Apixaban and Weakness: What Users Say

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 11, 2021

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "I have had 3 PEs over the last few years, the first 2 after an outpatient surgery and general anesthesia, then a 3rd small one after stopping Eliquis. I have been taking Eliquis and over time I have been experiencing increasingly terrible side effects, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, GERD, muscle weakness, joint pain, weight gain while eating less, and headaches. I am planning to go to aspirin. Has anyone gone from Eliquis to aspirin successfully? Don't want another PE but can't live with these side effects."

• RWi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "I have been on Eliquis for pulmonary embolism in both lungs. I was a healthy, active 42-year-old woman, and no reason for them. I had severe headaches, muscle weakness, and fatigue for a few weeks. I started feeling a lot better and was doing well with my usual kickboxing workout until recently. I am now experiencing fatigue and severe back pain, as well as dizziness and shortness of breath. I'm hoping I can get off of the meds in March. Anyone else experience this?"

• Kas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2019

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "I was put on Eliquis by my MD just because he liked it better than Warfarin. I was previously on Warfarin with no problems. On Eliquis, I have experienced severe muscle spasms and weakness. I am also very tired, eyes are blurry, nose bleeds, weight gain, itching, and just general malaise. I asked my doctor several times to take me off Eliquis and put me back on Warfarin. He refused. I changed doctors, got off the Eliquis, and back on Warfarin. I now feel so much better, and my muscles are getting stronger, and I have my energy back. This Eliquis is poison to me. I also will note I had no A-Fib. I never did. Listen to your body. It knows best."

• Lol...
• July 30, 2020

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "Was placed on Eliquis after a small PE. The clot was dissolved within three weeks, so while I’m grateful the Eliquis did its job, I begged my doctor to take me off it and got switched to Warfarin. Eliquis just made me feel lifeless. I had all day fatigue and weakness, feeling spacey and zoned out to the degree that it was very challenging to work at times, dizziness, heart palpitations, spells where I felt on the verge of passing out, difficulty swallowing, random weird pains in my eyes, ears, and extremities, back spasms and constant back pain, water weight gain and uncomfortable bloating and swelling, swollen feet and ankles, nausea, GI distress, stomach pains, and diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Also had liver tests come back with abnormalities while on the med. These symptoms caused my doctor to refer me to several trips to the ER."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2020

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "Had leg pain, told my Primary Care Doctor. She had the hospital take an ultrasound and they admitted me to the hospital immediately. Said I had a DVT. On heparin while in the hospital, no side effects to mention. Started Eliquis as soon as I got home. Feel like I am dead. Weak, dizzy, can't stand, off balance, my body hurts all over like I was someone's punching bag. Wicked tremors, itchy skin feeling. Head feels like it's full of cotton, hard time concentrating. And this has only been for one week!"

• Roo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2019

Apixaban "Extreme fatigue, weakness, shaky, can't walk, hard to get up out of a chair, no motivation. You are miserable every day. I have AFIB. In the ads, maybe the actor walking through the fruit orchard with much spark should actually take the drug before he does another commercial."

• Jak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2019

Apixaban for Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I can't tell how effective Eliquis was as I was only able to take it for three days before stopping. It gave me terrible stomach and intestinal issues. Also, headache, blurry vision, weakness. Doc switched me to Xarelto which gave me worse side effects. Now on Coumadin as a last resort and having stomach issues from that as well. My doctor is understanding but I am preparing for an ablation and so need to be on a blood thinner for 1 month before and 1 month after. I am so sensitive to all meds and hoping I can tough it out."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2019

Apixaban for Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I have been diagnosed with intermittent atrial fibrillation. I am 59 years old and was put on Eliquis. After a month, I have dizzy spells where I feel like I am going to faint and feel very weak. It has gotten to the point where I am scared to drive. I am also supposed to start taking Multaq, a heart pill, but I am scared due to the side effects I have read about. I am currently waiting on Multaq because I now have gallstones and will need surgery. I feel like I have no life now."

• Puc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2019

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "50 years old. Grade 3 tear to knee ligament. 2 x 13 cm blood clots in lower leg resulted in PE. 2 clots broke off into lungs. Tried Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, and currently on Warfarin. All the same side effects. Shocking joint and muscle pain at night. Wake through the night all seized up. Takes 5 mins to unseize myself and sit up. Mornings are the worst. Can't walk without crutches. Have a window of 7 hrs in the day where I'm almost normal. Still seize up if I'm sitting for an hour or so. It's been 3 months now and can't get answers from anyone. Doctor says need to be on anticoagulant for 6 months. I'm at a loss :-("

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2023

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "On March 10th, I went to the ER due to calf pain following a surgical procedure on March 3rd. I was informed I had no DVT but did have three small blood clots in my lungs. I was sent home on Xarelto. After a week, clots were gone. The doctor switched me to Eliquis 5 mg twice daily. Two weeks in, I started having horrible bloating, gastritis, horrible GERD, muscle weakness, and horrible hot flashes. I'm on a 3-month treatment. I have been told that these side effects are not from this med. I don't believe that as I've never felt like this before. I'm fatigued every day, before this, I was an active guy. Now I'm exhausted after walking up 8 stairs. I can't wait to be done with this medication. I've been to the ER several times due to severe shortness of breath, only to be told it's GERD and that I'm fine. I'm trying to make it through until June, then I'll be done."

