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What Causes Shortness Of Breath After Taking Eliquis?
Question: My dad is 72 and was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
He has always been hypersensitive to medicines and can
tolerate very few. He has been on Eliquis for the last couple
of weeks and has been very short of breath. Is this a common
side effect? Would an aspirin alone be a suitable replacement if
it turns out the blood thinner is making him sick?
He has always been hypersensitive to medicines and can
tolerate very few. He has been on Eliquis for the last couple
of weeks and has been very short of breath. Is this a common
side effect? Would an aspirin alone be a suitable replacement if
it turns out the blood thinner is making him sick?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that shortness of breath isn't a common side effect of Eliquis intake. Seems that most probably, it may be related to the primary heart disease, that is atrial fibrillation with an uncontrolled ventricular rate.
You need to discuss with your doctor (cardiologist or internist) to check your hear rate and rule out/in this possibilitiy.
Besides a careful physical examination, a cardiac performance review is necessary to exclude a low left ventricular lejection fraction, an hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an important concomitant valvular dysfunction, etc. as the reason for his dyspnea.
Other extracardiac options may be responsible as well (pulmonaryh disorders, possible anemia, etc). A comprehensive differential diagnosis is necessary.
Regarding replacement of Eliquis with Aspirin, seems that is is not suitable.
I don't recommend that!
Your dad has a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 3 (history of hypertensin, is between 65 - 74 years old, and has a history of vascular disease, and probably heart failure), so the risk for atrial fibrillation stroke is considerably high. So there is need for continuing on anticoagulation therapy.
Aspirin (antiagregation) is considered insufficient to play properly this role (protect from thrombotic cardioembolism).
If any side effects of Eliqius would be confirmed, that another anticoagulant option would be a suitable alternative.
You have to discuss with your prescribing doctor about that issue.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that shortness of breath isn't a common side effect of Eliquis intake. Seems that most probably, it may be related to the primary heart disease, that is atrial fibrillation with an uncontrolled ventricular rate.
You need to discuss with your doctor (cardiologist or internist) to check your hear rate and rule out/in this possibilitiy.
Besides a careful physical examination, a cardiac performance review is necessary to exclude a low left ventricular lejection fraction, an hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an important concomitant valvular dysfunction, etc. as the reason for his dyspnea.
Other extracardiac options may be responsible as well (pulmonaryh disorders, possible anemia, etc). A comprehensive differential diagnosis is necessary.
Regarding replacement of Eliquis with Aspirin, seems that is is not suitable.
I don't recommend that!
Your dad has a CHA2DS2-VASc score of at least 3 (history of hypertensin, is between 65 - 74 years old, and has a history of vascular disease, and probably heart failure), so the risk for atrial fibrillation stroke is considerably high. So there is need for continuing on anticoagulation therapy.
Aspirin (antiagregation) is considered insufficient to play properly this role (protect from thrombotic cardioembolism).
If any side effects of Eliqius would be confirmed, that another anticoagulant option would be a suitable alternative.
You have to discuss with your prescribing doctor about that issue.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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