Muscle Weakness and Eliquis - How to diagnose/test for cause?

I had a very serious drug reaction to Eliquest. To start with my joints were aching but it was ignored by my Doctor's nurse even when I complained. In fact, she told me that joint pain was not on her list of side effects, so I continued that drug. I only took Eliquest for 2 months and it really wreaked havoc on my body. After my ablation, I became very nauseous, with no appetite, constipation & diarrhea plus the joint pain got so bad I could hardly get out of bed. I lost 13 lbs in the second month that I took it. I asked for help from 2 ERs & 2 Urgent Cares. Shands Hospital kept me over night and found that I had a serious problems with inflammation. My enzymes were way off in my heart, liver and kidney. They treated me with IV fluids and antibiotics. I QUIT the Eliquest and immediately improved. My problem remains that my joints all over are better but still aching! I blame Eliquest and I am wondering if they ever will return to normal? I am now taking physical therapy for my very painful right knee but the joint pain is also in my neck, shoulder, hip, both knees. Any suggestions?

Hi @rebeccadixon,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"Muscle Weakness and Eliquis - How to diagnose/test for cause?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/muscle-weakness-and-eliquis-how-to-diagnosetest-for-cause/

@devotion started this discussion after experiencing some of the same symptoms as you. @remo asked if anyone else was experiencing leg pain on Eliquis. @debmonroe may also wish to share their experience with Eliquis as well.

@rebeccadixon, you mentioned you stopped taking Eliquis because of your experience, were you able to have a conversation with your provider to inform them that you didn't feel comfortable taking the medication anymore and were any alternatives discussed?

Hi @rebeccadixon,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"Muscle Weakness and Eliquis - How to diagnose/test for cause?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/muscle-weakness-and-eliquis-how-to-diagnosetest-for-cause/

@devotion started this discussion after experiencing some of the same symptoms as you. @remo asked if anyone else was experiencing leg pain on Eliquis. @debmonroe may also wish to share their experience with Eliquis as well.

@rebeccadixon, you mentioned you stopped taking Eliquis because of your experience, were you able to have a conversation with your provider to inform them that you didn't feel comfortable taking the medication anymore and were any alternatives discussed?

@JustinMcClanahan how would I share my experience with Eliquis?

@JustinMcClanahan I went back on coumadin for a short while but it couldn't keep my blood thinning consistent. Aspirin upsets my very sensitive stomach. My ablation and watchman were done in late August 2025. September was my really sick month. So apprx late October, is when I quit ALL my heart drugs. There is another reason too, I compete with my horses and falls do happen. Frankly, I decided to go back to what I love and stop the hideous heart drugs. ❤️

I had a very serious drug reaction to Eliquest. To start with my joints were aching but it was ignored by my Doctor's nurse even when I complained. In fact, she told me that joint pain was not on her list of side effects, so I continued that drug. I only took Eliquest for 2 months and it really wreaked havoc on my body. After my ablation, I became very nauseous, with no appetite, constipation & diarrhea plus the joint pain got so bad I could hardly get out of bed. I lost 13 lbs in the second month that I took it. I asked for help from 2 ERs & 2 Urgent Cares. Shands Hospital kept me over night and found that I had a serious problems with inflammation. My enzymes were way off in my heart, liver and kidney. They treated me with IV fluids and antibiotics. I QUIT the Eliquest and immediately improved. My problem remains that my joints all over are better but still aching! I blame Eliquest and I am wondering if they ever will return to normal? I am now taking physical therapy for my very painful right knee but the joint pain is also in my neck, shoulder, hip, both knees. Any suggestions?

I am the person who started this post discussion. Today I saw a physical medicine doctor/orthopedist, and was describing both muscle weakness and neuropathy as potential side effects of Eliquis that I am experiencing and concerned about, and her immediate reaction was dismissive. She said, "oh those side effects are very rare.", implying that I did not have that happening in my body. Thanks to all of you on this chat, I immediately responded, "well, I am on a chat group through the Mayo Clinic and there are other people who also have these symptoms. " She didn't say anything else. I am more angry now than I was then - just looking for relief and frustrated that there is no way to test if Eliquis is causing these effects other than stopping it.... but my cardiologist then wants me to take a different blood thinner, either Xarelto or Warfarin. From my research, Xarelto has many of the same side effects, so taking it wouldn't necessarily show that Eliquis was the cause. My potential problems with Warfarin are that many of the foods that one is recommended to not eat or eat in regulated portions are central to my diet- leafy greens, garlic, ginger, chamomile tea. I'd rather "eat my way" to thinner blood ,, but there has been little or no testing of using foods and herbs to thin the blood: turmeric, garlic, ginger, vitamin E., - so the doctors say they can't recommend a dosage. I guess I am just venting here, because I feel uncertain how I will proceed. Thanks for being here.

I had a very serious drug reaction to Eliquest. To start with my joints were aching but it was ignored by my Doctor's nurse even when I complained. In fact, she told me that joint pain was not on her list of side effects, so I continued that drug. I only took Eliquest for 2 months and it really wreaked havoc on my body. After my ablation, I became very nauseous, with no appetite, constipation & diarrhea plus the joint pain got so bad I could hardly get out of bed. I lost 13 lbs in the second month that I took it. I asked for help from 2 ERs & 2 Urgent Cares. Shands Hospital kept me over night and found that I had a serious problems with inflammation. My enzymes were way off in my heart, liver and kidney. They treated me with IV fluids and antibiotics. I QUIT the Eliquest and immediately improved. My problem remains that my joints all over are better but still aching! I blame Eliquest and I am wondering if they ever will return to normal? I am now taking physical therapy for my very painful right knee but the joint pain is also in my neck, shoulder, hip, both knees. Any suggestions?

I’ve been on Eliquis since 2022 when diagnosed with Afib. I was also put on Metoprolol. I have experienced muscle/lower extremity weakness when exercising and at times, just during daily activities (up/down stairs) for the last 2-3 years.

I have talked with my cardiologist about this and he does not believe it is related to Eliquis or Metoprolol. My first thought was Metoprolol because it slows heart rate (slower circulation to legs during exercise =weakness?) an uneducated guess? When I noticed people were posting about muscle weakness and Eliquis, I began to wonder if this was the culprit, but yet again, my cardiologist says no.

My cardiologist has suggested doing an ultrasound of my legs to look for blood clots? I don’t know if this concern would be Eliquis-related. I’m an avid exerciser and the leg weakness does slow me down. I notice while walking that while my HR is not going up very much, my legs start feeling weak and heavy. This discourages me from attempting hilly walks and hikes, which I love to do. The muscle weakness is a deterrent to my exercise program. I am not a happy sedentary person so that isn’t an option for me.