Does anyone know...

[Sillyfroggy]

Do you come off the clopidogrel a year after your heart attack or a year after a stent?

As a very very Miss Clumsy it would be nice not to look like I’ve fought 27 wrestling bouts.

I know I’m on the aspirin forevefverrer

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Sillyfroggy

My husband took his clopidogrel for a year after his stent insertion.

However it a question for your Cardiologist or GP. Usually the Cardiologist writes in their clinic letter how long they recommend you take it for.

Here's the NICE guidelines

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/clopid...

I am on it for life and have had some spectacular bruises and the odd haematoma in some awkward places after a biopsy.

[NorthantsSteve]

The dual anti platelet is usually for a year. I felt much better when I dropped Ticagrelor. Make sure you raise this with your doc.

[Imin in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Hi.

I hope you don’t mind me asking but better in what way?

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Imin]

I bruised less, bled less and generally felt sharper. I felt that Ticagrelor (Clopidogrel equivalent) was a real drag.

[Imin in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Me too! Although not sure which of the meds I’ve been put on causing which effects! I wasn’t taking any meds before HA. It would be good if it’s the ticagrelor as 1/3 of the way into my year. I bruise like a peach and my arms and legs are covered so it puts me off going swimming but I can put up with it for another 8 months!!

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Imin]

If it’s really causing you probs you could see if you could come off it after 6 months. Research suggests that dual anti platelet doesn’t have any benefit after 6 months. Eg bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k3793

I stuck with it for 12 months and noticed a benefit when I stopped.

But stopping Ticagrelor didn’t return me to pre HA/stent world.

[Hidden in reply to NorthantsSteve]

There was a bit of confusion on the GP's side recently over which one out of the Asprin/Clopidogrel I should come off after 12 months (after I had to bring the matter up myself as the "chronic disease nurse" I saw during my "review" didn't have a clue). They decided I should come off the Asprin and stay on Clopidogrel. Now, I have been having some crazy dreams as you know so (and I know I shouldn't) I have tried just taking Asprin for a couple of weeks rather than the Clopidogrel, and to be honest I have not noticed any difference at all, apart from no bruises but then again I didn't get that many anyway. Certainly no difference generally, but I am lucky in that I am pretty much OK anyway. I am back on the Clopidogrel only tomorrow, the dreams have subsided to a degree but I am putting this down to taking my Atorvastatin in the mornings now, I still have them but they are a bit nicer......

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

My GP was the same. I had dreadful stomach pain caused by one or the other. He decided to keep me on aspirin because in his words" We know better how to deal with the side effects of aspirin". That's now causing problems; severe stomach pain and on ranitidine which is now near impossible to get but I can't take PPIs. My ranitidine brand has been changed to some yellow tablets which upset my stomach so I had to halve the dose and the stomach pain has come back. Even on just aspirin, I'm still covered in bruises.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

It was dreadful. It made me breathless, weary, depressed and I ached all over.

[Qualipop in reply to Surreychica_1]

I was teribly breathless on ticagrelor and had o be changed to clopoidogrel, in fact I stopped aking it a week before I saw my consultant and he was furious but I just couldn't bear it any longer ( The breathlessness). My GP had refused to change it. The clopi was much better but caused such bad stomach pain it was stopped after 6 months.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Qualipop]

Oh I agree. Even cleaning my teeth was a problem. It was frightening. You wonder whether you are going to have a heart attack!

[Hidden in reply to Surreychica_1]

Now you mention it, I did used to have a bit of breathlessness, only when going about normal activities though, never stopped my exercising. I have not noticed it while I have been on my self-initiated "trial" so maybe the clopi was responsible for it.

[Hidden in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Steve, did you suffer breathlessness on clopidogrel. I am in UK I know the studies on dual thinners are at best inconclusive for duration. Just had a triple bypass with just three months on Clopidogrel and low dose aspirin for life.

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Hidden]

Hi JR55. I was on Ticagrelor (was favoured for heart attack + stent when I had mine 3 years ago). I felt generally ‘groggy’ by the end but not breathless. But the meds affect each of us differently. I was glad to come off them and I did feel better.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

I totally agree. I was on that and it made me feel so ill. My cardiologist changed it for another which is a lot better but still makes me feel very tired and weary. I do hope it is only for one year.

[Sillyfroggy]

My last stent was mid July 2019. I have an appt with my lovely cardiologist in March sometime. Was just idly wondering. I don’t feel any ‘iller’ particularly on any of the drugs but was vainly thinking of the move from boots and woolly tights to bare legs

[OldHippy in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Ahh! Well if it's any help, I've been on Ticagrelor for 4 months - my bruising has been horrendous, but suddenly it's dissipated, and I seem to be relatively free of them. I can't consider going without woolly tights and boots however, until at least June, ha ha! And isn't it strange that our faces don't bruise? I'm forever hitting my forehead on the kitchen cabinet doors and the hatchback door but never get bruised. But a feather drops on my thigh and I have a vivid black 2 inch horror appear! Weird.

