Eliquis and Pain: What Users Say

• Peg...
• April 19, 2020

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "Because of an erratic heartbeat, my cardiologist put me on Eliquis 2.5mg twice a day. I have been on this med for about 4 months. Mainly, I am having pain in my feet and redness, particularly when I get up in the morning. Also, I have pain in my left ankle, together with one of my toes. I have also noticed pains in my arms and hands. I keep thinking it is arthritis. In addition, I feel out of balance when I walk, plus vision seems affected. I still function, but moderately. I also take Metoprolol, 12.5mg per day. Help... I am 81 years old."

• PRa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Pulmonary Embolism "I wound up with PE and DVT behind right knee. I was in the hospital for 72 hours and was prescribed Eliquis twice a day. I feel like I have lost me. I am in constant leg pain, my joints and lower back hurt so bad. After two weeks, my hair started falling out and I wound up with Edema. I had sudden weight gain with no diet change. I get dizzy and light-headed and fumble to speak at times. My body itches constantly. I just want off this drug!! I feel it is poisoning me and the shortness of breath and wheezing are scaring me. Please don't take this drug. I struggle every day to walk and fight through the pain."

• PRa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Pulmonary Embolism "I wound up with PE and DVT behind right knee. I was in the hospital for 72 hours and was prescribed Eliquis twice a day. I feel like I have lost me. I am in constant leg pain, my joints and lower back hurt so bad. After two weeks, my hair started falling out and I wound up with Edema. I had sudden weight gain with no diet change. I get dizzy and light-headed and fumble to speak at times. My body itches constantly. I just want off this drug!! I feel it is poisoning me and the shortness of breath and wheezing are scaring me. Please don't take this drug. I struggle every day to walk and fight through the pain."

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

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!"

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 27, 2020

For Pulmonary Embolism "22-year-old female. Got pulmonary embolism (PE) in March 2020. They were everywhere. Didn't get admitted. HORRIBLE pain. Seven months later, just got into a pulmonologist & hematologist. The reason for PE was never found. Eliquis worked for me, but I've had problems since I got PEs & started taking it. I feel something in my lung, inflammation levels are high, I have burning back, side, & tummy pain. Got my GB out for this. Was not it. Nobody can figure it out. I'm told I'm fine, & that is far from true. I don't know if it is the Eliquis or not. I've literally got the worst care possible with all of this."

• Tir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 21, 2024

"I had one episode of A-Fib and ended up on Metoprolol and Eliquis. Paperwork supplied by the pharmacy said I should watch out for blood in urine. And it did appear... turned out I had a large kidney stone and had surgery for that. Then had surgery to remove diseased parathyroid... reason for kidney stone. Expected to start feeling better, but progressively got worse. I'm a healthy 69-year-old, but standing on my feet for too long was hard. Now, I have a knee that gets so sore and stiff I can barely get in or out of my car, I have trouble standing up from sitting, and have to stand and hold on for a minute to steady myself before walking... which I can only do slowly. I can barely go up and down stairs, and my washer/dryer are in the basement. I'm tired all the time - I can sit down and fall asleep for an hour or two or three. Fatigue, depression, sore joints, sore muscles, random pains, balance, no energy. I'm actually relieved to find a reason - apparently Eliquis side effects."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2016

For Pulmonary Embolism "My experience with Eliquis was AMAZING! I had no side effects whatsoever. I switched to Eliquis from Xarelto. On Xarelto, after 3 weeks, I was in so much pain from head to toe, a deep arthritis-type of pain, and such severe, deep menstruation even though I had started menopause 6 months before starting on Xarelto. I'm so thankful for Eliquis!"

• Rai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2019

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "Yes, so far I haven't had any bleeding experiences, nor have I had any further complications from my DVT. However, my leg pain and swelling are still present, and I've had a headache the entire time. I also just feel like my body hurts and my mouth hurts quite noticeably, gums swollen, but it's kept me from dying due to pulmonary embolism. I do not like this medicine, I would rather be on warfarin or heparin because I have taken them before and didn't experience these side effects."

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2020

For Pulmonary Embolism "I was on Apixaban for a PE, and I suffered terribly with a painful, tender scalp. Finished taking them after 6 months, my scalp went back to normal. Now back on them because I’ve had another PE, and my scalp is back to really sore and tender to touch. Anyone else had this problem?"

