Clopidogrel makes me feel unwell.

Hi, had a TIA on the 7th of December, only diagnosed last Thursday (2nd ) the consultant prescribed Clopidogrel and statins I refused the statins as my cholesterol is only 4.5 and assured the doctor I would bring it down to 4 via diet, ( already reduced it from 7.6 by diet ) , he was happy about that. however I haven't felt well since taking the Clopidogrel, I think I will revert back to taking the aspirin prescribed by my GP whilst I was waiting for the hospital appointment. Any thoughts ?

[Speakeazi]

Hi That’s a lot to take in and deal with.

I have Peripheral Artery Disease diagnosed 2 years ago. My cholesterol level was 5.5- not so high as to Indicate the amount of stuff I have in my arterial system. This includes a 100% block in my femoral artery. There’s no obvious reason for my disease but I take the view that something has caused damage to my arteries and that the buildup is going to continue unless I can keep the cholesterol as low as I can. If there’s less in my bloodstream there is less to attach to my existing buildup.

So I take the statins am carefully monitored for liver damage and have no side effects.

Have you had issues with statins?

I also take the Clopidogrel with no issues.

I am more afraid of a heart attack or stroke than I am of the medication.

Whatever you decide to do, go back to your Dr before changing your medication.

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Speakeazi]

Hi Speakeazi, thank you for taking the time to respond, to answer your questions regarding statins , I've never taken them but have known people who have suffered side effects. I have felt unwell since I took the Clopidogrel ( 3 days). After my TIA I went three weeks without anything as I assumed I had a migraine ! My blood pressure is low /normal , my heart is fine , my cholesterol is under 5 , my cartoid arteries are fine . I cycle regularly ( 20 miles +) I brisk walk most days two hours. I don't take pills at all normally. Having to take the aspirin was a shock. I'm more scared of going down the drugs for everything route , I prefer to change my lifestyle/diet if possible. We consume a very low fat diet ( under 20 grams per day ) hence the reduction in our cholesterol levels. Yes I will speak to my GP on Monday, but I am loath to take the Clopidogrel tomorrow. Kindest Regards

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi Pudsey 55. Obviously it’s your call about what meds you do or don’t take.

Just for the record Statins get a bad press but side effects are over reported. In studies groups on a placebo report the same or nearly the same amount of side effects as those on the drug. And they have saved a lot of lives. I have taken statins since my heart attack (with cholesterol lower than yours and with no other risk factors) and stent with no serious side effects. I also took aspirin and Ticagrelor (which is like Clopidogrel) with no serious consequences. I’d rather not take these medicines but I recognise I have a health problem which can have serious implications. I’ve had a heart attack once and I’d rather avoid having another one.

Clopidogrel acts like a super aspirin and is an anti platelet medicine (like aspirin) that stops your blood from clotting. If you stop taking either then you’re at greater risk of another TIA.

I’m with Speakeazi and I’m more afraid of the consequences of another heart attack than possible side effects which can be reversed by changing meds or dosage. As I say though - what you do or don’t do is clearly up to you. Please do talk to your Doc before making any changes.

[Hidden in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Hi NorthantsSteve, thank you for also taking the time to respond, I will ring the GP tomorrow, first thing. My point is if aspirin was prescribed initially to get me to the hospital appointment, surely it would be suitable to hold off any further TIA 's. Just until I have had my heart monitored (48 hours ) i don't intend to take nothing . Hopefully there will come a time when I can take nothing.

I am aware that statins gets bad press, but I am also aware that doctors can sometimes be guilty of prescribing unnecessary drugs. We have three friends who stopped taking statins due to side effects and have benefited hugely , if it's due to a placebo effect then it's still benefited them ,and they have lived healthily since. (Several years )

I was diagnosed as having a TIA ( which I am not doubting ) by simply relating to the doctor the events of 20 minutes of my life on the 7th of December. There is no medical evidence as yet.

Since taking the Clopidogrel I have pains in both hips , both shoulders, amongst other things,

Regards William

[Handel in reply to Hidden]

Hi William.

I can only speak about my husband who was on Clopidogrel when he left hospital after a quad bypass in November 2018. Our GP took him off these after 2 months and he took aspirin 75mg from then on.

We're all different so I would pass on your concerns to your GP. I will say that our doc sought the cardiologists advice before taking him off Clopidogrel!!

All the very best to you and a Happy New Year! xxx

[Hidden in reply to Handel]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Handel]

Hi Handel, I noticed your post from last year regarding painless/ migraines I have just posted a similar post, I have been having ocular migraines for a couple of months , in fact that's what's made me see the GP , I assumed that what they considered a TIA was just a confusional migraine, which is similar to an ocular migraine . Strange isn't it. Makes you think they are related.