• Sho...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 29, 2020

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "Had 3 PEs in both lungs with no DVTs diagnosed as a reaction to varicose vein surgery. Was tested for hereditary clotting factors and have 2 borderline factors. No PEs returned, but Dr. wants me on this stuff for life. Have been slowly getting more and more muscle pain and weakness all over. Thought fibromyalgia was getting worse until I stopped taking Eliquis for a few days for a medical procedure, and by day 2, felt like a new person. Informed Dr. and was told to stay on it, which I will be discussing with him next visit. The way I feel, the inactivity will kill me faster than another PE will."

• mig...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2017

Apixaban for Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "The following problems occur when taking Eliquis: First, I want to mention that I am also on Sotalol since 2008 (taken alone, no side effects) 80 mg AM and 40 mg PM. It seems as if most drugs that I try out have an effect on the Sotalol, although the register says that there is no interaction between those drugs. Besides, it runs in the family that most of us (3) have a problem with almost any drug. Eliquis: headache, restless heartbeat, perspiring, dizziness, physical instability, general weakness, and shaky legs, etc. Generally, unhappy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2020

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis, Prophylaxis "I had back surgery on March 17, 2020. I started having a lot of pain in my right calf area. I was told it was probably a blood clot due to back surgery, but the surgeon set up an ultrasound later that same day. Started Eliquis the next day, 5 mg x 2 times daily. I was on Eliquis for 3 months. After the first week, I took only one 5 mg. The blood clot had dissolved. About the second week of taking Eliquis, I developed a dark brown tongue, stomach issues, and was very weak. Still to this day, I have pain in my stomach, vomiting, and belching. I have had several doctors' visits as well as ER visits, and still to this day, I feel like crap. Next, I have to go to a gastroenterologist. The money I have spent is unreal. My advice is to stay away from this stuff."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2018

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "In September, I had a saddle pulmonary embolism-blood clots in my calves had moved to the lungs. I was put on Eliquis, and in 3 months' time, the clots in my legs had disappeared-very nice! I am wondering, however, whether Eliquis causes weakness. I was so weak today that I thought my legs were going to buckle."

• Nea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2022

For Pulmonary Embolism "Had a load of pulmonary embolism (PE) after COVID. Took apixaban after a few months, started feeling unwell, had weakness, possibly hair loss, it seems very thin. Very depressed. I now have had pain and numbness in my right arm for 4 months. All over I ache, and all of my joints hurt. My stomach is also upset. I didn’t have any of these issues before. The doctor won’t tell me what to do. I’m fed up with asking, and I tried to stop taking it. It’s like you feel things in your arms and legs and get a headache. I suspect they’re addictive. I’m grateful I’m alive, but I’m so uncomfortable. I don’t know what to do, I think I’m intolerant."

• bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2023

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I was prescribed apixaban for blood clots and possible pulmonary embolism (PE). The clots are gone, and I do not have a PE. Maybe the medicine helped, maybe it was something else. However, I experienced dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea, and being tired most of the day. Looking to ease the effects, I get told to stand slowly! Almost the entire day is spent feeling horrible. Is there really any benefit to staying on this medication for another month?"

• Pos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2025

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "I developed DVT in my left leg behind my knee three weeks ago. They immediately put me on Eliquis 10 mg twice a day first week, 5 mg twice a day continuing. The first couple of days, I broke out in a crazy rash around my neck and chest. It looked like I had been burnt, it was so red, but I could see the bumps. The next day, my legs felt so weak, almost shaky, but this past week, I walked a quarter of a mile up and back with my dog with little issue. But now today, day five, my left buttock feels like it’s on fire and this has kicked my sciatica. I suffer from severe bone disease and fibromyalgia, so that may be coming from these things, but it sure beats screaming in the middle of the night because my leg hurts so bad I can’t stand it. My cheek has to burn for a day or so. It’s still worth it, even though it hurts. I am on pain meds, so that does ease the ache a little bit. Still again, it beats screaming your head off in pain and being afraid to rub my leg at my knee area for fear of breaking the blood clot off."

• Hia...
• December 24, 2019

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis after Knee Replacement Surgery "On Eliquis and got internal bleeding after revision hip surgery. Other side effects are weakness, pains all over, itchiness, nausea."

• Ela...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2023

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "I have been taking Eliquis for a month. It makes me dizzy, sick, my arm and leg muscles feel weak. I am tired. I want to switch to aspirin."

• atr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2023

Apixaban "It did the job, but I got off of it after a 90-day course. It made my elbows and knees bruise easily, which was painful. It also made me feel weak."