Rare serious side effect of Eliquis: Muscle weakness

Posted by cmauncc1 @cmauncc1, Dec 27, 2021

In late July 2017 I was admitted for very high heart rate and Afib. Had been, and still am, on minimal meds. Hospitalist put me on Eliquis, 5mg 2X/day.

Within a month my leg muscles were weakening to the point where I could no longer play Pickleball or walk golf. Within a few weeks my Cardiologist did an ablation and inserted a loop recorder. For the next 2-1/2 years the loop recorder saw MINIMAL Afib, under 0.5%; the ablation did its job.

By November 2017 I needed a walker. By December 2017 I needed to be wheelchair pushed through an Ice Sculpture display as there was no way I could walk the 25-30 minutes of the exhibit.

When I finally got to see a Neurologist at Shands (Univ of FL, Gainesville) in July 2018, he ran an extensive battery of blood work tests but could find nothing to explain the muscle weakness.

Has anyone else encountered similar muscle effects following being prescribed Eliquis?

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@ace51

I have been off the Eliquis since March 5th and there has been significant improvement in my muscle weakness in my legs but especially in my back.
Since they discovered the severe anemia (4.8 hemoglobin) and transfused me with 2 units packed cells my lab values have somewhat improved and hemoglobin has risen to 8.0. It has maintained at that level since transfusions.
My GI specialist agrees with me that the Eliquis had been a great contributing factor in the critical and is and accompanying fatigue and muscle weakness.
I have an appointment with a hematologist on Thursday to address the severe anemia and how we will treat it.
Have you had your labs done recently?
It’s not in your mind, this drug was definitely poison for me.

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On your computer type in ‘prescription drug journal Eliquis lawsuit’. Obviously many people have had a bad reaction to this drug and obviously it has been found that the manufacturer hasn’t been totally honest with the public.
I personally have no interest in pursuing anyone legally…I just want my health back.
It’s interesting to read the article though…Big Pharma and the FDA appear to be in bed together in reality.

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@ace51

On your computer type in ‘prescription drug journal Eliquis lawsuit’. Obviously many people have had a bad reaction to this drug and obviously it has been found that the manufacturer hasn’t been totally honest with the public.
I personally have no interest in pursuing anyone legally…I just want my health back.
It’s interesting to read the article though…Big Pharma and the FDA appear to be in bed together in reality.

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I read the articles after typing in Eliquis lawsuit and found nothing referring to sides effects of Eliquis causing fatigue/muscle weakness. All the lawsuits had to due with serious bleeding and deaths as well as DVTs. Interestingly in reading the articles Eliquis supposedly has never been proven to be more effective than Warfarin which has a 50 year history. I am not saying the people here are wrong about their muscle weakness being caused by Eliquis.
What has been a listed is "Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath."

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@harveywj

I read the articles after typing in Eliquis lawsuit and found nothing referring to sides effects of Eliquis causing fatigue/muscle weakness. All the lawsuits had to due with serious bleeding and deaths as well as DVTs. Interestingly in reading the articles Eliquis supposedly has never been proven to be more effective than Warfarin which has a 50 year history. I am not saying the people here are wrong about their muscle weakness being caused by Eliquis.
What has been a listed is "Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath."

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You have to go to Prescription Drug Journal then search Eliquis Lawsuit.
If you read numerous studies it is found that Eliquis is known to cause anemia and bleeding.
Anticoagulants are a necessary evil and when needed can save a life but they can have serious side effects to be considered on a patient by patient basis. Both anemia and bleeding can cause weakness and fatigue.

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@ace51

You have to go to Prescription Drug Journal then search Eliquis Lawsuit.
If you read numerous studies it is found that Eliquis is known to cause anemia and bleeding.
Anticoagulants are a necessary evil and when needed can save a life but they can have serious side effects to be considered on a patient by patient basis. Both anemia and bleeding can cause weakness and fatigue.

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Yep My last sentence was a quote directly referencing fatigue and weakness as a result of bleeding and anemia.
"What has been a listed is "Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath."

What isn't listed is does Eliquis cause fatigue and weakness with normal blood counts and no anemia? Some people have complained of those symptoms in the first 24 hours of taking their 1st and 2nd dose.

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@harveywj

Yep My last sentence was a quote directly referencing fatigue and weakness as a result of bleeding and anemia.
"What has been a listed is "Low blood cell count can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath."

