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Apixaban

Posted , 6 users are following.

ann55375
ann55375

dr has today told me that it was a mistake to put me on 2.5 twice daily,.

i am now told the therpeutic dose is 5mg twice daily.

i am very confused

anyone comment on their dosage

0 likes, 75 replies

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  • nigel0151
    nigel0151 ann55375

    Posted

    Dear All,

    This thread has caused me a degree of worry and anxiety!

    I am a 'lifer' with a history of unprovoked DVT's and PE's. My last PE was in November 2014.

    My current dose is 2.5 mg of Apixaban twice a day. No side effects but am I under coagulated on this dose?

    I made an appointment to discuss with my GP this evening and unfortunately his advice only served to cause me more worry!

    He felt that I should be taking 5mg of Apixaban twice a day, due to my age (55) and weight. He appeared a bit concerned that I was taking 2.5 mg and defended this by reiterating that this was the dosage I was on when I joined his surgery as a new Patient a year ago (this is true).

    He has all of his (younger) patients on 5mg of Apixaban twice daily. He advised me to up my dosage to 5mg and prescribed accordingly.

    He advised further that his Medical Practice had not received any notification of the most appropriate therapeutic range for Apixaban changing to 5mg. Surely such information would be shared with ALL GP's and Medical Practices?

    In fact, the leaflets and advice on the Eliquis website still state that 2.5 mg is for prevention of reoccurence of clots. Confused? Me too!!

    I am attending a Conference organised by the Thrombotic Society next Friday 12th May in Liverpool and I will attempt to establish the most up to date advice on this matter!

    I will report back my findings. Watch this space!

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Thank you so much for bringing this up. I have recently been told i must double the apixaban due to new rules and that i am undercoagulated!  It wasnt me who gave this dosage out, it was them i am so angry about this that i dont even know if they know what they are doing.

      the fact that you are going to the conference soon will be most helpful.

      now to decide - do i take 2x 2.5 or 2x5 mg meantime?  I am of a mind to go back to warfarin as i feel worse on apixaban.

      look forwato your news

    • grace42110
      grace42110 nigel0151

      Posted

      Hi Nigel

      It was with great interest that I have read your post.  It is all very confusing and worrying that no one seems to be able to tell us the correct dosage. I took my 2nd clot in Dec 2016 which was unprovoked and in my leg from groin to ankle and it then went to both lungs.  I started off being prescribed 2 x 5mg Eliquis and then like you I was told I would be a lifer and in March was prescribed 2.5mg twice a day by my hematologist. I am 64 and of average weight.  Like you I have checked the Eliquis website and think this is the correct dosage.

      I will be very interested to read what you find out at the conference on the 12th May. 

    • ann55375
      ann55375 grace42110

      Posted

      Hi Grace

      we are all a bit in limbo over al this confusing information.

      i had one pe and was on warfarin but decided after discussion with gp that perhaps might like one of the newer meds so my journey with apixaban.  What did you take after your first pe?  

  • nigel0151
    nigel0151 ann55375

    Posted

    Dear All

    I face the exact same dilemma!

    Do I take the new prescribed dose of 5mg to offset the potential of being under threat of a potential new clotting episode at the current dose of 2.5 mg?

    A search of the Internet, including the NICE Website has revealed no updates on new advice to GP's about the new recommended dosage of 5 mg!

    I have decided to remain on my daily dose of 2.5 mg twice a day pending my attendance of the Conference on Friday 12th May.

    Will share whatever I find out!

    Good luck to you all!

    • grace42110
      grace42110 nigel0151

      Posted

      Thanks Nigel - Would love to attend the conference but live in Northern Ireland so look forward to hearing the outcome.  Like you I have searched the NICE Website and found nothing on updates to dosage. I would like to think if it had been amended it would be on the Eliquis Website and again I can find nothing.
    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Yes, thats what im doing.  I hope i will be ok on the 2.5mg meantime.

      What i do find confusing is that one gp gave me 2.5 and my normal gp said some time later that isnt right.   Wouldnt yoynthinkmthey wouldmphone you when they get updated information and tell you?  I wasnt quick enough to ask how or where or when she knew this.  Its all a bit smoke and mirrors and people like us take ur drs word for things.  Now we have the intermet we can double check and we find different information there, wonder if they just didnt update it.  Also the leaflet in the pack says 2.5 for continuing prophylaxis, ismthat out of date too?

      all in all i am fed up of being used as a guinea pig (not just on this drug either) and think we deserve better.  Its no use saying heres a new, better drug, oh and by the way we are still not sure about dosage.

      my theory is that there have been some instances of horror stories and they are covering their backs, i found a little information on this on an american site, but cant find it anymore.

      look forward to your thoughts and findings, its great you are able to go to the conference, hope they will answer your queries.

