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Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness

Posted by cmauncc1 @cmauncc1, Dec 27, 2021

In late July 2017 I was admitted for very high heart rate and Afib. Had been, and still am, on minimal meds. Hospitalist put me on Eliquis, 5mg 2X/day.

Within a month my leg muscles were weakening to the point where I could no longer play Pickleball or walk golf. Within a few weeks my Cardiologist did an ablation and inserted a loop recorder. For the next 2-1/2 years the loop recorder saw MINIMAL Afib, under 0.5%; the ablation did its job.

By November 2017 I needed a walker. By December 2017 I needed to be wheelchair pushed through an Ice Sculpture display as there was no way I could walk the 25-30 minutes of the exhibit.

When I finally got to see a Neurologist at Shands (Univ of FL, Gainesville) in July 2018, he ran an extensive battery of blood work tests but could find nothing to explain the muscle weakness.

Has anyone else encountered similar muscle effects following being prescribed Eliquis?

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joann2022 | @joann2022 | Apr 5, 2022
In reply to @joann9 "Has anyone experienced the same leg pain and weakness taking xarelto" + (show)
@joann9

Has anyone experienced the same leg pain and weakness taking xarelto

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I was put on xarelto 20mg, my legs got so weak it was hard to walk and stand. I had a headache all the time not to mention my hair started falling out. I complained to the doctor and he put me back on 325 mg of aspirin which now the afib has returned.

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lawsonsa | @lawsonsa | Apr 6, 2022
In reply to @cece55 "HI...this is CeCe55. I have been on Eliquis for the past three years and have several..." + (show)
@cece55

HI...this is CeCe55. I have been on Eliquis for the past three years and have several posts about joint, hip and back pain. I have never had muscle weakness and since my ablation in May of this year, I changed my diet completely. I do not eat dairy, gluten, or sugar. The pain has reduced at least 75%. I might add that I stretch, use light weights and walk daily. I was asked by my physicians if I was experiencing weakness but the answer was always no. Eliquis has not given me any side effects that I am aware of. I am not even sure if my stiffness and pain was because of the Eliquis. I had it prior and was always helped with Advil which I can't take anymore....thus the diet change.

I know this doesn't help you but I am surprised that your physicians never considered Eliquis as a culprit. I usually get more answers from my pharmacist when it comes to side effects. I am very drug sensitive.

Blessings to you and I pray that you find a solution.

CeCe55

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Our GP doctor has organised a pharmacist to review my wife's medications as part of a broad care plan. in a previous review the pharmacist's written report recommended several changes in medication. This was very helpful so I would ncoursge such a review

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1 reply
pkbluff1 | @pkbluff1 | Apr 6, 2022

after a mild TIA my cardiologist put me on Eliquis 325mg twice a day. weakness in my legs gradually increased and i experienced general increasing malaise. I was on Eliqus for a year and a half. When I encountered general malaise I went to emer care. They took me off Eliquis and put me on Xarelto 20mg once a day. I have been on Xarelto for a month and feel much better and leg weakness has all but ceased. I don't know what continued use of Xarelto might result in but I am enjoying the improvement.

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callalloo | @callalloo | Apr 7, 2022
In reply to @lawsonsa "Our GP doctor has organised a pharmacist to review my wife's medications as part of a..." + (show)
@lawsonsa

Our GP doctor has organised a pharmacist to review my wife's medications as part of a broad care plan. in a previous review the pharmacist's written report recommended several changes in medication. This was very helpful so I would ncoursge such a review

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I swear I've learned more from my pharmacist than from many doctors. We switched the pets' prescriptions to him because the pharmacy has faster inventory, thus fresher meds, and that made a huge difference to a pet with hyperthyroidism. I don't know if the vets' practice just sold less of the stuff or used a different tier of generic meds. I always ask about side effects that he's heard about from other customers that aren't yet in the listed ones from the manufacturer. In a sense, the pharmacist sees the big picture that doctor specialists might miss because of narrow focus.

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dalous | @dalous | Apr 10, 2022

You all have me so worried. After a 4 day hospital stay, I have been doing fine on Metoprolol, Lasix, and Digoxin, no side effects and the insomnia that I experienced at first with Meto has gone. But, because of Afib, the hospital doctors prescribed Eliquis and Lipitor. Because of what I have read about these meds I have not started taking them. I had an angiogram which showed no blockages, no clots, and some plaque. Everyone tells me cardiologists will insist on me taking Eliquis and Lipitor. What alternative is there? I feel fine and even back to my old self doing yard work and walking the dogs. I don't want to experience leg weakness and not be able to walk and enjoy life,

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1 reply
larryg333 | @larryg333 | Apr 11, 2022

@cmauncc1 -- Been on Eliquis for three years... no probs at all tolerating it.

If I was 99.5% of the time in sinus rhythm, pretty sure I wouldn't be taking this med. Is this still your status?

Thank you for sharing.

