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change of blood thinner

Posted , 7 users are following.

linda51222
linda51222

Hi Everyone,

I have been given the go ahead to change from warfarin that has been giving me so much grief. cardilogist has said the ultimate decision will be up to my GP which one I go on, but his Arrhythnia nurse who rang me recommends Rivaroxabin (xarelto)  anyone got any thoughts on this, I was told they now have an antidote for Dabigatran (pradaxia) and I think there is another one Apixaban (eliquis) I would really appreciate your feed back.

Thank you

L.

 

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • cardiac_congo
    cardiac_congo linda51222

    Posted

    Hi Linda. Ive been on xeralto since last nov. First week i was rough - severe fatigue and feeling off, but once i got past that, its been pretty much ok. I bruise more easily and bigger but im an easy bruiser anyway! Elbows, ankles and fingers ache a bit too. As for bleeding, to be honest, any minor cuts or nicks take maybe ten minutes longer to clot, and thinking of "major" bleed issues, if its that serious, im going to be hospitalised anyway, so for me, its less hassle than constant inr tests and dosage alterations.
    • linda51222
      linda51222 cardiac_congo

      Posted

      Thanks cardiac congo,

      I am preapared and ready to have a bit of grief as I change over but I have had to go for INR every week since I started warfarin as they can't get it stable and the nurse told me today because they can't get it to go up to 2.5 it is always around 1.78 it is not doing its job.

      I never thought in my whole life I would be so chuffed at the thought of changing meds (how sad is that) but I have autoimmune disease and am intolerant of so many things and because of the warfarin have been unable to keep my immune system stable because of the restrictions that come with the warfarin.

      Thank you

      L.

    • cardiac_congo
      cardiac_congo linda51222

      Posted

      Theres another thought too - im told that come the day, there is no withdrawal period when i can eventually stop taking xeralto, and, again i believe, theres less liklihood of bleed issues once stopped. I believe that can be an issue when coming off warfarin but im sure there will be folk on here who can be more specific about that.
    • linda51222
      linda51222 cardiac_congo

      Posted

      I think you are right Cardiac, I heard if you come off warfarin and do not go another blood thinner you have to be weaned off the warfarin over several weeks

      Thanks again

      L.

  • june64137
    june64137 linda51222

    Posted

    Hi Linda I have been on Apixaban since 2014 with no problems to date Am pleased to say. No prolonged bleeding if I get a cut etc. I did do a lot of research on all three new ones and Apixaban was my drug of choice, research concluded it was as good if not better than Warfarin. Hope this is helpful.
    • linda51222
      linda51222 june64137

      Posted

      thanks June,

      I will bear that in mind when I talk to my GP, like you I like to research things so I am fully informed about my choices.

      What a great bunch of people you all are, just a pity the thing that has brought us all together is blooming AFib !!!!!!!!!!!!

      L.

  • leroy07403
    leroy07403 linda51222

    Posted

    My cardiologist suggests Xeralto. I was on Warfin, then Pradoxia, then no blood thiners after my ablation. (holding up after 4 years)
  • simon56380
    simon56380 linda51222

    Posted

    Hi Linda, 

    went on Warfarin for several weeks prior to my ablation & am very happy to be back on Apixaban. There's no antidote available for Apixaban that I'm aware of. But I do have a sister-in-law who has a PHD in pharmacology, who tells me that there is considerable effort being made by the drug companies to develop antidtotes to these 'new age' blood thinners. There may well already be antidotes available for some, but as previously stated, not aware of one for Apixaban yet (but still prefer it to Warfarin anyway).

     

    • linda51222
      linda51222 simon56380

      Posted

      Thanks Simon,

      Because of the restriction on other things with warfarin i am unable to keep my  immune syatem under control so I have the AFib symtoms and my immune system out of balance, so I am happy to go on analternative and take my chances, at least then hopefully I will only feel half as bad!!!!!!!!  I heard from our coag nurse that they have found antidote for Dabigatran.

      Thanks for your info

      L.

  • betty47298
    betty47298 linda51222

    Posted

    I was on pradaxa but changed to eliquis as I had a kidney stone and thought it may have contributed to the bleeding. several drs. told me less bleeding on eliquis ..do not know whether so ..no antidotes like warfarin which I have not been on .
  • Okapis
    Okapis linda51222

    Posted

    I would go ahead, my life was transformed! by being put on Dabigatran. Brillant! , o

    On warfarin I felt as if I part of a yoyo made of elastic  back and forward erratrically to the GP's surgery. At least the Surgery had an "INR Machine". 

    I was working at the time and getting appointments to suit was a complete and utter nightmare. 30/45 minutes there and back Grrh! 

    At the time there was no antidote but the washout period is I believe only 24 hours, which reassured me to a point

    • linda51222
      linda51222 Okapis

      Posted

      thanks Okapis,

      At the moment I am thoroughly confused cardiologist has said yes I can be given one of the alternatives to Warfarin, but he didn't write to GP his Arrhythmia nurse did, but didn't say which one or the dosage, my GP said he has to have written consent from cardiologist not  a nurse and although he can prescribe he needs the dosage from them. so I wait again. but I wont give up I have not been right since I went on warfarin, it used to be about the cost but the nurse told me they are using th NOAC's more and more which has subsequently lowered the cost, and because they cant get my INR right I am back and forth to hospital every week sinec August last year and that costs more.

      let you all know when I am successful. thanks for your help.

      L.

  • Okapis
    Okapis linda51222

    Posted

    Youre in the UK? Of course the GP can prescribe the new drugs - mine did without the intervention of any cardiologist, Maybe your Health Authority decided to curb potential additional expenditure on the part of the GPs by putting an extra barrier in place.

    I've just moved into another HA area and had some of the drugs already prescribed for me challenged, not by the GP but from whoever controls GP prescribing habits in the HA. I had to give details of when, where and who prescribed a couple of the drugs. Answer a London Teaching Hospital with significant expertise in the appropriate area...all quiet after that..

    Regional Lottery Healthcare! huh!! 

    • linda51222
      linda51222 Okapis

      Posted

      you have hit nail on the head all CCG's (HA) have their own funding policies. and ours has probably got a funding restriction on these meds. the cardiologist that agreed the change practices in a different CCG area so I guess ther in lies the problem as you say different rules for different budgets.

      Well I wont be letting go  watch this space.

      L.

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