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2020

For Pulmonary Embolism "I was on Apixaban for a PE, and I suffered terribly with a painful, tender scalp. Finished taking them after 6 months, my scalp went back to normal. Now back on them because I’ve had another PE, and my scalp is back to really sore and tender to touch. Anyone else had this problem?"

• Tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2018

For Venous Thromboembolism "I've been using Eliquis for a month now, and it is horrible. I have tremors, headache, a lot of gas, body pain, and joint pain. I take it for the prevention of DVT. If the doctor doesn't find another way to treat me, I'll just have to change doctors because Eliquis side effects are bad, and they won't change it to something else. I think the doctor gets paid extra for prescribing this medicine because he is too obsessed with giving me this garbage."

• Eli...
• July 30, 2022

For Pulmonary Embolism "I feel worse than when I was diagnosed with a PE. Awful chest pain, extreme knee, lower leg, and foot pain. Feel flushed and sweaty. Mild to moderate headaches. Weight gain of 15 pounds in 5 weeks, with water retention. Very easy to use, but not every medication is meant for everyone. 10 mg twice a day, then 5 mg twice a day. It has only been 5 weeks, and Dr. wants me on it for a lifetime. I would rather not wake up at all if this is how I have to live, which I already have canceled many activities due to the wretched way I feel from this medication. Meyers Squibb needs to be more open about reporting side effects instead of just pushing medications out on the market. FDA FOOLS!!!"

• Eli...
• July 30, 2022

For Pulmonary Embolism "I feel worse than when I was diagnosed with a PE. Awful chest pain, extreme knee, lower leg, and foot pain. Feel flushed and sweaty. Mild to moderate headaches. Weight gain of 15 pounds in 5 weeks, with water retention. Very easy to use, but not every medication is meant for everyone. 10 mg twice a day, then 5 mg twice a day. It has only been 5 weeks, and Dr. wants me on it for a lifetime. I would rather not wake up at all if this is how I have to live, which I already have canceled many activities due to the wretched way I feel from this medication. Meyers Squibb needs to be more open about reporting side effects instead of just pushing medications out on the market. FDA FOOLS!!!"

• You...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 13, 2020

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "From the second day of 5 mg every 12 hr, I could walk again. I got a clot in the popliteal vein behind the knee. I discovered this after 3 weeks of mild pain and difficulties bending the knee, and increasing swelling in the left leg. After 8 months, doctors reduced the amount to half (2.5 mg every 12 hr). Apixaban works like a miracle for me. No problems at all and the peace of mind to not have to check the blood every so often."

• Mjz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 2, 2024

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "Not sure actually that it worked except for nosebleeds and bruises, along with 10 minutes to stop any small cut from bleeding. It was prescribed because I had Afib with PVCs and benign premature ventricular contractions. Needed to take it because Afib was controlled by medication. After 8 years, I had an ablation, and now, 4 years later, still in sinus rhythm. I think it’s affecting my joints, weakening my muscles and skin negatively. I think I should stop taking it and have an Eliquis vacation to see if it is the cause of cramps, aches, and pains. 14 years I’ve been taking it. Never stopped Eliquis, but I stopped everything else to see if it was the cause."

• Joe...
• March 5, 2018

For Deep Vein Thrombosis, Prophylaxis "I had been on Warfarin for 20 years and would occasionally get clots which came up from my legs, and while painful for a day or two, the Warfarin would eat them up. I was instructed not to inform the doctor if they were just small and painful because I was therapeutic and there was nothing they could do for me at the hospital. If they were large enough, off to the catheterization lab, of course. Eliquis does not eat them up. I have had a small clot for over two weeks now, and it's not going away. Not only that, but the circulation in my left leg has been set back a decade from switching to it; my blood is nice and thin, I bleed readily enough, but Eliquis is no match for Warfarin when it comes to old growth stuff. As a preventative, I bet it works great, but it is not for my rare case."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2021

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "For me, eating snow peas, string beans, and salads... NO, NO on Eliquis. Every body is different. What works on one does not necessarily work for another. I had more leg pain. In fact, it was more difficult to walk. I stopped eating the green stuff and in a few days was able to walk better. I tried eating green vegetables again, and the pain returned. I stopped eating the green vegetables and was able to walk better. Just my experience with Eliquis and green vegetables."

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

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."

• Dav...
• October 30, 2015

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I am experiencing significant pain/aching in my lower back from this drug."