Getting off Heart meds?

I tried this with my cardiologist, just suggesting lowering the doses, especially Eliquis due to excessive bruising and he was NOT happy with me. I guess it depends on what you're on, why you need it and what risk factors you are willing to take. My PCP suggested a statin though my lipid levels were just at the upper end of "normal" and I said No. She points out the stroke risk number I get assigned and I point out that I get "2" points for being a female (can't change that), "1" point for being over 65 (can't change that), one for carrying a "diagnosis" of high B/P (even though it is controlled and has been for years), and now A-Fib (that so many "old" people have that I can't believe it! and which I have tried to control with lifestyle changes as much as possible) and essentially I am "doomed" according to the "statistics" so I won't take anything else that might compromise my present state of health. Good luck! 🙂

@sjm46
It is sad that the industry is so backward in the US. Sounds like I’m in your boat as far as heart disease. A lot of mine is also genetics since most of my sybs also have heart disease. Good diet and exercise 💪🤞

I had post operative AFIB during three of my operations, I wore a Holter for a month after CABG
and left kidney removal. I use a Kardia Mobile twice a day. I've had numerous electrocardiograms.
No sign of AFIB! Yet my cardiologist wants me to stay on Apixaban. I'm eighty three.
Eight years ago I didn't take any pills.!

@sjm46 On both sides of the Atlantic, cardiologists have begun to ask their governing body for a change in the female sex assigned score/penalty of 1 point in the CHA2DS2-VA assessment. It seems clear to those who want changes to the policy that until one gets a score of 2.0, there is no start to divergence on the sex paths for thromboembolic evetns associated with AF patients. In fact, the female anatomy seems to present a modifying impact on the risk of thromboembolic stroke, not be a generator of increased risk over that of males. So, in a short while, I think you may find that they will remove an assigned point, at which you will be in a stronger position to wave away the DOAC. Even more, there is mounting evidence that daily dosages of DOAC offer no marked improvement at reducing the risk of stroke over a single baby aspirin (81 mg) once a day. That, too, is being challenged and studied, More to follow...

Yep, Eliquis/Apixaban kep that blood thin. My cardiologist has me on it because of possible stroke !? I guess it's a numbers game now. You would think they would have more analytics on meds and so fourth. Sports are now controlled by analytics but it's used to win, not sure the pharmaceutical business wants to win by reducing usage of meds. just saying .

@gloaming I suggested to the cardiologist that the three criteria for reducing the dose of Eliquis by 1/2 were 1) age over 80 (I'm 79.5) and weight lower than 130 lbs (I am 135) and 3) decreased kidney function (mine is fine). He practically had smoke coming out of his ears at the suggestion. I have no history of stroke in my family. My B/P is well controlled. My brother also has had A-fib for years with multiple cardioversions and one ablation and his cardiologist has never had him on anything except ASA. However, he was on an anti-arrhythmic med for years (amiodarone) known for potential to damage the lungs. New cardiologist for him was shocked he'd been taking it for 10 years and took him off! Now he is having recurrent episodes of A-fib. Go figure. He lives in the midwest; can there be a regional difference? This is what surprises me about talking to others on this site--how different and sometimes how "flippant" some doctors are about this condition. Shouldn't there be some standard treatment approaches with all the studies that have been done and all the people out there that suffer from this condition. I feel like it is more like every man (or woman) for themselves in terms of what approach to take.

Definitely be your own advocate. I'm lucky to have two sisters with similar health issues, so we research and trade a lot of info. This website at least gives you another avenue to follow for more info. Unfortuanely big pharma's influence is over whelming, limiting a good Drs. approach. Try asking your cardiologist if there is any plan or program to ween people off drugs. Curious about his or her rsponse.

@sjm46 It's a head-shaker, to be sure. Some of us in this and on other AF boards have make it a point to try to convince newcomers to the disorder that there are EPs in business, and then there are the better EPs. As Dr. Scott Lee says in his YouTube channel videos, some EPs feel most secure, and are most successful, in doing the basics. It pays their bills, and they probably get lots of positive feedback if they've succeeded in stemming a patient's AF. Dr. Lee feels that some patients will not do well by them. They need more skilled care, more expert care, from EPs who have confidence in tackling the more complex arrhythmia patients.

The other partner in this dance is the patient. Some need hand-holding and have little motivation or interest to learn about their condition and what they can do for themselves. Others, like myself, almost present as a nuisance to EPs because we ask intelligent and challenging questions (which tends to make meetings longer). We have begun to read, or are already well-read, and we know what to do to advocate for ourselves. Personally, I can't see a patient on amiodarone longer than two or three years, although each patient is different in both tolerance and in their ability to profit from the drug and to stay alive reasonably well.

One other factor is Ye Olde Underwriter. They call the shots when it comes to approving procedures, drugs, and what they will insure any one individual for doing....or failing to do.

I’m a 79 year old female…had a heart attack in December 2024, 2 arteries were blocked ( one 99%, the other was 100% blocked) had 2 stents put in. When I was discharged from my hospital nine days later this is a list of meds that I was put on:
Plavix 75 mg
Eliquis 5 mg twice a day..a.m. and p.m.
Lasix 20 mg ( once a day)
Metoprolol 12.5 mg
Spironolactone 12.5 mg in morning
Crestor 20 mg at night
I was able to stop the spironolactone in June 2025
I was able to stop plavix January 2026
In June 2025 my cardiologist told me I should stay on the Eliquis at least for another six months which would be December 2025. However, now I was told I should stay on it, but she did not tell me for how much longer as everybody knows it’s very expensive and I believe that is giving me side effects of my legs being very stiff and and causing me to have issues of standing up for very long or walking, but when I asked her about it two months after starting it, I was told it wouldn’t give side effects like that. The beginning of January (2026) I called the office and asked them what the other alternative would be instead of Eliquis and I was told the only alternative would be to start taking warfarin ( Coumadin), which blood tests would have to be taken frequently to make sure it was working… I find it hard to Believe these are the only two blood thinners available.
Whenever I go to my cardiologist for a follow up, I always tell her that I do not feel much stronger now and that I felt stronger when I first came home from the hospital, but she just pushes it aside and tells me it’s normal… I keep active because I have several pets that I have to take care of and my husband is 92 and he had a stroke four years ago and he had a pacemaker put in the beginning of December 2025. He has his own issues so he can’t really do very much. His balance is way off and he’s anemic, but that is a completely different topic so I won’t go into details about that and his primary doctor.

@ruth36
Sorry, I forgot to mention that starting this month she wants me to start taking the 81 mg baby aspirin