[Sillyfroggy]

My heart attack, and my most recent stent are different dates. Thus my question.

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Ah. I think it’s the stent as the purpose is to help the stent bed in. However, you could ask about dropping the Clopidogrel 6 months post stent as beyond 6 months doesn’t appear to have significant benefits. Not sure this change will ‘warm’ you up.

[Surreychica_1 in reply to NorthantsSteve]

That would be good!

[Shoshov in reply to Sillyfroggy]

i had a restenosis in may last year. discharge letter says clopidrogil for 12 months. had another’s stent in july and it said 6 months. repeat prescription says finish january 2020. so they’re using the 6 month from last discharge. i suppose it depends on the doctor you see. ❤️

[lips2220]

It’s a year after stents we’re fitted

[FocusRS]

Hi sillyfroggy, I got a stent put on at the end of November. My surgeon told me I will be on aspirin for life but will be finished with the clopidogrel in May. We may all be different though.

[Prada47]

Morning

This may help

cks.nice.org.uk/mi-secondar...

Regards

[Clerkenweller]

I am on it for life. During my stent procedure the surgeon discovered an aneurysm in the vein and the medication is to help prevent it ‘silting up’! Luckily apart from easy bruising I appear to have no side effects of significance after14 months.

[mikealford]

Usually 1 year after stents. But i managed only 6 months, because i bleed too much. I thought if im bleeding all the time at a drop of a hat whats going on on the inside? Spoke to cardioligist and agreed 6 months.

But its your decision, it's your body, you have a certificate to prove it.

[MountainGoat52]

I was on Clopidogrel for 12 months. This was confirmed on the prescription and in the documentation I was given when I was discharged from Papworth after my triple bypass. Hopefully you will have a similar note somewhere in the papers you were given. If not, then I would raise the matter with your GP.

[Pastime]

Some cardiologist say 6 months on both others say a year. I was on both for a year after by pass.Now only aspirin but still just as many bruises on arms,hands and legs on aspirin alone. I sometimes wonder if my blood is too thin now. GP says must continue aspirin forever

[stentlife]

hi i had one stent fitted and was told to stop taking it after a year which i have done,however i am on 75 mg asprin for life,just dont mention the side effects of statins.!!!!!good luck

[Dickydon]

The GPs’ computer systems are more advance now than they’ve ever been, but there has to be a programme written that flags up these medications on their computer screens every-time you visit him/her so they can see if this med is still required so you shouldn’t have to keep remembering to ask, as normally you go to your GP for something else but think I must ask about...

Or, is that too much to ask for our overworked, overburdened, poor little doctors and computer programmers?

[SensitiveChap]

I had a stent fitted in May 2009 (at age 58) after a coronary artery was severely blocked.

Took Clopidogrel post-op for just a few months but had to stop it when I was becoming faint, having cold sweats, turning white as a sheet and my stools were coming out black.

I believe this was an indicator of internal bleeding, and that my stomach wasn't able to deal with the medication any longer.

I'm now on the 75mg enteric-coated aspirin daily, and every now and again I get a small amount of blood in my stools. I stop the aspirin for a day or two and then am back to normal again.

I guess this sensitivity to certain drugs will vary from person to person so check with your GP.

Good luck!

[mrgrumppy]

Hiya

It's a year after stents are fitted

I had my original 3 stents done when I had my HA in April (Was due to come off Ticagrelor in April 2020) I had a further 3 stents done In November as was due to come off Ticagrelor November 2020 then I had further 3 stents in January and now won't be coming off them until next year here's hoping I don't need anymore!

[Camelliared]

Came off after 12month review after stent.

[Alison_L]

I had HA followed by stent and ticagrelor for a year, then had another angioplasty with balloon and am currently on cloppy dog for 6 months. Only I'm seeing my cardiologist on Thursday and will ask him to switch as I've just started rectal bleeding...

[Hullensian]

My husband was prescribed clopidogrel for 12 months after his stent was fitted, so it may be "normal" practice.

PS. He was actually on it for 18 months as it had been added to his "repeat" prescription and it wasn't until one of our pharmacists noticed a "note" on the bottom on a "repeat" that it was stopped! The GP suggested hubby should have noticed this; however, was apologetic when we advised he never sees his prescription as the Chemist staff pick it up each month from the surgery and when hubby goes into the Chemist's it is already made up, which is how most of the Practice's patients obtain their monthly meds. So, to anyone reading this message - might be an idea to check your prescriptions if this is how you operate.