Connect
muscle weakness from blood thinners like Eliquis
I have been taking Eliquis for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation Recently, I have experienced muscle weakness in my arms and knees. Has anyone experienced this type of issue
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
Connect
@sheila64 I suffered a PE incident 2 years ago related to my lung cancer. I was gasping for air on my usual easy 20 minute morning walk. I was given Eliquis 5mg 2x daily and was reduced 4 months ago to 2.5 2x daily.
I had been exercising with weights and intervals regularly before this PE even after I had a lobectomy in 2016. After the PE and Eliquis, I noticed a decline in strength and stamina. I just can’t get past a certain level. Also, started having some muscle weaknesses and eventually back and hip pain I’ve been at PT to take care of that. I also have had Hashimotos and low thyroid most of my life and that has been controlled with meds but these last 2 years I thought it was my thyroid but Blood tests show no changes in thyroid.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had a heart attack last December and when I Was in the hospital I was given Eliquis 2.5 mg twice a day and when I was discharged, I was told to continue taking it but in February I started having issues with my legs. They started feeling very stiff When I get up and when I was walking around. At first, I thought it was because I had overdone it on that day, but the feeling never went away. I tried to tell a doctor because I thought it was a side effect from one of the medications I was on, but she tried to tell me That none of the medication’s would cause that side effect… Half the time I don’t think the doctors realize the effects of medication they prescribe and sometimes I wonder if they actually get a kick back from the company for pushing their product…
Anyway, my legs have not gotten any better if anything they’ve gotten worse, my knees are stiff. They hurt when I walk, especially when I’m going up and down stairs. I now need a cane when I go to the store or walking around my yard.. I mentioned it again to my cardiologist and she says it is probably arthritis, I don’t know maybe it could be and maybe not but I was told I should
continue on the Eliquis until at least this coming December. I honestly felt better when I first came home from the hospital and seem to have a little more energy than I have now. Everybody knows their body and what is normal and abnormal for how they feel but sometimes you just can’t tell the doctors, They don’t seem to want to listen.
Before the heart attack during the winter months, I would sometimes have stiffness in my hands, trying to make a fist, but I noticed as soon as the warm weather came, it went away, and my hand was fine, but my legs are not getting any better and I think it really makes me tired. It’s exhausting when I come home just from going grocery shopping And it’s because of my legs hurting me
walking and sometimes I’ve noticed one of my legs will actually give out a little.
I no, I’m getting older, but I’ve noticed also that I feel very weak. I have a hard time For example, tearing open a bag of chips or tearing up paper in my balance is off, I guess because of the way my legs are hurting me. Right after the heart attack, the doctor told me it could take maybe up to six months before I would start feeling back to myself. Well that’s far from true, I know the heart attack didn’t help but as I said earlier, I had more energy and strength when I first came home from the hospital, then I do now.
@ruth36 Go to Drugs.com and type in Eliquis….you will see potential side effects listed.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@ruth36 I could have written the exact same words down weak keg to opening a bag of chips!
I had blood clots and everything I’ve read said I might not get back the same strength and physical ability. I’ve read others peoples events and more than half were young people having about the same problem. One was an Olympic athlete who was not able to continue competing. Seems like we all have the effects of the “event” and as I was told it could take 2 years to improve but if I let it take over, I’m going to lose that motivation to keep physically active. I also have grilled my doctors regularly about this weakness. My oncologist mentioned that side effects listed on drugs are those experienced while in trials. Unless people have severe reactions reported to the drug company those original side effects remain the same. Anyway …
@debkuz thanks for your response, I keep telling myself when I get discouraged that there are people out there that are worse off than me… I had my primary appointment the other day and told her about my legs hurting so much and she ordered x-rays on my knees and bloodwork to see if there’s Any Inflammation.
I’m hoping it is a side effect from the medication and that once I can get off Eliquis in December, I can see a difference in my legs🙏🏻🙏🏻
But in the meantime, I know I have to keep doing what I’ve been doing as the same goes “ use it or lose it”
If it ends up to be arthritis, I don’t know What I’ll do.. I’ve tried taking Tylenol, but it doesn’t seem to help the pain. I’m afraid that I’m gonna end up not being able to walk at all.
