Cardiologist suggests I can stop taking Eliquis. Any thoughts?

Posted by dsisko @dsisko, Nov 18, 2020

I have been on Eliquis for about 2 years now for afib. I had a successful ablation at Mayo in Rochester in August 2019 and have had no afib incidents that I’m aware of since that time. I track my pulse with my iwatch and regularly track my blood pressure. Both are fine. I’ve been of the understanding that I need to take Eliquis for the rest of my life, however, my cardiologist in Florida has suggested that I could stop taking the Eliquis. Has anyone had a similar situation or has stopped Eliquis because of a successful ablation?

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

If you have no other issues for which you would need an anticoagulent;
and had a succesful ablation 2.5 years ago;
and have been in sinus rhythm since the procedure based on your doctor's records and your own checks at home...
then I would say you're good to go without the Eliquis.

You're one of the lucky ones!

Keep it going.

/LarryG

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Approximately 5 months after I had mitral valve repair and an ablation my cardiologist suggested that I wear a heart monitor for 30 days to see if my afib was truly gone and to see if I could get off of eliquis. The results were very positive and I am now off of Eliquis and into my 8th month of not having afib.

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@mayofeb2020

@dsisko @amandaburnett. I do not have afib, but I had a TIA in January so my cardiologist put me on Xeralto. I also had a loop recorder put in to monitor my HR. I asked to ba taken off Xeralto since so far there's no sign of afib, but he doesn't think it's a good idea. My children don't want me to be off this either, what if I have another TIA again, or worse, a stroke. My doctor did reduced the dosage from 20 mg daily to 15 mg.
My son in law, however, had afib. He had ablations done. A couple of years ago, my daughter found a doctor in Texas and when he examined my son in law, he found that there was a genetic factor. I don't know all the details. My son in law had an operation then, the problem was resolved and he's no longer on Eliquis. He's a very active person and cardiologist actually told him he could resume his exercise routine (rowing, and cycling) the week after the operation.
Blood thinner is new to me, I'm not happy with the side effects like random bruises, bleeding gum etc. I have hypertension and the fact that I have family history of strokes was enough for me to stay in, albeit reluctantly.
I'm waiting for the generic version of Eliquis or Xeralto as the costs these drugs are prohibitive.
I think if you want to discontinue with the drug, have a conversation with your doctor first. Mayo connect has been a God send for me as many of you have given me valuable insights. Maybe one of you who has stopped Eliquis can give you some information.
Be well.

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what type of surgery did your son in-law had done i recently had a tia and now the told i will be on prodaxa for life . also that i have afib not caused by a hart valve . i can stand the blood thinner side effects. i was a cat 2 cyclist until 12/27/22 that day is when i had tia for no reason just relaxing in my home . 😔😞🥴 does anyone know what kind of surgery i can do to get of the blood thinner and repair my afib .

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i recently had a tia on 12/27 i was told it was cause by afib which i never knew i had . i was a cat 2 cyclist until the bad day of Dec. it's the any survey to fix afib and get me of this prodaxa blood thinner i was i be this for life i can't stand the side effects i just started on it . i can't live like this help

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@sergio1

what type of surgery did your son in-law had done i recently had a tia and now the told i will be on prodaxa for life . also that i have afib not caused by a hart valve . i can stand the blood thinner side effects. i was a cat 2 cyclist until 12/27/22 that day is when i had tia for no reason just relaxing in my home . 😔😞🥴 does anyone know what kind of surgery i can do to get of the blood thinner and repair my afib .

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When we discovered I had afib, I was put on Eliquis.
I was referred by my cardiologist to an electrophysiology cardiologist to be evaluated for a radio frequency ablation of my heart. That cardio gave the go ahead, and about 6 months later I had the RF ablation.
6 months after that, I was put on a heart monitor and given a battery of tests, all of which showed my heart was back to normal. The electrophysiology cardiologist told I could stop the Eliquis immediately.
So I would say ask your PCP or cardiologist for a referral to an electrophysiology cardiologist, and go from there.

Best wishes,
Cookie

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Wow that's great. Is there much pain with the rfa ablation?

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It strikes me that the decision on the various blood thinners is quite individual and should be made with your medical team. I am on Xarelto for my AFIB for example which I tolerate very well and have only minor side effects like bruising easily. I had a close friend who couldn't tolerate it at all and had almost constant nose bleeds. He was switched to Coumadin but had trouble during the dosing period during which he had a stroke and died.

There are many other reasons I want to have an ablation to hopefully end my AFIB, and I personally wouldn't care if I had to take the Xarelto for the rest of my life, but again, everyone and every case is different evidently, so I say go with your medical team's advice unless it seems inappropriate to you, in which case get a second opinion. Good Luck,

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Sergio -- Look into adding an electrophysiologist to your team... this is a cardiologist that specializes in cardiac rhythm probs. (You can subsequently decide whether to keep your existing your cardiologist or not.)

If the EP deems that an ablation may solve your Afib (or other issue present with your individual case), then that would be something to carefully consider. Please be aware that there serious potential risks with ablation procedures, and that very often multiple ablations may be required to achieve success (no Afib for two years). Also be on guard regarding all the marketing hype surrounding ablations. And if you choose to go forward with the procedure, be sure to select someone that has had extensive experience performing them.

All the best!

/LarryG

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@hunby2blas

Wow that's great. Is there much pain with the rfa ablation?

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No pain at all. Went home the same day.

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Had a successful ablation in June 2022; electrophysiologist let me go off eliquis and metoprolol in August and I am so grateful. I can eat garlic, onions, turmeric and Chaga, etc. So many naturally blood thinning things I eat and had to be so careful.

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