Thanks for reaching out! So sorry to hear about your AFib struggles!
To answer your question. If people have 2 of the 3 following situations Eliquis is dosed down to 2.5 mg twice daily (weight below 132 pounds, age of 80 or higher, and poor kidney function based on a creatinine lab test of 1.5 or higher). If you don't tolerate Eliquis talk with your EP about trying a different blood thinner (like Xarelto) with your next ablation.
Interestingly, in all of the longevity cultures we have studied as part of our book, The Longevity Plan, none of these groups of people took any supplements. There is no clear evidence yet that supplements increase longevity so I don't recommend any supplements for longevity.
Personally, I take a multivitamin, vitamin D 2000 IU/day due to low vitamin D levels, magnesium at night for sleep, muscle cramps, and to promote bowel regularity, and I take tryptophan to help me sleep +/- melatonin/theonine for the same purpose. I do take some other supplements that are purported to help with longevity or prevent cardiovascular disease (without any conclusive proof) that hopefully are helping me more than potentially harming me.
Anyone considering any type of supplement should discuss this with their healthcare provider first to see if the benefits outweigh the risks.
There are studies supporting the benefit of taking CoQ10 for people taking a statin cholesterol lowering drug.
I am 72 years old, have paroxysmal afib, and I have a question. Your book, The AFib Cure, and your podcasts and newsletters have been very helpful to me. Following your recommendations about diet and exercise, I lost weight and now weigh 108 pds. (5'1" tall). I have no co-morbidities for afib. My switch to a vegan diet has improved just about every part of me... thank you so much!
I had my first ablation on 12/30/23. I was instructed to take 5 mg of Eliquis 2x per day for three weeks before the procedure and continue after that indefinitely. The Eliquis made me VERY ill. The bloodshot eyes and frequent bruising (with lumps) went away after about a month, but a whole host of new, strange, and apparently unrelated symptoms developed until I was a complete mess, including pain so bad in my spine that I could not lean against the back of a soft couch and tendonitis so painful in my whole right arm that for days in a row I could not use my right hand, bleeding for weeks at the incision site for the implanted heart monitor, difficulty swallowing, UTI, and fatigue. One day, I thought of looking up Eliquis side effects on Drugs.com, and mine were all there. About three weeks after the ablation, I stopped taking Eliquis and all the symptoms slowly went away.
I am still having a lot of afib and my electrophysiologist signed me up for a second ablation on 3/7/24. I am happy to have the procedure, but the idea of taking Eliquis again has me shaking in my boots! I will restart it three weeks before the procedure. The doctor definitely wants me to take the 5 mg 2x per day dosage. My question is, since I am low weight, bleed easily, have no co-morbidities, and had a bad reaction to Eliquis last time, can I take a reduced dosage of it this time? Why would I need to take the same dosage as a 200+ lb. person? It just doesn't make sense to me and I am terrified of what will happen this time. Please help.
Hi Mara,
Thanks for reaching out! So sorry to hear about your AFib struggles!
To answer your question. If people have 2 of the 3 following situations Eliquis is dosed down to 2.5 mg twice daily (weight below 132 pounds, age of 80 or higher, and poor kidney function based on a creatinine lab test of 1.5 or higher). If you don't tolerate Eliquis talk with your EP about trying a different blood thinner (like Xarelto) with your next ablation.
Hope this helps!
John
Hi Glenn,
Interestingly, in all of the longevity cultures we have studied as part of our book, The Longevity Plan, none of these groups of people took any supplements. There is no clear evidence yet that supplements increase longevity so I don't recommend any supplements for longevity.
Personally, I take a multivitamin, vitamin D 2000 IU/day due to low vitamin D levels, magnesium at night for sleep, muscle cramps, and to promote bowel regularity, and I take tryptophan to help me sleep +/- melatonin/theonine for the same purpose. I do take some other supplements that are purported to help with longevity or prevent cardiovascular disease (without any conclusive proof) that hopefully are helping me more than potentially harming me.
Anyone considering any type of supplement should discuss this with their healthcare provider first to see if the benefits outweigh the risks.
There are studies supporting the benefit of taking CoQ10 for people taking a statin cholesterol lowering drug.
Hope this helps!
John
Dear Sir, for longevity what 3 supplements would you recommend? How do you feel about CoQ10 when taking statin drugs...thanks for your time!
Thank you, John. I don't qualify for the reduction in dosage. I will look into the alternative drugs.
Mara
Dear Dr. Day,
I am 72 years old, have paroxysmal afib, and I have a question. Your book, The AFib Cure, and your podcasts and newsletters have been very helpful to me. Following your recommendations about diet and exercise, I lost weight and now weigh 108 pds. (5'1" tall). I have no co-morbidities for afib. My switch to a vegan diet has improved just about every part of me... thank you so much!
I had my first ablation on 12/30/23. I was instructed to take 5 mg of Eliquis 2x per day for three weeks before the procedure and continue after that indefinitely. The Eliquis made me VERY ill. The bloodshot eyes and frequent bruising (with lumps) went away after about a month, but a whole host of new, strange, and apparently unrelated symptoms developed until I was a complete mess, including pain so bad in my spine that I could not lean against the back of a soft couch and tendonitis so painful in my whole right arm that for days in a row I could not use my right hand, bleeding for weeks at the incision site for the implanted heart monitor, difficulty swallowing, UTI, and fatigue. One day, I thought of looking up Eliquis side effects on Drugs.com, and mine were all there. About three weeks after the ablation, I stopped taking Eliquis and all the symptoms slowly went away.
I am still having a lot of afib and my electrophysiologist signed me up for a second ablation on 3/7/24. I am happy to have the procedure, but the idea of taking Eliquis again has me shaking in my boots! I will restart it three weeks before the procedure. The doctor definitely wants me to take the 5 mg 2x per day dosage. My question is, since I am low weight, bleed easily, have no co-morbidities, and had a bad reaction to Eliquis last time, can I take a reduced dosage of it this time? Why would I need to take the same dosage as a 200+ lb. person? It just doesn't make sense to me and I am terrified of what will happen this time. Please help.
Thank you,
Mara