Several long time ex-Afibbers here have chosen to continue half doses of various blood thinners, 2.5 mg Eliauis twice daily being the most mentioned. Obviously a prescription is needed to source the pills so some physicians support this practice. I have asked the NP who works with Dr. Natale where I had my ablation 16 months ago for Dr. Natale's current opinion but have received no response. For a brief history, My first Natale ablation was in 2007 after what was then called lone afib and flutter. The afib came back in 2018 and I had a second Natale ablation in 2020 when he also ablated my LAA. My 6 month TEE was tight enough that I didn't need a Watchman, further NOAC's or an aspirin and I am still in NSR today. However, I am 85 years old and in otherwise good health with retular exercise of tai chi and farming. I do, however, take a baby aspirin upon recommendation of my Cardiologist who says there are a lot more people in his hospital with strokes caused by blood clots than by excessive bleeding. He thinks the one size fits all NOAC's are binary, either they work as prescribed or they don't work at all. I had no significant bleeding issues when on full dose Eliquis, a walk in the park compared to the Warfarin I had to take in the early 2000's. Certainly my CHADS score alone would have me still on the medication. I'm trying to decide what would be best for me. Does anyone know of actual published studies about the risk/benefits of half dosing NOAC's for ex-afibbers? I can't seems to find any. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185621#msg-185621 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:06:59 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185669#msg-185669 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185669#msg-185669
[pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

They comment on VKA, (warfarin), treatment as being unsuitable for patients in their trial.

They give the 2.5 mg Eliquis twice daily to selected patients and everyone else the 5 mg twice daily compared to different aspirin dosages.

I'm sure both Natale and my Cardiologist are aware of this and other related studies mentioned but I'll send the reference off to Natale's NP and my doc for hopeful thoughtful replies.]]> ggheld AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 30 May 2022 13:29:55 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185648#msg-185648 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185648#msg-185648 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 29 May 2022 16:27:27 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185621#msg-185621 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,185621,185621#msg-185621
Obviously a prescription is needed to source the pills so some physicians support this practice.

I have asked the NP who works with Dr. Natale where I had my ablation 16 months ago for Dr. Natale's current opinion but have received no response.

For a brief history, My first Natale ablation was in 2007 after what was then called lone afib and flutter. The afib came back in 2018 and I had a second Natale ablation in 2020 when he also ablated my LAA. My 6 month TEE was tight enough that I didn't need a Watchman, further NOAC's or an aspirin and I am still in NSR today. However, I am 85 years old and in otherwise good health with retular exercise of tai chi and farming. I do, however, take a baby aspirin upon recommendation of my Cardiologist who says there are a lot more people in his hospital with strokes caused by blood clots than by excessive bleeding. He thinks the one size fits all NOAC's are binary, either they work as prescribed or they don't work at all. I had no significant bleeding issues when on full dose Eliquis, a walk in the park compared to the Warfarin I had to take in the early 2000's.

Certainly my CHADS score alone would have me still on the medication. I'm trying to decide what would be best for me.

Does anyone know of actual published studies about the risk/benefits of half dosing NOAC's for ex-afibbers? I can't seems to find any.]]> ggheld AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 28 May 2022 14:06:00 +0000