Does Eliquis Make You Tired? Understanding the Fatigue Side Effect

Understanding How Eliquis Works

Eliquis (apixaban) is an anticoagulant medication used to treat and prevent dangerous blood clots. It works by blocking factor Xa, a protein involved in blood clot formation.

While Eliquis reduces the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and treats blood clots in the veins, it does come with some side effects.

One common question is: does Eliquis make you tired? Lets take a closer look at how it works and its potential fatigue side effect.

Eliquis Dosing and Duration

The typical Eliquis dose for adults is 5 mg taken orally, twice per day. The dosage may be reduced to 2.5 mg twice daily for certain patients, like those with kidney problems.

Treatment duration depends on why it was prescribed:

• Atrial fibrillation Taken long-term
• Blood clots Taken for 3-12 months
• Knee/hip surgery Taken for 10-14 days

Make sure to follow your physicians specific dosing instructions while taking Eliquis.

Mechanism of Action

Eliquis works by inhibiting factor Xa, an important clotting factor in the blood coagulation cascade. This disrupts the intrinsic and extrinsic clotting pathways, interfering with thrombin formation and clot development.

Over time, blocking factor Xa reduces risks associated with excessive clotting, like stroke and venous thromboembolism. But it also comes with an increased risk of major bleeding events.

Onset and Half-Life

After taking a dose, Eliquis reaches peak blood concentration within 1-2 hours. Effects dissipate over 24 hours.

Its elimination half-life is 8-15 hours in healthy patients. This means it takes over 1.5 days to clear Eliquis completely from your system.

These pharmacokinetic properties determine both dosing recommendations and side effect duration.

Common Eliquis Side Effects

While Eliquis treats and prevents life-threatening blood clots, it also comes with its own risk of side effects.

Some relatively common ones include:

Bleeding Problems

Excessive bleeding is the most worrisome side effect. Patients may experience nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavier menstrual periods, blood in the urine or stool, unusual bruising, and red or purple dots under the skin.

Rarely, dangerous internal bleeding can occur without visible symptoms.Seek immediate medical help for sudden headaches, chest pain, back pain, fainting, blurry vision, or trouble breathing, as these may indicate hidden internal bleeding.

Nausea and Upset Stomach

Some patients develop nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, or loss of appetite while taking Eliquis. These gastrointestinal issues tend to be mild but annoying.

Taking Eliquis with food may help reduce stomach upset. Staying hydrated and managing GI symptoms with over-the-counter medicines can relieve discomfort.

Low Red Blood Cell Count

In rare cases, Eliquis affects the bone marrows ability to produce new red blood cells. Symptoms of anemia like extreme fatigue, weakness, pale skin, or shortness of breath may indicate low red blood cell counts.

Lab testing can confirm anemia or other blood cell deficiencies while on treatment.

Does Eliquis Cause Fatigue or Make You Tired?

While extreme fatigue and weakness may signal anemia, another question patients often ask is: can Eliquis simply make you chronically tired or sleepy?

Lets analyze both sides of this issue.

Reasons Eliquis Could Cause Fatigue

There are a few reasons why patients report feeling run down while taking Eliquis:

• Blood cell suppression Suppressed red blood cell production reduces oxygen transport, potentially increasing fatigue.
• Medication adjustments Changing doses or starting new meds can temporarily worsen fatigue.
• Underlying health issues Managing atrial fibrillation, blood clots, or recent surgeries deplete energy reserves.

Reasons Eliquis May Not Cause Fatigue

However, there are also good reasons why fatigue may not be directly attributable to Eliquis:

• No sedative effects Unlike some anticoagulants, Eliquis does not cross the blood-brain barrier or have intrinsic sedative actions.
• Few patient reports Fatigue is not reported as a very common side effect in research studies or patient reviews.
• Concurrent conditions Issues like thyroid disorders, depression, insomnia, and sleep apnea also cause fatigue and co-occur with atrial fibrillation.

Overall, fatigue seems to be an inconsistent and highly variable side effect with Eliquis use.

Managing Fatigue While Taking Eliquis

Since excessive tiredness has multifactorial causes, there are many ways patients can try to boost their energy levels while on Eliquis:

• Treat underlying medical conditions
• Ensure good sleep habits
• Exercise regularly if medically appropriate
• Maintain healthy nutrition
• Schedule frequent lab testing to catch cell count changes
• Communicate with your doctor about all symptoms

Making positive lifestyle changes reduces fatigue impact even if the root cause remains unclear. But always reach out to your physician if fatigue seems excessive or persistent.

Risk Factors for Eliquis Side Effects

While anyone may experience adverse effects from Eliquis, certain patients seem particularly predisposed.

Risk factors for bleeding or other side effects include:

Older Age

Patients over 75 years face higher bleeding risks. As the body ages, the kidneys eliminate drugs more slowly. This leads to med accumulation and amplified effects.

Low Body Weight

We dose anticoagulants based on standard averages. So low body weight causes disproportionately high blood concentration. Dose adjustments help reduce risks.

Kidney Impairment

Poor kidney function impedes excretion of Eliquis from the bloodstream. Dose reductions compensate for the delayed clearance.

Drug Interactions

Many common medications interact with Eliquis, either decreasing its efficacy or increasing side effects. Concurrent prescriptions require careful evaluation.

Make sure all healthcare providers are aware of every medication and supplement to minimize negative interactions.

Low Platelet Count

A low platelet count signals dysfunctional clotting already and elevates bleeding risks with anticoagulants.

Genetic Factors

Genetic testing identifies variants in two clotting factors CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 that alter Eliquis metabolism rates. Patients with these genes need dose adjustments.

Discuss any relevant risk factors with your doctor before starting Eliquis.

The Bottom Line

Eliquis is highly effective medication for preventing blood clots and related complications. But as with all anticoagulants, it also comes with side effect risks.

The most worrisome adverse effect is excessive bleeding. And for some patients, fatigue and tiredness seem more noticeable as well.

Ultimately the risks versus benefits must be weighed carefully based on each patients unique health status and medical needs.

Staying informed about how Eliquis works and maintaining open communication with your healthcare providers gives you the best chance for an optimal treatment outcome.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.