1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions
Profile picture for cece55

Questions about Eliquis and Meds for Pain Relief

Posted by cece55 @cece55, Mar 2, 2019

I have a question for the group. I was diagnosed with AFib three months ago and after my first event I was put on a low dose aspirin along with my metoporal that I had been taking for a year. The dosage for the metoporal was 12.5 MG three times a day. After my second event of AFib six weeks ago, my electrophysiologist put me on Eliquis. The dosage is 5 MG twice a day. I felt fine for 4 weeks and then two weeks ago I started to have aching and stiffness in my lower back and hips. I might also add that I have very tight hips and lower back for years before this and have seen a physical therapist and added yoga and advil to my regimen. That seemed to give me a tolerance level over the years and I have been able to live with it.

Now...no advil allowed and I just saw a physical therapist again today who I will start working with next week. How do I know if I am having a reaction to the Eliquis or I am in a flare with my already tight hips and back? Is there a blood test to request? Possibly checking my liver and kidney function? The physical therapist also said I have osteo arthritis which could be contributing to this.

I am frustrated because I don't know how you tell the difference between a side effect and an existing condition that has worsened. I really don't want to chance going off the blood thinner....but what other way is there to tell?

Has anyone experienced this aching and does it finally go away if it is the Eliquis? I am not having any other problems with this drug except that there is not an over the counter medication for pain that you can take with it except Tylenol which has no effect on me.

Thank you for your input.
CeCe55

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

Profile picture for dscag
dscag | @dscag | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

I have been taking Eliquis 5 MG twice daily for 7 months. Did have occasional mild and severe dizziness upon standing for the first 2 months. These symptoms have all disappeared.

REPLY
Profile picture for AFRobin
AFRobin | @afrobin | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

Good morning, catmom, Wow! You've been through an ordeal and a half! Who knew that simply drinking too much water could affect one's health to that degree?! I have seen football players writhing on the ground during a game due to dehydration. And I just read that those same athletes must not drink too much water to recover or they can be in the state you were in. I never thought it could lead to someone being hospitalized.
Can you tell me how much you drank in a day? I am asking because I suffer from recurrent bladder infections (31 rounds of antibiotics in 2 years 3 months..which is my medical crisis) and I try to drink as much as possible. I drink 6 or 7 glasses of water per day and I feel like I spend a lot of time drinking. I guess feeling symptoms as much as you did would be an indication.
Now that that has passed, try to put it all behind you and move on as soon as possible. A wise Russian woman told me a few years ago that in her country when someone is suffering from distress, he or she should walk in nature near running water. Listen to your favourite music, visit your baby grandson, pat your cats, go out for dinner with a friend, sing, dance etc..

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for catmom777
catmom777 | @catmom777 | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @afrobin "Good morning Catmom! Oh dear! You really are not feeling well. I just looked up the..." + (show)
Profile picture for AFRobin @afrobin

Good morning Catmom! Oh dear! You really are not feeling well. I just looked up the side effects of Eliquis and sure enough, they are exactly what you are experiencing. I can't help but think that an overeager, litigation fearful resident (inexperienced and working in the ER) saw you so worried about your occasional thumps and blips and decided to be overly cautious and put you on a blood thinner. You said it yourself, "I have felt rotten for a week now since going on Eliquis.". There's your answer.
Catmom, when I had Afib, I did not have 3 normal beats in a row and I was put on blood thinners temporarily until the beta blockers made my heart steady. Then I didn't need them. Unless you are experiencing an irregular heartbeat all the time (every 10 - 20 seconds that cause lightheadedness, I doubt that the cardiologist will consider you to have Afib.
Keep in mind that often the cure is worse than the disease and those blood thinners have strong side effects...as you have noticed. How about aspirin if absolutely necessary?
Btw, you don't always have to go the drug route for everything. For reflux (which I experience), baking soda in water works. For stress, there's exercise. For borderline diabetes, there are dietary changes. My aim is to AVOID drugs as much as possible. To me they cause side effects that then need more drugs to control them.
Your blood pressure is perfect, your oxygen levels are perfect, your pulse is perfect, your weight is perfect and your blood sugar levels are almost perfect (up the veggies and protein, lower the carbs). Rejoice!
Are your thyroid levels normal btw? That could be the cause of any weight loss AND your nerves.
I predict that the cardiologist will send you home with a clean bill of cardiac health and tell you to keep away from the stimulants and excess sugar/carbs and to go to the gym. And to relax!

Jump to this post

So, I just got back from the hospital. I went to the ER again at 4:30 am yesterday. Different hospital this time. I told them this is the 4th time I've been to the ER in two weeks so they admitted me. I was not having an afib episode but my dizziness, confusion, feeling rotten was so bad I literally thought I was going to die. After being hospitalized overnight I finally got my answer. My sodium level at admission was 127 and my brain was swelling. I had increased my water intake and reduced my sodium in my diet to avoid triggering an afid episode and made myself sick. After giving me a saline IV all night and half of today and monitoring my heart rate, they got my sodium level up to 132, didn't see any afib incidents, and sent me home. I will follow up with my GP this Wednesday and get a referral to a cardiologist at this same hospital so they can see my records easily, and go from there. I do want to get off Eliquis but know I can't just stop. It wasn't Eliquis that was the source of my dizziness and confusion though after all.
But, thanks for the input. I will keep trying to figure out a way to avoid afid episodes and maybe if I don't have any for a LONG time the docs will help me get off it.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for dyannne
dyannne | @dyannne | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

I take Eloquis and the only side effect I have is bruising. But I'm taking Brilinta also, two blood thinners.

