t know of any other option so I’ve been back on it now for almost a month and it seems like my legs are worse. I
Know people that had heart attack or bypasses and the only thing they take for their heart is a baby aspirin. I really don’t understand why I have to stay on this blood thinner. I thought it would only be for a year.

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@ruth36

I took myself off Eliquis yesterday after consulting with my GP. Back on baby aspirin. Not looking for another heart attack but the side effects were serious and I do not respect the supposed 'expertise' of some of these so called specialists. Good luck and maybe get a second or third opinion about ditching the pharmaceutical blood thinners and just doing aspirin. Not MY advice, just a suggestion.

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Profile picture for robert1957 @robert1957

@dtag53

Echoes my experience. I took myself off yesterday after talking to my GP. The 'cardiologist' I called never got back to me, though her assistant told me she'd tell her it was 'high priority.' My knees feel/felt like they were ready to pop, hands hurt worse than ever, headaches, neuropathy in my feet. Not looking for another HA, or a stroke, but don't want to take some crap that makes me feel worse than ever as some kind of 'tradeoff' to 'protect my heart." I'm back on baby aspirins for a blood thinner. Good luck!

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@robert1957 Thanks. I had another Doppler on a clot that hasn't budged since November, they don't think it will. I, too, will take a baby aspirin. My headaches have to stop soon! I have an appointment with a vein Doc on July 13th, they said he's not a fan of long term blood thinner use, so I will pray!

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