Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation So I had written that I had some trepidation about stopping Eliquis, as I wasn't sure that Dr. Natale was on board with that idea. He did both of my ablations, and then sealed up my LAA with a Watchman, put in January 2022. I have had no Afib for almost 11 years, was on a low dose of Eliquis as an extra precaution, but wanted to get off of it to reduce the number of meds I'm taking, reduce the likelihood of a bleed, and not to worry about taking some Advil for pain or too much Omega 3's, etc. I finally reached his nurse, Maria, today. She heard my history with this, and said that as long as I had TEE's done 3 and then 6 months after the Watchman was put in (and I did), I can go off of it. He often likes to put people on aspirin every other day after that, but I will continue taking more natural things to help keep my blood "slippery" so to speak. I am a health coach and know quite a bit about supplements and cardio health in general. The one thing she said I could do is get another TEE in 6 months after stopping Eliquis, to see how everything looks (no clots, etc), so I will plan to do that just to be thorough. Both my cardiologist and PCP have been questioning why I was still taking a blood thinner when I have no Afib, and have a well seated Watchman (confirmed in the 2 TEE's) - and now I won't be. Just thought I'd share this as it's a frequent topic ~ Barb https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199014#msg-199014 Sat, 02 May 2026 11:25:41 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199051#msg-199051 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199051#msg-199051 tobherd AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:25:21 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199039#msg-199039 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199039#msg-199039
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MikeN
However, anybody know of any studies that show any benefit from a 1/2 dose?

They would have to have conducted trials to prove a 1/2 dose is effective in order to get the 1/2 dose tablet FDA approved.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:35:37 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199038#msg-199038 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199038#msg-199038
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sldabrowski
Here is a recent article:
[www.diseasefix.com]

On the other hand, there's this article:

[www.tctmd.com]

Which quotes two of the principals of the ARISTOTLE study cited by the DiseaseFix article.

I think it's a worthwhile read, the bottom line of which is to work closely with your heart docs -- cardiology and EP -- so they can help inform the particular risks and rewards applicable to you.]]> NBeener AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:10:32 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199036#msg-199036 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199036#msg-199036
2.5mg BID didn’t stop my DVT from growing to 2.5cm. As George mentioned, it doesn’t stop Dvt from growing.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:36:45 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199035#msg-199035 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199035#msg-199035 [www.diseasefix.com]]]> sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:25:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199034#msg-199034 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199034#msg-199034
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tobherd
Since Dr. Natale's office is comfortable saying I can go off of it, as is my cardiologist who surely knows all about strokes, I'm OK with it too. I'm can understand why your experience of being an EMT makes you more hesitant, Carey, but everything is a bit of a risk as we get older, in my opinion. You could have a hemorrhagic stroke from Eliquis too...
If the feeling was that just getting older means you should be on Eliquis as a precaution, then everyone over a certain age would be put on it, yes? I do know that keeping your blood sugar in check, having low inflammation, and taking things that help keep your blood from easily clotting are all helpful in preventing any cardiovascular event, and I will be sure to do that.

I think it's worth a conversation with your cardiologist, especially if you're still on Eliquis, have had successful ablation(s), a Watchman, TEE's to check for any clots, leakages, etc. and all is good.

As Carey mentioned, a stroke is worst than death. My father had 12 strokes and was a vegetable. It takes its toll on all family members.

Personally I would take the advice from Dr N and not his NP. He knows more and treats each patient individually.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:24:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199033#msg-199033 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199033#msg-199033
Anyway, I like Carey's approach of a 1/2 a dose. I guess it would make sense with a CHADS equal to one? However, anybody know of any studies that show any benefit from a 1/2 dose?]]> MikeN AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:34:02 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199032#msg-199032 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199032#msg-199032 If the feeling was that just getting older means you should be on Eliquis as a precaution, then everyone over a certain age would be put on it, yes? I do know that keeping your blood sugar in check, having low inflammation, and taking things that help keep your blood from easily clotting are all helpful in preventing any cardiovascular event, and I will be sure to do that.

I think it's worth a conversation with your cardiologist, especially if you're still on Eliquis, have had successful ablation(s), a Watchman, TEE's to check for any clots, leakages, etc. and all is good.]]> tobherd AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:30:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199025#msg-199025 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199025#msg-199025 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 04:14:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199024#msg-199024 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199024#msg-199024 tobherd AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:17:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199017#msg-199017 Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199017#msg-199017
Probably because your chads score is 1. If it was higher like 5, I speculate you might have had a different advice from his office.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:45:17 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199014#msg-199014 Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,199014,199014#msg-199014
I have had no Afib for almost 11 years, was on a low dose of Eliquis as an extra precaution, but wanted to get off of it to reduce the number of meds I'm taking, reduce the likelihood of a bleed, and not to worry about taking some Advil for pain or too much Omega 3's, etc.

I finally reached his nurse, Maria, today. She heard my history with this, and said that as long as I had TEE's done 3 and then 6 months after the Watchman was put in (and I did), I can go off of it. He often likes to put people on aspirin every other day after that, but I will continue taking more natural things to help keep my blood "slippery" so to speak. I am a health coach and know quite a bit about supplements and cardio health in general.

The one thing she said I could do is get another TEE in 6 months after stopping Eliquis, to see how everything looks (no clots, etc), so I will plan to do that just to be thorough.

Both my cardiologist and PCP have been questioning why I was still taking a blood thinner when I have no Afib, and have a well seated Watchman (confirmed in the 2 TEE's) - and now I won't be.

Just thought I'd share this as it's a frequent topic ~ Barb]]> tobherd AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:47:00 +0000