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Why do Cardiologists recommend using Apixiban after an ablation?
I had a successful ablation over two years ago and have had no atrial fibrillation since that time. However, my cardiologist insists that I stay on Apixiban forever. I continue to question this, as since I have not had any atrial fibrillation are the dangers of Apixaban not more serious than not being on it. I have talked to others that I’ve had an ablation and they are not required to continue Apixaban. I have considerable inflammatory conditions and would like to take anti-inflammatories however, I’ve been advised not to because I’m on Apixiban. Has anybody else been recommended continuing this medication following a successful ablation? I’m also thinking that I could be taking more natural supplements that would thin my blood, but don’t want to risk this until I get other professional opinions.
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That’s my concern. No consideration of the long term side effects of these drugs and the other limitations they cause!!
The score is a reasonable prediction of one's risk, whether due to a comorbidity or simply due to aging, since those are strong co-factors in those who historically have more strokes. The decision to actually take a prophylactic against strokes is a decision shared between the patient and the physician assigning the risk. At some point, though, if I were a physician some of whose patients, well aged, were still taking a DOAC, I would counsel them to consider the risk of bleeding to death from something like a hip fracture, which a DOAC will exacerbate. Hip factors and heart attacks are also common among the aged, as are cancers.
I guess what I have a hard time understanding is why the continued used of anti coagulants after a successful ablation. I have not had a singlet episode of afib since my ablation 2 1/2 years ago. I was always able to feel when I was in afib and also have it monitored on my Apple Watch. Other than being 73 and a female all my other parameters are excellent.
I agree that you could probably stand to be off them....for now. It is something you can discuss with a qualified cardiologist.
I agree with you, and you are most likely correct in your assessment of big-pharma. I am 85 and am now in AF which was detected during prep for cataract surgery. I have been in AF since 27 Dec and am on Eliquis 2 times a day. Is this my 1st bout of AF? Who knows. I am asymptomatic other than the pulse rate. I may have had AF before, but until this diagnosis I have never taken anticoagulants.
The CHA2DS2-VASc score metrics are like all things that have age as a discriminator. At 74 you have a score of 0, but at 75 you are a +2. Wow, what a difference a day makes.