@ruth36 don’t talk yourself into not being able to do things…keep up some kind of movement practice. Maybe there’s a cardiac rehab exercise program your doctor can get you into?
@ruth36 As debkuz says, maybe there is a cardiac rehab program in your area. I had mitral valve repair and was really quite lost about what I could or could not do. It helped me immensely. The pain in your knees could be something else, so follow up on that. There are other treatments (e.g., physical therapy, injections) that could help if it's arthritis.
Let us know how you are doing as things progress.
All the best.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@ruth36
It seems like health care has been replaced by sick care.
I am taking Eliquis 5MG to treat afib, and my ability to move decreased 60 percent. My care team has deaf ears to my issues. I wonder if the outcome from afib without this med outweighs
the misery of taking a medication that make each day dark.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@seawiz33 Reasonable question. For those early in AF, you can afford to let it run if you aren't bothered by the symptoms....if any. Many have no idea they're in AF because they feel...nothing. They learn about their condition next doctor's visit.
AF is a progressive disorder, but it, by itself, won't kill you. If left unchecked for many months, it can result in atrial enlargement, possible hypertension issues, and eventually mitral valve problems and even 'heart failure' (a horribly misleading and gloomy term still used by the medical community). But the electrical disorder called atrial fibrillation won't kill you.
So, if you can stand to live with it, being essentially free of any symptoms and anxiety or inability to sleep well, then you have several months to decide what you'd like to do about it. What you DON'T have is a reduction in the nearly six time risk over the 'average' person in terms of a risk of stroke caused by a clot issuing from the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA). That is why you're taking Eliquis. If you're prepared to accept the risks, then stop taking it...although you should probably let your cardiologist argue with you. Or, try Xarelto (rivaroxaban) if you cardiologist will agree to prescribe it. Or a baby aspirin (81mg) once a day....again, letting your cardiologist have at least some say in your decision. He/she might make a strong case to avoid aspirin.
@ruth36 Sadly, I know exactly what you are feeling! To start my afib treatment was to take coumadin bc Eliquest was $550 per month and I liked the thought of having my blood checked while on a blood thinner. Eventually, I found generic Eliquest out of Canada for $79 per month, so I started it. Fairly soon after starting it , I began having a lot more joint pain and brief vision disturbances. I told my Doctor's nurse about my painful joints. She completely dismissed my complaint by saying that side effect ISNT ON MY LIST! It angered me so I said I dont care what your list shows. At that point, I'd only taken Eliquest for one month. Then I had the ablation and it worked but 2 days after my surgery, I got extremely sick with vomiting and diarrhea. It lasted 2 days and I thought it was covid. However, a few days later, it was a repeat of vomiting and diarrhea. I started getting suspicious of the Eliquest bc I was progressively weaker, nausea, constipation, fever up to 103, shaking and a lot of pain on the right side of my body (neck, shoulder, hip & knee). Sleeping on my right side is a favorite sleeping position but that was too painful so I slept on my back. I'd feel better for a couple days but then spin right back into vomiting and joint pain. It got so bad that I didn't want to eat and when I did eat it continued to make me nauseous. I lost 13 lbs in a month! I tried to contact my EP but was told to contact my primary care doctor or go to the ER. So after 2 Urgent care visits and 2 ER visits, it was found that my heart, kidney and liver enzymes were off the charts! I was transported by ambulance from the Urgent care center to the Hospital. The hospital ran all sorts of tests and nearly all were in the abnormal ranges, so no diagnosis could be made. The hospital wanted me to stay for a third day but I told them I was quitting Eliquest and going home! Its only been 2 weeks since then but I am getting back my health. The vomiting, diarrhea and fevers stopped. It is taking time for the nausea to stop but I am getting my appetite back just now. The way and speed that I was going downhill with Eliquest, I think I would have died. Now my blood tests are slowly getting back close to normal ranges and I am able to ride my horses again. I think the Eliquest side effects were ignored. How sad is that? What would have happened to me if I had dutifully stayed on that poison? Yikes!