SmallCarGuy

During the 2016 race season, my doctor put me on Eliquis (anticoagulant) to address what appears to be a hereditary blood clotting issue. I was told to avoid dangerous activities, which included discontinuing my Spec Miata habit.

Two years on, I’m trying to figure out how to get back to wheel-to-wheel racing. With their emphasis on no contact and avoiding low-risk passes, I’m wondering if vintage racing with an organization like SVRA would be reasonably safe.

Hoping that a doctor and fellow racer can provide an opinion/assessment on the relative risk of wheel-to-wheel racing with a vintage organization while taking Eliquis. To the uninitiated, all auto racing is dangerous so I don’t fault my doctor for discouraging this behavior.

Please note that I am not seeking a medical diagnosis, a prescription or anything else that would constitute a medical treatment. Rather, just hopeful that a qualified medical professional and fellow racer could weigh in with their opinion …

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

misterwaterfall

Not a DR. but I say do what you want. This life is short and no one makes it out alive. I would buy the best safety gear and cage that I could, and go have fun.

cosm3os

Ultimately, the organization makes the call whether to issue the license.

Your doctor did not instruct you to find a class with less contact, he instructed you to avoid activities that have the potential (frequent or not) to cause bleeding.

Thundermoose

I have bled a lot more working on my car than driving it.

lmnsblu355

I deal with patients on blood thinners such as Eliquis regularly. When these patients come in from a motor vehicle accident, their care is significantly complicated due to the use of blood thinners. What would be a small Limited intracranial bleed can turn into a life-threatening situation. Extremity injuries that would normally be a small contusion can turn into major hematomas. Definitive care of broken bones is often delayed, waiting for the blood thinner to wear off, leading to major blood loss. Your doctor is absolutely correct in recommending that you avoid dangerous activities. The consequences can be much more severe or fatal if you are on a blood thinner. Even if you are well restrained inside a safety cage, the the abrupt deceleration can cause internal injury which would be much more severe with prolonged bleeding.

The increased risks that I mentioned above are not isolated to driving on a track. Any motor vehicle accident or even a slip-and-fall, banging your head on the sidewalk would be more severe on a blood thinner.

LuigiVampa

Well, if I needed an excuse to eat better and exercise there it is. That is a grim prognosis.

lmnsblu355

Don't get me wrong, most people on blood thinners with injuries do okay. But there is potential and unfortunately, in the world we live in, patients must be fully informed.

MarcD147

No kidding. Salad for lunch today....

linzman

Agree with the above poster. As a physician who deals with trauma, there is NO WAY IN HELL I would ever allow myself or any family member to drive on track while on Eliquis or any other blood thinners. The potential for a bad outcome if you have an incident is too high. Many of the newer blood thinners are difficult to reverse, and sudden deceleration injuries like liver lacerations or splenic ruptures are life threatening if not on blood thinners. The possibility of an intracranial bleed even with a helmet on is real. Do I need to go on? Ultimately, the decision is yours, but the consequences are real, to you and your family if you do have a significant incident.

MSR Racer

Do not race if you are on blood thinners (oral anticoagulants).

misterwaterfall

How does this impact the methods of travel? I haven't been around racing forever but it seems like I see as many serious accidents on the side of the road as I do on track

ldamelio

Trauma surgeon here; agree with the other physicians who have weighed in. Even a good smack of your helmeted head against a rollbar could kill you. While I'm new to HPDE, I'm a long-time bicycle racer and have opined on the same issue in that community - no mass start racing on anticoagulants and solo time trials are a calculated risk. Given your passion for auto racing, ask your physician about switching to another anticoagulant. There are now monoclonal reversal agents for some of the newer Xa inhibitor anticoagulants (Praxbind reverses Pradaxa). Good old Coumadin can also be more readily reversed than your Eliquis. I would still advice against racing/HPDE on anticoagulants, but using one that is more readily reversed might tilt the margin of safety slightly in your favor. Slightly is the key word. Also weigh your local medical resources - is your track near a verified trauma center (preferably level I)? Do you have dependents? Also check your life and disability insurance - just like auto, you or your family may be SOL if you are in bad shape or worse. Ultimately it's your choice.

Keadog

I have never given more blood since these new "miracle" drugs hit the market.
Agree with all (-) comments above.

Coochas

Another physician here. I don't think it makes sense to track while on Eliquis. I am not a hematologist but you could consult one to discuss what the risk would be for you to take an Eliquis 'holiday' during which time of course you would be susceptible to clots. Perhaps a hematologist could offer you a so called "bridging" solution as simple as taking aspirin or another shorter half-time anticoagulant such as LMWH while you participate in a given track event. Again I am not a hematologist so this might be terrible advice but if would certainly be worth consulting.

As I recall a few years ago there was a corvette driver who crashed in a DE or race that ended up with him having a fatal head bleed. As I recall he was on coumadin.

ProCoach

Good advice.

Yes, Road Atlanta Corvette.