1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

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

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aquamarine4220 | @aquamarine4220 | Oct 13, 2022
In reply to @warbru "I’m 76. Had 1 afib event per year that lasted very short time. Got 2 shots..." + (show)
@warbru

I’m 76. Had 1 afib event per year that lasted very short time. Got 2 shots and ended up with persistent afib lasting weeks . Since the shots,I have had 4 cardioversions and two ablations. Have not and will not get boosters. BTW I also have hadCovid twice—- once before vax and once after. Fortunately I got over both within a week. No afib since last ablation but then it’s only been 5 days

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That is so scary and horrifying.
Same here, but I have had Afib for a long time, got vax's, then got Covid.
Now I am in cardio ICU with monster Afib, clots in lungs and legs. A bit
scared.

Have you done research about the Vax and the Afib?

Blessings to you, it is amazing how many things can go wrong with bodies.

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1 reply
warbru | @warbru | Oct 13, 2022
In reply to @aquamarine4220 "That is so scary and horrifying. Same here, but I have had Afib for a long..." + (show)
@aquamarine4220

That is so scary and horrifying.
Same here, but I have had Afib for a long time, got vax's, then got Covid.
Now I am in cardio ICU with monster Afib, clots in lungs and legs. A bit
scared.

Have you done research about the Vax and the Afib?

Blessings to you, it is amazing how many things can go wrong with bodies.

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Haven’t had to do any research because it well known and publicized
regarding the connection between the vax and cardiac issues.

Definitely did not and will not get Booster

Yes it is amazing what the body can do. Prayers for your quick return to
health

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aquamarine4220 | @aquamarine4220 | Oct 13, 2022
In reply to @warbru "I’m 76. Had 1 afib event per year that lasted very short time. Got 2 shots..." + (show)
@warbru

I’m 76. Had 1 afib event per year that lasted very short time. Got 2 shots and ended up with persistent afib lasting weeks . Since the shots,I have had 4 cardioversions and two ablations. Have not and will not get boosters. BTW I also have hadCovid twice—- once before vax and once after. Fortunately I got over both within a week. No afib since last ablation but then it’s only been 5 days

Jump to this post

I did not put the two together but ever since I had Covid and was hospitalized and crammed with meds my Afib is non stop. It wasn't before that. Was it the covid or the shots? I had had 2 vax's, not a booster yet. Oh gosh.

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bevily | @bevily | Oct 15, 2022
In reply to @cece55 "Thank you for responding to me Colleen. I told the cardiologist when I saw him a..." + (show)
@cece55

Thank you for responding to me Colleen. I told the cardiologist when I saw him a couple of weeks ago that my right hip was bothering me but that it was a pre-existing condition. I asked for Advil and he said only twice a week (one dose)...if I really needed it. At that point it was just the same areas that I have already had problems with. Probably, to the cardiologist, it didn't sound like anything to worry about. I was just asking for permission for Advil. 🙂 Since then I have had referred pain in other areas per my physical therapist plus occasional muscle aches.

I realize that I cannot come off of a blood thinner because of stroke and wonder if the other new blood thinners will do the same thing or if that is not the problem at all. I don't want to play with the drugs and coming off one and going on another...that can create problems of their own.

I would like to know if these aches and pains are causing serious problems or I just have to learn to live with it. I ordered a large cold pad per my therapist, am taking physical therapy and massage. I still exercise the best that I can with the pain and continue to live life normally but it is not the same quality of life. My joints are not red or swollen.

I would feel so much better if someone can respond to me and relate their Eliquis experience and if they have something similar.

Thank You,
CeCe55

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Hi there, sorry to hear of your pain. My husband was put onto Xeralto (blood thinner similar to yours) following his second Afib event in 2018 and he has had absolutely no side effects. I was also put onto Xeralto for a year after my Afib event around the same time, and although I had hip joint pain prior to taking Xeralto, it didn’t seem to exacerbate the situation. Fortunately my cardiologist took me off the medication after a year. Feel better soon.

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koleke | @koleke | Oct 15, 2022

I really don't think Eliquis does anything but thin your blood. I've been taking it since 2019 with no side effects. However, everyone is different.. Just wondering why so much.. I have taken 5 mg twice a day since I started it. Seems like a lot of carvedilol too. I would definitely ask doctor about side effects..

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davecomposer | @davecomposer | Aug 28, 2023
In reply to @catmom777 "I feel rotten and have felt rotten for a week now, since going on Eliquis. Same..." + (show)
@catmom777

I feel rotten and have felt rotten for a week now, since going on Eliquis. Same thing with Xarelto but I went off that in four days after another visit to the ER. I'm wondering if they're giving me too high a dose. I am small and weigh less than 120 now. I keep losing weight. No appetite and feeling dizzy and like I have a bit of the flu. I'm having a little breakfast and heading back to the ER at about 4:30 am. I feel like Eliquis is going to kill me. The pharmacist said give it a few days, but it's been a few days and it's only gotten worse. I cannot sleep either. I have been up all night. So, let's see what this ER doc says. Like everyone else with this condition, I so wish I'd lived right and not developed afib.

