Apixaban and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• dk9...
• April 3, 2020

Apixaban for Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "I have A-Fib and had a pacemaker installed in December 2019. At that time, my doctor had told me that as soon as I am healed from the pacemaker procedure, he wanted to do an ablation for the A-Fib. About 1 month and a half ago, he prescribed Eliquis for my procedure that was supposed to be April 9th but has been canceled due to the COVID-19 issues. I have gained about 15-20 lbs since I started taking it. I am fatigued, my joints ache and hurt all the time, and I am having problems having regular bowel movements. I thought I was losing my mind to begin with until I looked at some of these reviews and saw others who were having the same kinds of issues. I am still on it and don't have any idea when I might be able to have the procedure and get off of it. I asked the nurse if the weight gain or constipation might be from Eliquis, and she said no...???? Prayers for me would be appreciated!"

• 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."

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

Apixaban 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."

• Kod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2019

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis after Knee Replacement Surgery "I would like to know if anyone else on Eliquis has experienced the following while on this med. I have had a 12-pound weight gain in three months, a cough that won’t go away, gout, balance issues, and serious joint pain. Am I the only one? Are others experiencing some of the same? Every day I wake up, my weight is up two more pounds. I am very tired all the time. Help, I feel like I am going nuts, and the doctors think I am a hypochondriac."

• 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."

• Ore...
• March 13, 2020

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "Update from a previous comment. Switched from Xarelto to Eliquis about 12 months ago. Horrific side effects as with Xarelto. I had days where I can't remember simple basic things, difficulty remembering family members' names. Am dizzy, nauseous, osteoarthritis, joint pain, ears ringing, complete loss of vision. Penile bleeding. Strange pimples. Horrific lack of energy. Chest pains and fluttering heart, feels like a heart attack. WEIGHT GAIN... I went from 150-165 average to becoming 210. But adding weight plus the inability to exercise and strengthen the body.. any mishap fall or jump or avoidance of sudden movement and you can be SEVERELY INJURED. As I lay here with a back injury also related to NEUROPATHY from Eliquis."

• Eli...
• July 30, 2022

Apixaban 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!!!"

• RLC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2019

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "Put on Eliquis for a DVT in leg due to May Thurner Syndrome. I’ve felt really tired on it (5 mg twice a day). Also gained weight despite exercising and eating the same. Have taken it for just over four months and have developed another DVT whilst taking this as prescribed."

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2018

Apixaban "Water retention, weight gain (30 lbs), swollen ankles, rash on left leg severe, right leg not too bad. Was severely sweating after heart was out of rhythm (after 10-15 mins walking). NOW I cannot walk 20 feet without heavy breathing after taking Eliquis. Cannot sleep, and I used to sleep like a baby. Heart is good, stress test was good. Claustrophobia. Tops of my thighs are always itchy. I will bet there will be a class action lawsuit soon! Hope I still am alive to see this med taken off the market! Am 68 years old with stents and no heart attacks or strokes."

• Dvt...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2018

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "43-year-old female has to be on some type of preventative for clotting. Hematologist said this is the best on the market. I have gained over 30 pounds in 5 months. The weight is weird, I can feel my legs swelling at various times during the day and then feel the release. It scares me. Sometimes it feels like my skin is so tight it will rip if I bend my knees. My doctor states it’s better than having a clot. I’m not so sure. I feel like a guinea pig. I tell him the weight is from the medication, and he states there have been no reports of weight gain from Eliquis. Well, that’s probably because the medical community doesn’t want to report it. My pharmacist shares with me that other patients have experienced the same thing. I know it’s not just me. What is this drug doing to my body?"

• Lin...
• September 20, 2018

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "On Eliquis since Jan ‘18 for a-fib. Have terrible joint and muscle pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight gain. My doctor won’t take me off of it. I see him soon and will ask to decrease the dose to 2.5 mg twice a day. I’m a 54 y/o female. I would not recommend this drug to anyone!!"

