My Medication.

[beamish21]

Hi,only just joined.It's nearly 11 months since my heart attack and I'm due to stop taking Ticagrelor.I'm feeling quite nervous about this.Has anybody felt this way or am I just being stupid.

Thanks for any advice.

[Hidden]

I'm sure many feel that way, i was looking forward to stopping, it was kind of a mini milestone, Plus 1 less tablet seemed like a result to me.

By 1 year you should be well & truly healed physically (if not mentally).

And to be honest I didn't notice any difference.

You will be fine.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

I stopped taking it in January this year. To be honest I was delighted to stop as the bruising caused by this medication was quite something. I'd frequently notice another bruise and never recalled bumping myself to cause such a bruise. Apart from the lack of bruising I didn't feel any different

I'm still on a single aspirin each day which still thins the blood to a degree, but nothing like Ticagrelor. Try not to worry, you'll be fine.

[Hidden in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

OMG i'd forgotten about the bruising, 100% agree, that was a huge bonus.

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Hidden]

How could you forget? I was counting down the days. 😧

[Hidden in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

I can't believe i forgot either, i blame all memory issues on the SCA 🤪

[Changeling43 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

The lack of bruising is one thing I’m looking forward to. I look like I’m taking a daily beating!!

[Snapdragon_purple1 in reply to Changeling43]

Likewise. Never ending

[Edwen_]

After I stopped taking Ticagrelor the only difference I noticed was when I cut myself I stopped bleeding. Apart from that just make sure you keep taking the aspirin for blood thinning.

[Rose54]

Hi

I feel the same way

I am due to stop end of May spoke to my GP on phone Friday re this

she advised to go to end of June as I have enough meds to do this and then stop .As long as I was taking my Aspirin daily thier should be no problems .

It will be nice not to be covered in bruises any more and as Hidden says on less med to take

[beamish21 in reply to Rose54]

Thanks Rose,nice to know it's not just me.Sort of anyway.

[Phil_London in reply to Rose54]

Hi,

Like so many replies, I am counting down,I am looking forward to see how few bruises I have once I stop and see if it helps with other little niggles, Tnnitus for one(does anyone else notice this with some meds?) I am interested on why the GP asked you to keep going until June was that just that you had some left or was it safe guard through Covid-19 or other issues? I 5 days to go but Chemist over issued and I have enough for about 3 more months.

[Rose54 in reply to Phil_London]

Hi

It was just that I had some left and she said it was up to me and it would do no harm .

I dont like wasting meds and as it was last day of May HA and Hospital wrote on my notes take till June it would not matter one way or another.

Maybe I will use that time to gear myself up to stopping them .

I did read that thay are using some blood thinners on COVID patients as it helps stop blood clouts in the lungs .

[Moags]

Hi I’m due to stop Ticagelor in June, which will be one year since my heart attack, I’m 59 heart attack came no warning!! I’ve recovered really well !! I was due to have a double knee replacement last January but due to ticagelor and heart attack that was cancelled so can’t wait to get off it, so I can get my knees done, but with the pandemic not sure!! When they will be done!!! I’m sure you will be fine!! Hope so anyway take care!!!!

[Scout2017]

I was super conscientious about the meds as something I could ‘do’ (along with the lifestyle changes) to stay alive. And then suddenly it didn’t matter if I stopped taking them, so yes it felt weird... For a day or so. Remind yourself you’re well clear of the major restenosis risk and enjoy taking a couple fewer pills! 😀😀

[Robbiel]

I finish taking mine this week after being prescribed them for 6 months after my heart attack in November and having 4 stents. I can’t wait for them to be finished as the bruises you get with the slightest bump and shaving without bothering if you have a little nick . The aspirin still thins the blood slightly so I look at it a a bit of a milestone and one less pill to pop. Good luck

[Squash1961]

Hi beamish21 and others on Ticagrelor.

