Stopping Eliquis Safely
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I've been taking Eliquis for a couple months after a bout of a-fib. I'm back in sinus rhythm and am in the low risk (Cat 1) group for clots. Due to the side effects and cost, I want to stop Eliquis and take aspirin daily. But the FDA black box warning makes me scared to stop Eliquis. Is tapering the dose over time a good way to get off it safely? IS there a safe way, or is it a scare tactic to have me pay for Eliquis for the rest of my life? I'm really angry - if I'd known about the FDA warning, I'd never have agreed to take it in the first place.

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Re: darla (# 3)

Same with me. Was on Coumadin for years. But that requires constant test. Maybe you should ask about Xarelto. I’m on Eliquis. Love that there are no eating restrictions. There are other blood thinners out there that might be better. I am flag I no longer take Coumadin. I too had 4 clots. & a PE. I’m on thinners for life

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The reason for the Black Box warning is that when you go off any blood thinner it raises the change of developing blood clots. There is other danger is stopping Eliquis all at once.

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Ditto. I've been on it for years. I hate all the bruising and other side effects - and the huge cost. I want off of it too. I asked my doctor if I could reduce the dose; but no. I comb through the internet for what could happen if I go ahead but find mixed comments. They are that "you can't stop it" to go gradual to just stop.

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Re: DON (# 17)

I was just prescribed Eliquis for a inclusive test in my lung I don't like how it makes me feel I have alot of anxiety now what should I do.

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I took elequis for over two years and the side effects were gradually becoming worse! I was scared into continuing with this drug by the doctor and the pharmacist! Eventually I lowered the dose to half the quantity but the only thing that changed was less
pain in my toes. About two months ago I began talking it every other day and then I stopped it altogether. I don’t know if this was the correct way to stop it because the only advice I got was to continue. Elequis may be a wonderful drug for some people but to me it was a poison. I have now told my doctor and I hope to be prescribed aspirin! I feel so much better, it took about 6 weeks for my body to recover from elequis. I have far less joint pain, stomach pain, I sleep better, I can move more, my hair is better and my hearing is beginning to improve. I would love to know what elequis does to your body because to me it was really damaging!

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Re: darla (# 3)

I was on elequis for over 2 years. Dreadful side effects. It was when I was being put on pills to cover the side effects of the pills that I decided enough was enough! I first reduced down from 5mg twice a day to 2.5mg twice a day. The side effects didn’t improve much so I just stopped taking them. I have my life back. I had so much pain in my joints and shoulder a rash on my arm also fatigued. Very sore toes! Stomach pain and occasional bleeding. My doctor doesn’t know I have stopped them yet and I am going to now take a small dose aspirin in it’s place. I have allowed my body to heal first and get over whatever damage elequis has done to it. To me this tablet is a poison! I have Afib and still take 3.75 mg bisoprolol a day.

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Re: Jo (# 1)

Are you taking another blood thinner?

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Re: Verwon (# 2)

I don’t think changing to Coumadin (Warfarin) would be the best choice because there are a lot of dietary restrictions with them. That’s why they came out with Eliquis. Coumadin limits you with anything with Vitamin K (green leafy vegetables & others. Plus you need to have your INR checked on a constant basis. After being on Coumadin for many years due to leg clots & a PE, Eliquis was easy. I didn’t have any side effects & no more testing. If you can deal with Eliquis, I would stay that way. You would still have to discontinue if you plan any surgery or dental procedures. Hope this helps somewhat.

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My daughter is on Eliquis for blood clots in the lungs. They told her 3 to 6 mths then they look at her legs to see if her clots came from there and nothing. She was on a birth conrol know to cause clots she is now off of now if thats what caused her clots if shes not taking them anymore then no more clots should form after those ones cleared from the eliquis right?? So tell me why the vein doc says he wants her on it for 2yrs now? Is it to line their pockets because that's what its feeling like i mean 500$ for the script being she has no insurance due to shes not a minor nor has a child nor is in school she dont qualify for anything sp we cant do the 10$copay card. Anyways if she stops the meds that caused the clots why does she need on it for 2 years shes clumsy and im afraid shes going to end up bleeding eternally and cant be helped and her bleed out. Can't she just take baby asprin? Isn't that less damaging anyway?

