Taking Eliquis and Metoprolol for A-fib: Concerned about side effects

Hi @damari. Glad to see you back with us, especially since the two of us are A-fib victims. Your reliance on Metoprolol and Eliquis is not uncommon. The first of these and its side-effects are discussed on Mayoclinic.org. Check out https://mayocl.in/2LTLhoP as well as https://mayocl.in/3d0JLx7 for starters. Search separately there for Eliquis or its generic name apixaban with a focus on the "oral route" (as opposed to the intravenous route). On your question about lesser amounts, be advised that changing the dosages on both drugs is possible, but only in direct coordination with your specialist or primary care physician. A lot of patients cut their dosages without consultation, causing side effects that are hard to tolerate. In my case, my similar drugs are Carvedilol (25mg morning and evening) and Coumadin (5.0 and 7.5 mg on alternating days).

The side effects you mentioned are on public lists for your drugs. Can you raise your questions about them with your doctor(s) or your pharmacist before any changes are made in dosage? Martin

I have A-fib 5 years. Eliquis is doing the trick. To me Warfarin is too much maintenance. Was on Pradaxa for a while but it is so expensive. Ask your Cardiologist.

I have a history of A-fib, started 11 yrs ago. I joined a study group and had a Cryo Ablation in Victoria BC. first , but that dod not work, A year later I had a regular Ablation, (they burnt the triggerpoints in my heart ) and since than for 5 years no A-vib. Am on Xeralto 20 mgr a day. (Eloquist ? ) last year I had a big surgery for Cancer treatment and had an a-fib during recovery. 6 month after surgery I started Chemo. Had 7 doses and than got very sick, side effects of the chemo. Had also a STV (afib + tachycardia ) one time, they paddled me with no result than they gave me via intravenous Amiodarone and that fixed it. Now I am still on Xarelto and Metropolol 25 mgr a day have to take one half (12.5 mgr ) in the morning and the other half in the evening . I am in remission of cancer right now have regular check ups with CTScans. Have no side effects so far and feel great. Am 81 and live alone and don’t need any help so far. Am happy. Still having regular check ups, bloodwork and CT scans for a while . My heart behaves at the moment.

I have been on both meds for 5 years, also for AFIB, no side effects at all.

I , Margreet have had no side effects from the Metropolol and xarelto ever in the 8 years I have taken it for Afib.

Same for me. I am on Eliquis with great success.

HI... am new to AFib and meds. Concerns and questions!?
Bradycardia noted 2014. Holtor monitors rates in 40's/ at night while asleep in 30's. Dr. "no need for pacemaker... as it would cause a scar". More concerned about scar than low heart rate. I had always had low BP. I seldom see a systolic at 100.On a stressful day 100-110. More common 70 to 90 over 40 to 60
Second opinion...followed closely, found pretty steady in 40's to low 50's so we continued monitoring. She had me increase salt and fluid intake as I had dizziness, weakness, tiredness. Did help me keep more hydrated. Keeps BP up better. Less dizziness but that never really goes away.
2017 Cardio transferred to Colorado. Started w. new cardio here in DE.
2018 started falling frequently. Saw Neuro, Cardio, ENT, ortho. No one could find cause. Sept 2018 had a TIA. Continued to be monitored. Placed on low dose bayer aspirin.
August 2019 I started telling my PCP, Cardio my heart rate was irregular. Multiple studies- echo, stress test, monitor, EKGs, sleep study. NSR, brady, occas. PVC. Irregular irregularity kept me thinking i was in AFib - going in and out. Would wake me out of dead sleep, Started putting together this may have been happening for a while and ??cause of some symptoms as listed above??
Jan 2020 back to cardio to say I wanted more help... there is something wrong. He inserted LINQ/LOOP Jan 20th. Was supposed to be advised as soon as they got a reading that could define diagnosis. WELL
March 25 .. call from cardio to say AFib. Asked when they knew. Said - with fist report in Jan!!! It was now the end of March. I expected this tool would provide timely answers & care. Cardiologist referred me to electrophysiologist. Met (telehealth) 2 days later and we discussed options. He is pro ablation but due to covid and ban on elective surgery this is delayed. Meantime electro phys doc put me on Eliquist BID and added a PILL IN A POCKET APPROACH Using one Metroprolol 25 mg and two Flecainide 150mg tabs (300mg) if I am in AFib that I don't come out of in 20-30 min.
Concerns:
He admitted my concerns for:
- side effects of these drugs are valid
- dose of drug is high....I am at home - cannot always tell when I am in Afib. Said do the best I can.
I spoke to pharmacist and he indicated concern for dosing of Flecainide as well and suggested I speak to dr again. I did so. He said follow his direction.

Also my concern that he wrote script for Flecainide at 1 tablet every 12 hours.
Now if I should take two tablets according to the PILL IN A POCKET APPROACH and have an adverse event they would say I didn't take prescription that is on my bottle. Not good for me, my insurance company.
So much to try to work through.

What a scary story of your history. Can you get to a better cardio doc? Have you checked on line for information about your doctors?

Does anybody know how to treat peripheral artery disease? I cannot walk any more and am in a wheel chair and getting worse. The pain is constant. Think I have a cardiologist that is not to informed.

Dr. "no need for pacemaker… as it would cause a scar". THAT is a red flag if I ever saw one. I'd get a second opinion fast.