    • grace42110
      grace42110

      Posted

      Was at the Dr's this morning (have taken shingles) and questioned him re dosage for Eliquis.  He looked it up and informed me mine was correct at 2.5mg x 1 tablet twice daily. I am a lifer recovering from DVT in leg and clot in both lungs. I think all anyone can do is read the leaflet that comes with it. Said it would be 5mg if I had taken a stroke.  Hope this info helps.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 grace42110

      Posted

      Thanks for sharing information.

      i am exactly like you one dvt and one p.e. Yet my GP advises 5mg twice daily. I have not had a stroke.

      Somebody has got this wrong, she insists she is right!!

  • nigel0151
    nigel0151 ann55375

    Posted

    If the Medical Professionals are at loggerheads over this dosage and contradicting each other, what chance have we, the patients got? What are the potential side effects of over dosing on Apixaban? That is, increasing from 2.5mg to 5mg?

    Rest assured that I will be pushing for a definative answer to this at next week's Conference and I will share what information I receive with you all!

    Thank God for this forum! My best wishes to you all as we go forward on this journey!

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Thanks Nigel on behalf of us all.

      All i can tell you is that i feel a lot worse on the 5mg than 2.5.   It affected my sleep immediately, and the nausea was worse.

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      I have had it on this and have appt on monday with anyicoagulant clinic with a view to going back to warfarin which is a pain but at least no side effects and tried and tested over a lot longer time.  Now i know about the liver toxicity of apixaban i am less happy about it, also no antidote.  

      At least i can always return in later years if all this gets sorted out, it only takes three days to change over.

      defeated im afraid

  • nigel0151
    nigel0151 ann55375

    Posted

    Hi Ann,

    Sorry to hear of your issues with Apixaban.

    From what I hear, an antidote has been manufactured and is currenty in the final stages of testing to be granted approval.

    Can you share with the forum your knowledge of liver toxicity with Apixaban?

    I will see what I can find out next Friday.

    Good luck!

    Nigel

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Hi, i read this on a website, will try to look it up and send it to you.  Its so annoying when drs dont tell us everything.
    • nigel0151
      nigel0151 ann55375

      Posted

      Thank you Ann!

      I have never had a GP or Haematologist reference ANY of the side effects outlined on the link that you have provided.

      Like you, I am considering returning to Warfarin as Apixaban is still in it's infancy in comparison to Warfarin! Is this a straightforward process?

      I am hoping to find out a lot more information at Friday's Conference. I will, of course, share my findings! God bless everyone on this Anticoagulation journey!

    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Great you are going to conference and hope you get better answers than i have from my questions to drs. And haematologists.  They just keep saying the new pills are the best, but when you delve into truth of the people who come off them its very interesting. 

      As for going back to warfarin, drs not keen as is a hassle for them to monitor but they tell you its so much easier for you on new drugs, if they are so safe how come six monthly bloods are needed for kidneys/liver? All the evidence they give out is positive, the negative is suppressed.

      There are seemingly lawsuits in usa.

      easy to change back, just overlap a few days.

      oh how easy it would have been not to have had p.e s!

      good luck

       

    • grace42110
      grace42110 ann55375

      Posted

      Interesting what you state re the 6 month check for kidney/liver.  I had a long discussion yesterday with my GP re this and he said there was no need for it.  I told him that if I was going to be on Apixiban for life I at least wanted this check - he eventually gave in and said I could get it.  Is this yet another cut back?
    • ann55375
      ann55375 grace42110

      Posted

      I think the fact is they just dont know - these drugs are so new there isnt enough data logged on them yet.  Warfarin, much as it is old, is tried and tested.  It is really up to us as individuals to make the best decision with what we are comfortable with.   
    • ann55375
      ann55375 nigel0151

      Posted

      Hi Nigel,

      very keen to hear what you were able to ascertain from conference.

      it is so disheartening to hear on this site from so many individuals with different dosages of this drug, and different drs opinions.

      i spoke to anticoagulant specialist this week who told me that of all the newer thinners, apixaban was the gold standard for p.e.s. For those not on warfarin.

      very strange because my cousin had a pe and is on riveroxaban.

      look forward to your news.

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