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2019

For Pulmonary Embolism "44 yr female placed on Eliquis in January 2019 after having massive clots in both lungs. I originally started on Coumadin, but INR would never be therapeutic. I was fine up until recently. I am now very fatigued, little motivation, and gaining weight without increasing my food intake. I am also experiencing leg pain at night, which I assumed was from my sickle cell, but now I’m questioning that. I also find my heart racing without exercising. I am going to tell my doctor that I would like to come off of this! I have to advocate for myself."

• fla...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2018

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis, Prophylaxis "Water weight gain and renal failure because of the medication required to control the water retention. I gained over 50 pounds, went from a 34" waist to a 44" waist in the first year. A gout condition ensued as well. And it appears that I also got a kidney stone (not verified), which was so painful and lasted 70 days. After being off Eliquis, my weight has gradually dropped about half the weight with water retention medication been reduced."

• Aja...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2019

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "Apixaban is a great drug. Saved my life. Had acute DVT and later discovered PE in my right lung. No side effects initially for a few months. Now, however, after taking 5 mg twice a day for 6 months, my side effects are: - shortness of breath - weight gain - lack of ambition - unmotivated - low blood pressure - palpitations - depression/anxiety. Another one is that I used to have a lot of buzz from drinking coffee. Now, not so much. Even if I drink 5 cups of highly caffeinated coffee, I feel no high. Same for wine and beer. Blood pressure is low, and I use a lot of salt."

• Dia...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2021

Apixaban for Pulmonary Embolism "Aug 2020. At 55 years old, I was diagnosed with multiple PE's and was on Eliquis for 7 months. Believed to be caused by my Lo Loestrin I had been taking. Although weight gain is not listed as a major side effect, my weight did go up considerably while on Eliquis. I experienced fatigue, extreme menstrual bleeding, and blood in my urine. Also, slight side effects of water retention and small needle-like pains in my legs. My Dr. is allowing me to finally get off it, so looking forward to seeing if these things improve."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2022

Apixaban for Deep Vein Thrombosis "Been on Eliquis for about a month, and they found a blood clot in my vein leading to my ovary, which is now gone, but the side effects are horrible. I’ve been extremely tired, no energy, headaches, gaining weight, swollen ankles and legs, dizzy, can’t concentrate. Was taking 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night, which was even worse because I felt like passing out, blood pressure dropped real low, and I was really dizzy, so they cut it down to 5 mg in the morning and 5 mg at night, so side effects didn’t change much. I want off this medicine."

• Sue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2020

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I was diagnosed with a DVT while on vacation in November 2019 and subsequently discovered I have May-Thurner Syndrome. The first month on Eliquis, I felt terrible. Dizzy, fatigue, the doctor said this is the best medicine for me. These side effects did go away, however, I gained some weight and started going to WE and having a difficult time losing weight. Discouraging!"

• Hel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 8, 2023

"Have taken 5 mg twice a day for almost 8 years. I have been suffering for so long, but doctors don't listen. About 4 months ago, I started to reduce the amount I was taking as my walking or standing was so unbearable. Both legs had red patch areas that did not heal with any creams, and I've gained so much weight and feel tired. Life has become really not worth much. I now take 75 mg of aspirin, and I'm beginning to see a difference. I can't understand how any professional person could give this to anyone. If you are suffering and feel your doctor is not listening, back yourself up and find someone who will listen."

• RLC...
• November 14, 2019

For Deep Vein Thrombosis "I’m on apixaban as I suffer from May-Thurner Syndrome, which was diagnosed after a DVT. I’ve been on it for 9 months. The main side effect for me is weight gain. I’ve put on a stone in 9 months, which is crazy. Fatigue also. But I’ve rated it if it’s doing the job of no more DVTs. Just wish I could stop it. Probably on it for life."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2019

For Prevention of Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation "Weight gain on apixaban -- 12 pounds in a few months. Had kept the same weight prior to the medicine for 30 years."