[Handel in reply to Hidden]

I know. My daughter in law had one more episode and has been tested and tested. No more occurrences for months. That's a really weird one.

All the very best to you xxx

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Hidden]

Aspirin works differently to Clopidogrel. It reduces the level of prostaglandins which then inhibits clotting. Clopidogrel blocks a receptor on the platelet which stops them from being activated and is usually preferred for those who have had strokes etc. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Thank you

[gladliz]

Would Warfain be an acceptable alternative to Clopidrogel. I have been on It for 7 years for AF, and haven't had any problems. Some time ago my GP offered me an alternative drug, one which did not require regular INR blood monitoring, can't remember the name now but had heard some bad reports at the time so declined the offer. Statins were also mentioned but like you my readings are also good in spite of the fact that I have cream on my cereal and love cheese.

[greekofile]

I had suspected TIAs a year ago now and I also initially though it was the after-effects of a migraine - even the consultant said the two are often confused. I was immediately put on 80mg Atovarstatin and Clodipogrel. My cholesterol was high (8.5) and within 4 weeks had come down to 2.9 so the statin clearly worked. However, I have experienced problems with my stomach - nausea, excess wind, diarrhoea - ever since. My GP agreed to reduce the statin to 40mg and this has helped but the symptoms persist, particularly if I drink wine or eat rich food. I do find this frustrating but I have accepted that the medication has a purpose and getting older brings potential problems! I have been offered more medication for my stomach but I'm reluctant to take more tablets so I'm trying to manage my diet instead.

[Qualipop]

There are alternatives to clopidogrel. I was the opposite, I had dreadful breathing problems on ticagrelor ( a well known problem) so swapped to clopidogrel after a heart attack so do ask your GP to change it

[Hidden]

The comments posted here confirm to me the problem with going down the prescribed drug route. Doctors follow guidelines which usually means that a patient will eventually end up with a drug regime involving taking several drugs to counteract the effects of other drugs taken to solve a particular health issue, when I picked up the original prescription for aspirin, ( I offered to buy my own aspirins )

a women was picking up a carrier bag full of various prescription drugs.

My GP wanted to prescribe me Lansoprazole I refused as its own leaflet says it's causes osteoporosis, and two friends suffer with it after long term use. I will discuss with my GP to see what can be done to prevent me having to end up with a carrier bag full of drugs.

[Hidden]

Did you ask her about the contents of her bag?

My eight weekly drug supply fills a large bag, but not one of the drugs I take is to counteract the effects of any of the others. Complex and multiple health problems need multiple drugs.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Agreed , my comments weren't meant to be a criticism, but I have several friends who are taking medicines to counteract the effects of other drugs , who have been adversely affected. One has since died, one is on her way to visit me now who has shrunk several inches due to long term use of lansoprazole which she takes to enable her to take medication for other health problems.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm lucky to have GPs who allow me to weigh up the risk of not taking things I don't want to, but it's a fine balancing act. At 64, I feel annoyed that I have to take so many tablets, but I could be choosing to shorten my life by not taking even more.....

[not2worry]

My husband started taking Clopidogrel (brand name Plavix) 20 years ago after a heart attack and 5-way bypass. We were at the Cleveland Clinic and this drug was just released. The Cardiologist explained it was a drug that coated the platelets in the blood to keep them from creating plaque on the artery walls. Think of your platelets as being Teflon coated.

My husbands symptoms at first were gas and intestinal discomfort. He wanted to stop but the Cardio Nurse suggested he continue to take and the his body would adjust to the medication and sure enough it did.

This drug does not thin the blood like aspirin, which most physicians now don’t suggest taking daily due to research that shows it creates internal bleeding that can go undetected and clopidogrel doesn’t not prevent clotting.

It’s been an excellent drug for my husband who suffered damage to his heart muscle as a result of his HA and was classified as having Congestive Heart Failure 20 years ago.

He is 85 and we have enjoyed our Second Chance tremendously, thanks to the research that was done that we had no idea we would someday benefit from.

Yours From Across The Pond

[Hidden]

Thank you

[Clop123]

It does take some time for your body to get used to Clopidogrel and many aspects can normalise after a while. But I do sympathise as I’ve been on it for 4 months now - better than it was but still unpleasant. There are alternatives so maybe see your gp and explain your discomfort. Best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to Clop123]

Thank you

[Kimberly07]

Hi pudsey be careful about refusing statins. I refused them and told doc I’d get my cholesterol down a healthy way. I lost 4 stone. Got to an ideal weight of ten and half stone, exercised regularly, gave up smoking then bang massive heart attack with cardiac arrest year later doc said damaged was already done but if I’d started statins when doc said may have been a different story. Admittedly my cholesterol was higher than yours 5.4. Since heart attack I’ve been tried on 5 different stains and have finally taking one with no side effects for me and it’s doing it’s job cholesterol now 3.2 and docs happy with that. They promised me they’d find a stain that suited me and just over a yr later every is looking good. But I was in shock when I done the right things to lower cholesterol but didn’t avoid a heart attack. Just be careful

[Hidden in reply to Kimberly07]

Ok thank you, I am waiting for blood test results and I am to have a heart monitor for 48 hours. Will see what unfolds then.