/LarryG

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strengthaxle66 | @strengthaxle66 | Apr 14, 2022
In reply to @dalous "You all have me so worried. After a 4 day hospital stay, I have been doing..." + (show)
@dalous

You all have me so worried. After a 4 day hospital stay, I have been doing fine on Metoprolol, Lasix, and Digoxin, no side effects and the insomnia that I experienced at first with Meto has gone. But, because of Afib, the hospital doctors prescribed Eliquis and Lipitor. Because of what I have read about these meds I have not started taking them. I had an angiogram which showed no blockages, no clots, and some plaque. Everyone tells me cardiologists will insist on me taking Eliquis and Lipitor. What alternative is there? I feel fine and even back to my old self doing yard work and walking the dogs. I don't want to experience leg weakness and not be able to walk and enjoy life,

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I went to a holistic care provider who put me on circulation evergreen, a natural blood thinner. Seems to be working fine. You are wise to be worried, russian roulette with the pharma.

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1 reply
daliea | @daliea | Apr 15, 2022

I have the same problem with Eliquis and Plavix.

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dance4life | @dance4life | Apr 24, 2022
In reply to @cmauncc1 "I looked at the links you suggested, but didn't see anything relating muscle weakness to Eliquis...." + (show)
@cmauncc1

I looked at the links you suggested, but didn't see anything relating muscle weakness to Eliquis.

I am, unfortunately, a naive patient. It never occurred to me or my wife that muscle weakness was a possible side effect of Eliquis as that isn't mentioned in the literature accompanying its initial Rx or any refills.

All I knew was that my legs were getting progressively weaker! No, we didn't connect that to my being on a new med! Yep, naive

Six weeks ago my Cardiologist dropped me to Eliquis 2.5mg 2x/day following a Watchman consult that declared me a marginal candidate for the procedure due to my only clot/stroke risk factor being my age (79). The ablation in late 2017 worked; less than 0.5% Afib since then.

I was only clued in ten days ago by my Chiropractor that he has seen several patients with my ongoing leg issues that began shortly after starting Eliquis. He printed off a sheet that indicates "Muscle weakness" is rare but "Serious" side effect.

It has now been four+ years since I was first put on 5mg Eliquis 2x/day, complaining frequently to my 2013-2020 primary and to my 2021++ primary [change due to insurance changing], and to my Cardiologist about my leg weakness. At 79 I am otherwise in very good condition (heart, BP, lungs, other organs, and labs within normal range), with the Afib under control.

At this point, quality of life (the HOPE of being able to improve my leg strength and my ability to walk better by eliminating Eliquis completely) outweighs the minimal risk of clot/stroke. [A verbose way of saying that "No, I have not consulted my Cardiologist!]

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Please................please..................once you start Eliquis, you cannot stop it. If you do, the one scary part is to be eligible for BRAIN HEMMORAGE. If taken off, must be substituted with another type, but your brain is trained to get to the source of pain. Don't cause a rumble in your head with this much advertised pill on TV. Dangerous product. Doctor's and Nurses do not tell you about the BH (above). They are either experimenting with you or just want to lessen your pain. Does not work that way. Find (mean this seriously, another Doctor). Flipping Doctor's is nothing to be ashamed of. We need to protect our health and become educated. Life is shorter without education. Judy G.

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1 reply
junqdawg | @junqdawg | Apr 26, 2022
In reply to @hulitoons "Muscle atrophy from blood thinners seems to me, to be dangerous, especially since the heart is..." + (show)
@hulitoons

Muscle atrophy from blood thinners seems to me, to be dangerous, especially since the heart is also a muscle.  I am assuming, but could be wrong since I'm not a doctor, that those of us who have suffered blood clots and been put on eliquis have other issues that caused the blood clots in the first place and those issues have to be addressed in order to NOT have to be on blood thinners so that other dangerous issues do not arise.  I do agree, this feels like a slow moving poison that is making us even sicker, at least that's how it feels to me.  
Less than a year ago I worked out every day and had for years.   Now I've slowly become disabled.  Yesterday I finally ordered a wheelchair so that my husband can push me to appointments because I can barely walk without falling or passing out.  

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Sorry for your problems . Could you tell me WHAT IS THE DOSAGE OF ELOQUIS THAT YOU TAKE ?? I know strange things happen in the Medical World . But curious to the MG and how often you take this Med. Reason being I went to Dr. for the FLU and they discovered my Heart rate was 160 ! . They went "POSTAL" on me and shoved me in the ER across the street . I felt fine except for Flu symptoms . The Heart Dr. put me on 25mg twice a day of Eloquis . been on it for a month . Told me to have an Eblation {SP}? Had it done yesterday April 25th .
Was luckily sent home !! after a few hrs of observation . I am worried since reading your post because I have been a partial Paraplegic for 52 yrs . Don't need any more muscle weakness to my body . I had already told Dr I wanted off the Eloquis ASAP . Besides the INSANE COST ,I've heard too many things like your post that scare hell out of me . Do you live near a big city with TOP SHELF MEDICAL Facilities . AKA. Houston, Dallas , Mayo , New York etc. So you can get the BEST DR'S to find out the problem . ? There is an ANSWER {SOMEWHERE} and finding "THAT" place can be as difficult as finding out what's wrong with you . Just my opinion . Wish You well . JUNQDAWG

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