I had my HA 9 weeks ago (2 Stents later) I think I’m recovering well, but do have a tightness in the chest a lot of the time (usually during the evening, and it goes off during exercise). The Cardiologist has said it could be a side effect of the Ticagrelor. Has anyone else had this tightness?

Thanks

[Phil_London in reply to Squash1961]

Hi, Yes I have tingles and feeling in my chest that they say is the Ticagrelor, as I dont get any with exercise and flew through my stress test, so yes your not the only one with that feeling, it's not always tightness it's mostly strange tingles, of course it scares you but I have been reassured it's not my heart

[Squash1961 in reply to Phil_London]

Thanks for that! It’s reassuring

[UncleBulgaria]

I came off Ticagrelor 5 weeks ago, 12 months after my HA and 2 stents. I was quite nervous about stopping as it had been hyped up to be a very good drug, but I have not noticed any effects of coming off it. I’d like to blame the recent weight gain on it, but somehow I think that’s my own doing in these times.

[Handel in reply to UncleBulgaria]

😀 xxxx

[HectorsDad]

I was originally booked to stay on Tricagrelor for 3 years (I had a lot of stents!) but it was stopped in January after 1. Cardiologist explained that it did the essential work in the first three months, quite important for another three months, then just insurance after that, stopping after 12 months was fine- and he wanted to reduce the amount of meds I was shovelling in due to ongoing problems).

[Redsea]

Hi, I am a year tomorrow since my heart attack and stent, I am continuing with ticagrelor at a reduced dose , down from 90mgs twice a day to 60 mgs twice a day for the next two years. I have only seen my cardiologist once which was last August discussed staying on ticagrelor longer and he thought it was a good idea. He then discharged me. I hope you discuss this with your cardiologist. Good luck.

[Anya58]

I’ve been doing the same as Redsea.. I had my HA in April 2018 with one stent.. I was on 90mgs now down to 60 after a conversation with my Cardiologist because I found out about a study in America that you could stay on the drug for 3 years.. I’ve been frightened about coming off it.. I’ve also been discharged..I’m still on 8 tablets a day 2 of which are Ticagrelor and an aspirin.

[Michalbaner]

This might be a different type of answer but perhaps you could try taking the initiative in your hands and while the medication is there and protectig you start looking into what you can change in your lifestyle?

If you look into work of Neal Barnard MD, or Den Ornish MD or Caldwel Esselstyn you see some incredible and groundbreaking cases of people completely reversing the ischemic heart disease. Their arteries have been clearing up of cholesterol buildup.

A good Nutritional Therapist or Naturopath would be able to help you out and work alongside the Medical protocol.

[Qualipop]

I was absolutely delighted to stop and get rid of the bruising. NO problems stoppping at all.

[Cathybm]

Nope, you are not alone and definitely not stupid! I am 2 and a half years post HA and being told it was a biggie and with 3 stents I only had Ticagrelor prescribed for 6 months which I am told is the norm in Scotland. I came to think of it as a security blanket and only came off it kicking and screaming about NICE and the recommendation for a year at least etc etc lol. However, I did stop it and can honestly say after the first week or so I actually felt more motivated and had more energy. I am more or less back to the levels of fitness I had before the HA and still stick to a good diet and exercise routine but it amazes me how I seem to have forgotten it happened for a lot of the time, I thought back then it would be a constant on my mind. Good luck

[beamish21 in reply to Cathybm]

That is interesting that you had more energy.Hope I do too.

[beamish21]

Thank you all for your comments and advice.It's a pity we can't look inside our bodies every day to see what's going on.I'll stop taking Ticagrelor as advised and keep on with the Aspirin.

[fergusthegreat]

Why stop taking it? 12 months after my stent I was due to stop clopidogril and continue with the aspirin.

After a discussion with my cardiologist, who assured me I was at low risk of internal bleeding, I decided to stop the aspirin and continue with the clopidogril as I believe the benefits outway the risks.

If I make it to 65 I will probably switch back to aspirin but may be it's worth having a chat with your cardiologist to see what he thinks then you can make an informed decision.