[Kimberly07 in reply to Hidden]

Wishing you good luck with your results. Take care of yourself. I was adamant I wasn’t ever going to take statins and when I first went on them I kept thinking I was so right about them with so many side effects I felt dreadful I was started on 80 mg and my cholesterol was rising again but after being on a few different ones I couldn’t believe that the one I’m on now is only 5 mg but there doing the trick with no side effects at all. I know we’re all different and what suits one doesn’t suit another. Strange how medications can effect us all differently. Good luck to u x

[Hidden in reply to Kimberly07]

Thank you

[arnieatmo]

I've had a stroke & 2 tia's, I won't take anything stroke clinic subscribed, I use natural supplements as well as the foods & spices that work just as well without filling my body with more toxins

[Hidden in reply to arnieatmo]

Hi, could you advise what food and supplements you take and what are the best foods to eat, we have been on a very low fat diet for the last two and a half years because my wife had gallstone pancreatitis in 2017 and cannot tolerate fat in her diet , we have shed 9 stone between us which has dramatically reduced our cholesterol levels . Not sure what else to do we are in our sixties now and are as fit as we've ever been. This twenty minute episode , that they are saying is a TIA has shocked us .Thank you.

[arnieatmo in reply to Hidden]

I'll try but my partner looks after me & I'm in my early 60's to, tumeric & black pepper, cayenne pepper, fish oils, olive oil with Himalayan rock salt, half an avocado each day in my very mixed coloured salad, coconut oil is used in everything (controversial), decent range of fruit & raw vegetables (baby spinach raw is good & asparagus), apple cider vinegar, plenty of fibre, whatever you drink in water - double it, chicken, grass fed butter (controversial) kerrygold is good, coconut kefir. To sum up I have home made fruit smoothie with other stuff included as mentioned in the morning, followed by chopped fruit midday & the salad with chicken or prawns for supper. Sometimes a jacket potato with beans, or brown rice with chopped veg or mixed stir fry using coconut oil. I know you're supposed to have oily fish, walnuts & almonds but I don't like too much.

Anyway, how can they say you had a TIA, with mine they were classed as 'possible' TIA's, it wasn't 'till the brain MRI that they discovered a previous stroke. I'm no doctor but I don't think they can diagnose TIA without obvious proof. I believe my TIA's were some kind of non-epileptic seizure. Still being investigated, only been a year or so now!!

[Hidden in reply to arnieatmo]

Thank you so much, I will look to make some adjustments to our diet.

And I fully agree with you about the TIA diagnosis, there is ,as yet, no medical evidence to say I've had one. Only what I told them that happened ! And they want to put me on a drug regime ! I will wait until I see some more evidence, not even had the blood results yet.

Regards

[arnieatmo in reply to Hidden]

yes they're all too keen to brush you of with drugs, good luck I wish you well.

Ps. garlic & ginger but might not have anything to do with it

[Coco51]

Daily aspirin over three years gave me an inflamed stomach - gastritis - very painful and can lead to bleeding stomach ulcers. Clopidogrel is supposed to have fewer of those effects. I did take it once but it made bruise very easily. All medication had side effects but sometimes they wear off. It's a dilemma. Good luck with your decision.

[achingarm]

I’ve been taking aspirin (coated) for the last 12 years after having an arterial stent. I was also put on Atorvastatin 10mg, even although my cholesterol was 3.6! I’ve just had another stent put in the same artery 4 weeks ago and put on Clopi. Yes, I do get bruises but I know it’s only for a short while. I take aspirin clopi, atenolol & statin and lansoprazole (just to protect my stomach) every day. I’ve had no side effects apart from the bruises but they soon go. After all I would rather do this than have further trouble. Good luck x

[Coco51 in reply to achingarm]

That is good. The lanzoprazole PPI will protect you and you may not have a sensitive stomach as I do. We are all very different.

But I was interested to hear from my doctor that the coating on the aspirin won't fully protect you because the aspirin interferes with the production of natural protection - that is prostaglandins. In Japan apparently - I have read - they prescribe a supplement called Zinc-Carnatine with aspirin. It stimulates prostaglandin production and I see from a google search that research is being carried out here on that.