Eliquis is a blood thinner that is mainly taken by patients at high risk of heart attack or blood clots. As a result, you shouldn't stop therapy without talking to your doctor. That said, you may need to switch to replacement therapy due to an adverse reaction, or stop taking it temporarily before surgery. Whatever the reason, talk to your doctor before making any changes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Stop Taking Eliquis for Surgery
Step 1. Continue taking Eliquis until your doctor tells you to stop
Suddenly stopping therapy can cause serious health problems. For example, you may have a heart attack or thrombus, which can cause serious damage. First, always consult your doctor.
Step 2. Stop Eliquis therapy 1-2 days before surgery
In general, you need to stop taking the drug one day before almost all medical procedures, including surgery and dental visits. However, you should consult your doctor before doing this and listen to his advice. Talk to your surgeon first, but also to your doctor.
- If the surgery puts you at a high risk of bleeding, you may need to stop therapy two days earlier.
- Examples of surgeries with a high risk of bleeding include kidney biopsies and coronary artery bypasses. All operations that exceed 45 minutes also fall into this category.
- Examples of low-risk interventions include carpal tunnel repair, abdominal hysterectomy, and cholecystectomy.
Step 3. Stop Eliquis therapy earlier if you have high serum creatinine levels
If these levels exceed 1.5 milligrams / dL, you must stop taking it two days before standard-risk procedures and three days before high-risk procedures.
You can measure serum creatinine levels with a blood test. In general, the test is only necessary if you have kidney problems and in this case you are likely to have regular checkups already
Step 4. Don't switch to alternative therapy
You will usually not need any other anticoagulant medications or medical devices before surgery. However, ask your doctor if this is the right decision for you too.
Step 5. Resume Eliquis therapy after surgery
At the end of the procedure, you can start taking the drug again. However, you need to wait until the bleeding stops and the blood clots properly before doing so. Your surgeon or doctor should give you the green light.
Method 2 of 3: Adopt Alternative Therapy
Step 1. Switch to an alternative drug or device if needed
If for some reason you cannot take Eliquis, you will probably need alternative therapy. Some solutions are the warfarin drug or the Watchman device.
Step 2. Try a Watchman device if anticoagulants are not effective
This medical device is placed in your left atrial appendage, where clots have a tendency to form. It closes the area, so that thrombi cannot escape. However, since the surgery to insert it can be risky, you should continue to take anticoagulants such as Eliquis if the therapy works for you.
- Watchman is a catheter that is inserted from a vein in the leg and reaches your heart. Its effectiveness in preventing blood clots has been proven to be on par with that of warfarin.
- Usually, you will stop anticoagulation therapy for surgery, then resume it for a month and a half after catheter insertion. This period is necessary for the surgery to completely close the area from which the blood clots are released.
Step 3. Consider warfarin
It is a drug developed earlier than Eliquis, but it works well for some people. When you switch to warfarin, you will start taking it and stop taking Eliquis after the third day.
Warfarin has side effects similar to Eliquis, such as severe bleeding, urine in the blood or stool, bruising, dizziness, weakness, joint pain and vomiting in the blood
Method 3 of 3: Beware of Side Effects that May Require Discontinuation of Therapy
Step 1. Look for signs of internal bleeding
Since Eliquis is a blood thinner, one of the possible side effects is internal bleeding. For example, you may notice red or particularly dark urine, stools, or vomit, indicating blood. Likewise, if you cut yourself and the bleeding doesn't stop within ten minutes, that's a noteworthy side effect too.
- Go to the emergency room if you notice any of these symptoms.
- Other possible side effects are periods of heavy flow and bruising not caused by trauma, but they are not as serious. They don't warrant a visit to the emergency room, but you should call your doctor.
Step 2. Watch for signs of an allergic reaction
Eliquis can also cause what appears to be an allergic reaction. You may experience chest pain, dizziness, swelling in the face and tongue, or difficulty in breathing.
Call an ambulance if you experience those symptoms
Step 3. Check for heart attack symptoms
Eliquis can put you at a greater risk of heart attack, particularly if you stop taking it suddenly. Signs preceding a heart attack include difficulty speaking, facial deformities, joint weakness, dizziness, vision loss, and headache.
Call the ambulance if you experience these symptoms
Step 4. Watch out for falls that cause bumps on your head
Severe falls, especially those where you hit your head, are more dangerous if you take Eliquis. In fact, this drug increases the chances of internal bleeding. Always be on the lookout for more serious falls and go to the emergency room to be safe.
Step 5. Look out for sudden pain or swelling
This is another serious side effect of Eliquis. Notice especially the joint pains; in that case go to the emergency room.
This side effect can be caused by internal bleeding
Step 6. Ask your doctor if you need to stop therapy
If you experience any of the symptoms described above, you will probably need to stop taking Eliquis. However, you must do this under the supervision of your doctor, as stopping therapy suddenly can increase the risk of heart attacks and blood clots.