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Re: Joyce (# 30)

I had one incident of AFib resulting from a surgery, severe dehydration, diarrhea and immobility.. dr started me on eliquis 5 mg twice a day.. after 7 days my knees were swollen and I could barely walk.. my arms and hands also hurt. I have arthritis but this was totally different from Arthritis stiffness. I cut dosage in half and took for five days then I switched to 81 mg aspirin a day. I also am taking metoprolol and anti inflammatory.

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Re: darla (# 3)

I've taken Eliquis 5mgs 2 times daily and I've been off of it 2 months. I cut the pill in half for 7 days, then just stopped it as I couldn't walk from hip & shoulder pain. I started taking 800 mgs of natural vitamin E and so far it is working. My hips are only about 20 % better. Waiting to see an Orthopedic specialist in 2 weeks.

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Greg, each condition is different. I would ask your cardiologist if you need Eliquis at all. If you made the switch from Warfarin to Eliquis you just need a blood thinner. Bayer 325 mg does this job without side effects. However, you must ask your cardiologist to be sure. Good luck.

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Re: eva2000 (# 11)

I'm 77 and cut my 5mg Eliquis in half for 3 weeks. I stopped cold turkey after that which has been 4 weeks. I also started taking 800 mg of Natural Vitamin E, 4 weeks ago. I have not had Afib for the past 3 months. My wonderful side effect is that my hip is 99% better and I am no longer in the bed. I've completed forms for the FDA on this horrible pill. I wish you good health and a quick recovery!

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Re: John (# 24)

Hi Dr (cardio) told me to take both for one day then drop Eliquis

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Re: Eva2000 (# 25)

Hi Eva,

Thanks for that fill-in. I don't suppose you still have the actual references to those studies? I have been googling apixaban rebound hypercoagulability and so far not found any actual studies showing it. Yes for warfarin, rivaroxaban and dabigatran, but not apixaban.... I'd like to find them and show my doctors. It's pretty scary that you had a thrombosis 2 months after stopping. I've heard that there can be trouble for up to 6 months, but the people were guessing and they didn't say which DOAC drug....

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Re: Diannet (# 20)

The information about hypercoagulation state after discontinuation of blood thinners comes from several clinical researches done on Eliquis and Xarelto. The mechanism of action of these both Xa inhibitors is very similar.
I talked to my hematologist about it as well. Im off Eliquis now but not without problems. About 2 months after stopping I got DVT / blood clot in calf/ and had to restart these meds. Also got genetic testing for any and every possible inherited clotting factors. I dont have any predispositions - there was no reason for that DVT other than that pesky hypercoagulation. Now I try to drink a 1/2 glass of red wine a day, incorporate 2-3 cloves of raw garlic in my food, stay hydrated and generally try to move as much as I can. Try to put this behind me but the anxiety from months ago resulted in severe chronic insomnia due to health anxietes. Wishing everybody the best of health!

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Re: greg (# 23)

I speak for anyone with this issue. NO YOU DO NOT TAKE ELIQUIS and WARFARIN at the same time or switch back and forth. Talk to your Cardiologist and follow his advice.

Please.

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Re: greg (# 19)

Can you take Eliquis along with Warfarin then drop Eliquis far a few days any answer or is ever one scare to say?

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Re: Jo (# 6)

THANK YOU so much for sharing your cold turkey experience. I'm off of Eliquis for one week now after 3 weeks of taking half doses. I am more than concerned about strokes for 10 weeks after stopping this drug. Does anyone know if your joints will ever return to normal? I may be headed for hip surgery. Thank you again, and wishing you good health.

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Re: lena (# 12)

Did you realize if you are female, over 75 and have high B/P you should be on Eliquis, according to that CHADS score? This is terrifying. I'm 77 started Afib 2 days after increasing my thyroid dose. Went back to old/previous dose, but was left with Afib. Had to leave FL to find competent doctor to change my thyroid dose completely. After 2 months on new thyroid meds I'm out of Afib now for 2 months. The Eliquis is causing horrible hip pain and now both shoulders. No doctor will take me off the Eliquis until I've been out of Afib for over 3 months. In 3 months I'll be in a wheel chair, so I halved my Eliquis for 3 weeks and stopped taking it one week ago. I'm taking Krill Oil and Natural Vitamin E 800mg. I did not know you are in danger of clotting for almost 3 months. I have completed forms for the FDA and will be counted as one of the over 110 people with joint pain from Eliquis. I hope everyone will take a minute to report their side effects. Eliquis is making billions of dollars for Big Pharma.while it inflects horrible side effects on people. My cousins husband had an Arianism while on Eliquis and died within 48 hrs.

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