Cardiologist suggests I can stop taking Eliquis. Any thoughts?

@rubywatch, if you are correct today -- disputing a statement I made six months ago -- then I'll be glad to agree with you. The antidotes Andexxa and Praxbind for anticoagulants used to treat A-fib were NOT readily available, as I stated in December 2020. Although approved by the FDA some months before that, they encountered manufacturing and distribution problems that delayed their availability, and in fact, Andexxa was still not "readily available" in the two hospitals I entered for treatment. At the time that you posted your first message (December 6, 2020) you said "All the anticoagulant choices are good and safe." My personal experiences at that time convinced me that statement was wrong. I hope time and progress has now made your statement correct. I'll not rely on your assurances, however; instead I will continue to ask clinics and hospitals I encounter for treatment whether they have my anticoagulant "readily available" if needed, and I hope all A-fib patients will do the same for their own safety. My motive simply is driven by the unpleasant memories of my friend who died in a helicopter while being transferred from a "modern" hospital that didn't have his antidote "readily available." I sang at his funeral. Martin

I was put on Eliquis 2 months ago after an extended afib event that landed me in the er. I have been experiencing abdominal pain, chest pain, lower back pain, and severe abdominal distinction. I have multiple gastrointestinal conditions that are often aggravated by drugs including Eliquis. I have to stop taking this drug before I end up with a colostomy. My cardiologist told me to simply stop taking Eliquis. Is this safe? Do I need to be weaned off it? Can I just suddenly stop taking it? Everything I read says not to stop it suddenly. I don’t know how to stop safely.

I am going off mine slowly. I’m down to 1/2 pill/per day. I was told I could just go off it too, but I am choosing to do it slowly.

So grateful to you for starting this discussion, lovepeacejoy! I have been experiencing self-diagnosed A-fib for at least a year (after the Pfizer double jab--NO booster!).

Why self-diagnosed? I used to be so healthy (before the jab) that I didn't have a doctor. Still don't. But I can feel my heart jumping without any fancy diagnostic equipment. Discovered through Advanced Food Intolerance Labs (discount available via Groupon.com) that I am deficient in calcium and magnesium (again, due to the Pfizer double jab which caused my cutaneous mastocytosis to escalate to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome/GI-D (gastrointestinal-diarrhea). Eighteen months of chronic diarrhea with my weight dropping to 115 pounds! Loss of electrolytes, as you can imagine. It has been confirmed from a compilation of data that there is a "worldwide spike in food hypersensitivity" due to the vaccine. Yes, I became allergic to almost every food on the planet. Had to do research to identify low versus high histamine foods. Used the SIGHI chart and other sources.

A month ago, I got things under control thanks to another forum called Inspire.com. Learned of DAO enzyme which is a histamine digester. I am still careful about my diet but have been normal for a full month and succeeded in getting my weight up to 120 pounds as of this morning. My goal? 123 - 127. Oh, I am down to one antihistamine per day, an H1 Blocker (Claritin). Was able to cease taking my H2 Blocker (Tagamet) four days ago with zero problem. I've always wanted to cease taking Tagamet since it has the unwanted (for me) side effect of lowering stomach acid. I've never suffered acid reflux and wanted optimal stomach acid to benefit from my food and supplements.

I share this because the above may shed some light on the cause of your A-fib. If you can identify the root cause, that can be addressed rather than treating symptoms.

As to ceasing Eliquis, wise advice from nancymulloy. Conversely, your doctor may be well informed as they gather more data from others who have felt the need to get off that drug due to adverse reactions/side effects. I urge you to do some independent research, too. I'm sure you'll get plenty of "hits" when you do an Internet search.

As encouragement, I will offer the fact that my A-fib is much improved since a week ago I had the courage to add more magnesium to my daily regimen. Found a form that does not have a laxative effect and then resumed my usual evening dose with even more magnesium in another form. ZERO problem! Also increased my calcium supplementation (in a reasonable fashion) with optimal amounts of D3 and K2 so the calcium ends up in my bones, not my arteries. And, with an entire month free of diarrhea, all my other vitamins and minerals are in me long enough to provide benefits.

I hope you come back to update us on your decision, the results and more.

FWIW (For What It's Worth), interval aerobics (according to an MD with a video on the Internet) can be helpful in reversing A-fib. I miss getting on our treadmill but, due to 18 months of electrolyte loss, I recently suffered a hairline fracture of my metatarsal! But that's another story. I've bought one of those restraining booties and hope to heal on schedule, be back to normal by Thanksgiving (in eight weeks at the most).

May you be blessed with success, health and wealth!

My AFIB started after my Moderna Booster. It kept up for 4-5 months but now I only feel it on occasion. I want to get off Eliquis but my doctor says no. I realize it will help prevent a stroke but if I’m not having symptoms should I stay on it. As I go into retirement, I am finding this drug pretty expensive.

Is your Afib gone? I want to get off Eliquis.

I had an ablation in June. Prior to that I had 3 episodes of Afib that brought me to the ER over a period of 6 months. I am staying on low dose Flecanide and baby aspirin. We’ll see if the Afib is gone over time. My doctor would have preferred I stay on Eliquis.

I am considering an ablation. My doctor recommended I have one. He spoke of Flecanide but I am currently on Metropolol and Eliquis and do not want to go on another med. I have Arthritis, several joint replacements, therefore, I cannot take anything with pain relievers such as aspirin, Aleve etc. while on blood thinner.
Have you experienced any episodes since June?

No, not since June (3months ago). But I have gone as long as 5 months in the past. I could not tolerate the side effects of metropolol.
In response another comment above, my Afib was after Moderna booster.

nenek, my understanding is the risk of stroke is from the blood clots that form due to A-fib. I used to be a dancer and then worked in automotive mfg for almost 25 years. Point being, I'm very much in tune with my body and, after A-fib began, could actually feel/sense the blood clots. So specific and unusual that I could have taken a Sharpie marker and drawn a squiggly line on the vein that was throbbing at the left rear of my skull, on my left inner thigh, etc.

So... I now take 1/2 of an adult aspirin every evening. Not a baby aspirin. A normal aspirin that I cut in half with a pill splitter. Your doctor may be able to advise you on this blood thinning alternative. Based on Mother Nature (the bark of willow trees) and so affordable. You may be advised to take a larger dose, e.g., one adult aspirin two times a day.

Bear in mind, I'm NOT a doctor. Just a health nut who devotes 10 hours a week to studying natural health solutions.

1) If the risk of stroke is 2) due to blood clots that 3) are caused by A-fib... By all means do what you can to resolve the A-fib.

Have you been checked for mineral deficiencies? Do you exercise enough, get your heart rate up every day?

Just sharing ideas for future research so you can make the best decision possible.