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It’s been nearly 4 years now that I have been on Eliquis. I had a blood clot in my leg and developed two PEs 20 days later. I tried Eliquis, Xarelto, pradaxa, savaysa, and Coumadin. Eliquis has been the easier one to tolerate; however, it makes me sick everyday. I feel weak and feel like I have the flu. I started out on 5 mg twice a day. After a year, my dvt doc lowered it to 2.5 twice a day. Any time where I have a procedure done where I need to be off the blood thinner, I go off under the doctors supervision and notice that I start to feel better. As soon as I start taking the medicine again, I feel like crap. It’s a never ending cycle.

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mjarkie | @mjarkie | Aug 29, 2023

I had a similar experience with Eliquis. I would wake in the mornings with pain in my shoulders or knees, or hands, etc. After I had my ablation, I was told because of my age I would need to take Eliquis for the rest of my life. I have had back pain since I was a teenager and for the last year it became very painful until I ended up in the ER because I couldn’t walk without excruciating pain. I believe for some of us, Eliquis finds our weak areas and exacerbates the pain. I have not had an a-fib episode in 2 years (I always knew as soon as my a-fib started) so I asked my cardiologist if I could stop the Eliquis and he had me wear a Holter monitor for 2 weeks; I had no a-fib during those two weeks. I quit the Eliquis and I have experienced much relief. I am 76 so there is still pain in those places I have damaged over the years but my quality of life is much, much better. If you are having muscle, joint, bone pain or leg weakness, speak to your cardiologist and when he or she says that is not a side effect of Eliquis suggest they look at this site or dig further such as this site!

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33flower | @33flower | Nov 27, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi Cece55, I'm inviting @1943 @jackj @renahbell @healthytoday and @scardycat into this discussion. They, too, have..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi Cece55, I'm inviting @1943 @jackj @renahbell @healthytoday and @scardycat into this discussion. They, too, have experience with Eliquis. @predictable may also have some tactics on how to work with your doctors to distinguish symptoms of an underlying problem vs. a side effect of medication.
According to various website, swelling and joint pain are possible side effects of Eliquis (apixaban) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/apixaban-oral-route/description/drg-20060729

Have you talked to your cardiologist about it?

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I have been on Eloquis for one year. I have developed some side affects that I attributed to Eloquis since I got the side affects after I started Eloquis. They are itching around the face and head, hair loss and bladder problems. In the last 8 weeks I have developed a condition that has affected muscle , tendon, bone or nerves. I am now using a walker. I have had a MRI and will have another one on the pelvic. The first MRI did not reveal what could cause my right leg to suddenly stop supporting me. Neurosurgeon is making an appointment with the neurologist. I researched the Eloquis and chose to stop it 3 weeks ago. I do take Propanolol and I have a loop recorder. I am an active exerciser with no explanation of all of a sudden losing the use of my right leg. Since I stopped Eloquis, my itching is not as bad, my bladder problems have improved and my eye swelling is not as bad. I called my cardiologist and informed of my decision but have not heard from him. I am just praying for an answer. Has anyone had my problems? Thank you so much.

REPLY
1 reply
fredster4 | @fredster4 | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @33flower "I have been on Eloquis for one year. I have developed some side affects that I..." + (show)
@33flower

I have been on Eloquis for one year. I have developed some side affects that I attributed to Eloquis since I got the side affects after I started Eloquis. They are itching around the face and head, hair loss and bladder problems. In the last 8 weeks I have developed a condition that has affected muscle , tendon, bone or nerves. I am now using a walker. I have had a MRI and will have another one on the pelvic. The first MRI did not reveal what could cause my right leg to suddenly stop supporting me. Neurosurgeon is making an appointment with the neurologist. I researched the Eloquis and chose to stop it 3 weeks ago. I do take Propanolol and I have a loop recorder. I am an active exerciser with no explanation of all of a sudden losing the use of my right leg. Since I stopped Eloquis, my itching is not as bad, my bladder problems have improved and my eye swelling is not as bad. I called my cardiologist and informed of my decision but have not heard from him. I am just praying for an answer. Has anyone had my problems? Thank you so much.

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I also developed bladder problems at the same time I started Eliquis six months ago. I immediately notified my cardiologist who heatedly denied any connection. My urologist has prescribed several solutions but none work. My cardiologist again denied Eliquis was to blame. Any suggestions?

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1 reply
33flower | @33flower | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @fredster4 "I also developed bladder problems at the same time I started Eliquis six months ago. I..." + (show)
@fredster4

I also developed bladder problems at the same time I started Eliquis six months ago. I immediately notified my cardiologist who heatedly denied any connection. My urologist has prescribed several solutions but none work. My cardiologist again denied Eliquis was to blame. Any suggestions?

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Bladder problems is not good company. Mine has improved since I stopped Eliquis. I guess you really need to have serious discussion with your dr. My urologist really tried to help me too to no avail. I made the decision. I do take a med that helps prevent afib. I hope you find a solution.

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