REPLY
Profile picture for nene22
nene22 | @nene22 | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

My heart doctor said I had Afib and put me on Multaq even though I had CKD (about 40% of my kidneys). Within a week I had an appt. with my GYN doctor and she did a blood test. They found that my kidney function was down to 23%!!!! I stopped the Multaq right away and they said my kidney function should go back up. Last time I had it checked it was only 28%. I have had another test done but don't have the results yet. The doctor has me on Eliquis (2.5mg. twice a day and I haven't had any bad results from it. Just a warning-if you have CKD think twice before taking Multag.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for AFRobin
AFRobin | @afrobin | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

Good morning Catmom! Oh dear! You really are not feeling well. I just looked up the side effects of Eliquis and sure enough, they are exactly what you are experiencing. I can't help but think that an overeager, litigation fearful resident (inexperienced and working in the ER) saw you so worried about your occasional thumps and blips and decided to be overly cautious and put you on a blood thinner. You said it yourself, "I have felt rotten for a week now since going on Eliquis.". There's your answer.
Catmom, when I had Afib, I did not have 3 normal beats in a row and I was put on blood thinners temporarily until the beta blockers made my heart steady. Then I didn't need them. Unless you are experiencing an irregular heartbeat all the time (every 10 - 20 seconds that cause lightheadedness, I doubt that the cardiologist will consider you to have Afib.
Keep in mind that often the cure is worse than the disease and those blood thinners have strong side effects...as you have noticed. How about aspirin if absolutely necessary?
Btw, you don't always have to go the drug route for everything. For reflux (which I experience), baking soda in water works. For stress, there's exercise. For borderline diabetes, there are dietary changes. My aim is to AVOID drugs as much as possible. To me they cause side effects that then need more drugs to control them.
Your blood pressure is perfect, your oxygen levels are perfect, your pulse is perfect, your weight is perfect and your blood sugar levels are almost perfect (up the veggies and protein, lower the carbs). Rejoice!
Are your thyroid levels normal btw? That could be the cause of any weight loss AND your nerves.
I predict that the cardiologist will send you home with a clean bill of cardiac health and tell you to keep away from the stimulants and excess sugar/carbs and to go to the gym. And to relax!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for catmom777
catmom777 | @catmom777 | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@catmom777 Call Medicare and ask about billing. My mom is in on Medicare and also has..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor @jenniferhunter

@catmom777 Call Medicare and ask about billing. My mom is in on Medicare and also has a supplement insurance plan, and a prescription plan, so that pays everything with her medical bills. Medicare providers have to accept the rates that Medicare sets, and I don't think they are allowed to bill the patient. If there was anything else, the Bluecross plan picks it up. Medicare can answer.

Sleep apnea can be a big part of the issues and can contribute to heart disease, so I think you are right linking that to afib. You'll feel a lot better after you address that. A friend of mine had some anxiety being caused by sleep apnea because she was always in fight or flight mode all night when she stopped breathing. She said getting a CPAP machine made a huge difference. She had gone through a hospitalization when they had trouble figuring out what was wrong. Would it help to sleep only half reclined in a recliner until you can get to the cardiologist? It might keep your throat from closing off if you are not laying flat. That's a guess. I don't have sleep apnea.

Jump to this post

Actually it was dozing off in my recliner that clued me in. I was watching TV, dozed off, and woke up gasping for breath. I have been waking up still tired for over a year now, maybe even longer than that. I have woken up gasping for breath before while in bed but didn't put 2 and 2 together until now. I don't have a husband so don't know if I snore. I did room with my sis last summer on a vacation and she didn't say anything about me snoring. But, at least I have a clue now.
Thanks for info about Medicare. What a way to get started on the program!

REPLY
Profile picture for Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

@catmom777 You found the missing piece of the puzzle, so now embrace it, and go out and advocate for yourself to take care of these things. Now that you are more aware, pay closer attention to the details and clues about your health. Don't stress over it, but be aware and informed, because with knowledge and acceptance there are choices to be made. If you have more critical issues before your appointment with the cardiologist, please go for help. Good for you, you're on the right track now!

REPLY
Profile picture for catmom777
catmom777 | @catmom777 | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

I just bought a Fitbit Inspire HR.

REPLY
Profile picture for AFRobin
AFRobin | @afrobin | Mar 28, 2020
In reply to @catmom777 "I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now..." + (show)
Profile picture for catmom777 @catmom777

I had some side effects with Xarelto, so the doc put me on Eliquis, but now I'm feeling dizzy on this too. At least I think it's the Eliquis. It's kind of like a trap. I am supposed to take it for my afib, and I can't go off it because I might get a blood clot if I do, so I keep taking it. I've been taking it for five days now. The first couple days I felt no effects. It was the same way with Xarelto. I was fine for a couple days, then started feeling very dizzy and had some eye issues too.

Jump to this post

...and tell some doctor that you are taking thyroid medication.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.