What isn't listed is does Eliquis cause fatigue and weakness with normal blood counts and no anemia? Some people have complained of those symptoms in the first 24 hours of taking their 1st and 2nd dose.

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That is exactly what I firmly believe at this point.
I was prescribed Eliquis immediately after experiencing pulmonary embolism to both lungs and was very fatigued. I attributed that fatigue to the pulmonary problem initially but ir persisted. As time went on the muscle weakness in my legs and back became more pronounced and the fatigue became unbearable. I was on Eliquis for 9 months total. Now off this medication there is a marked difference in the degree of weakness, much less and fatigue is less. The fact that my lab values have also improved make it appear that the Eliquis is something I don’t tolerate well.
I believe others may experience similar effects with or without anemia.

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Did the muscle weakness in your legs resolve after stopping the Eliquis?

I have weakness and pain in my L leg after taking Eliquis for a short time. When I made the connection, the pain was so severe. It’s been weeks since I took it and my leg is not any better and my spine pain is still much worse than usual. I have spinal stenosis so I always have a bit of pain in my spine but I have never experienced pain down my legs before. My R leg was hurting too but it has gotten better. My PCP is sending me for a Doppler of my L leg to rule out a DVT.

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@marilyn222

Did the muscle weakness in your legs resolve after stopping the Eliquis?

I have weakness and pain in my L leg after taking Eliquis for a short time. When I made the connection, the pain was so severe. It’s been weeks since I took it and my leg is not any better and my spine pain is still much worse than usual. I have spinal stenosis so I always have a bit of pain in my spine but I have never experienced pain down my legs before. My R leg was hurting too but it has gotten better. My PCP is sending me for a Doppler of my L leg to rule out a DVT.

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Your PCP made the right call. Most importantly you need to know you don’t have any clots. Why were you put on Eliquis to begin with?
That is precisely why I was put on this drug. I developed DVT in left leg and clot broke off and traveled to my lungs after a surgery
(bilateral pulmonary emboli). I was maintained on this drug until after another surgery to prevent the same thing and was due to stop it after a 12 week window post op. Eliquis did its job and eventually my clots resolved. It just proved to be a very toxic drug for me. The side effects proved too debilitating.
I’ve been off this drug since March 5th and seen a marked improvement in my back pain and muscle weakness. I have scoliosis and have had a degree of back pain all my adult life but while on this drug it was incredibly magnified.
Please don’t stop this drug without your doctor being aware and in agreement..It is a very powerful drug.

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You have given me something to investigate. I too was put on this drug. Maybe around 2015. A slow and steady decline in muscle mass over time. I'm so weak and tired. I have a hard time getting out of a chair. I also get tired with no stamina when I'm standing or walking. I feel sympathy for you as I am also living the same nightmare.

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@crystalblue

You have given me something to investigate. I too was put on this drug. Maybe around 2015. A slow and steady decline in muscle mass over time. I'm so weak and tired. I have a hard time getting out of a chair. I also get tired with no stamina when I'm standing or walking. I feel sympathy for you as I am also living the same nightmare.

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Start by asking your doctor if he’ll run a simple blood test to be sure all your values are good. That is what gave insight into my problem. My lab values were critically low (hgb 4.8) that I required transfusions. I was immediately taken off this drug and we’re now addressing the anemia. I’ve been off this drug since March 5th and now have very little back and leg pain/weakness.

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I was prescribed Eliquis after a cardiac catheterization procedure to look at my R heart valve. It caused AFIb permanently and I was given a clean bill of health post cardiac catheter surgery only to discover that I was actually injured. I don’t blame the surgeon. I blame the Cardiologist. Turns out he’s a narcissist and he made the decision that was wrong. It not only cost me getting a new hip, it has now cost me the ability to walk! Eliquis struck again! It’s a horrible drug. How was I supposed to know? I just turned 62 and I am thinking (and very terrified), that I may have to go to live in Assisted Living. I’m scared! I am meeting with an Inventional Cardiologist to discuss whether or not I am a candidate for the Watchman I know and you know what if I’m taking a stroke that’s not normal caused by Eliquis. AND nobody believes that Eliquis caused my extreme pain. I have no life anymore. I simply needed a new hip. And now, it’s the least of my worries! I can barely walk.

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