Coming off Ticagrelor

[Rosiemycat]

I had heart attack in 2017 and had a stent inserted. In August 2021 I will have been taking Ticagrelor for 4 years without problems (only bruising at times) and also 75mg of Aspirin daily. I am really concerned as the time gets closer to stopping it, do I just stop it I’ve read people can have heart attacks after just stopping it or just reduce the number of days I take it before the deadline. I can’t seem to get a definitive answer from anyone. I wish I could stay on it I feel I am less at risk of another HA on it. I also have diabetes and NICE states it’s a good drug for someone to take whose had HA and stent fitted and has diabetes, if true what happens when it’s stopped what prevents the build up in heart that caused the first heart attack, does Aspirin alone prevent it.

I would be grateful for anyone’s advice or experience on this

[Maisie2014]

I had mine fitted February 2019 and was on 90 mg Ticagrelor and 75 mg Aspirin for 12 months. Now I’m on 60 mg Ticagrelor and 75 mg Aspirin for the rest of my life. I’m now 70.

[Rosiemycat in reply to Maisie2014]

Thank for answering Maisie, I’m 77 now and doing fine but it’s just the worry and fear of coming off Ticagrelor, for me it’s been very reassuring to take it each day but I’ve been told it will definitely be stopped in August.

I wish you good luck and health for the future.

Shirley

[jouninab1 in reply to Rosiemycat]

Hi I had a HA in 2019 & one stent fitted in the LDA. I stopped my Ticagrelor 90ml 2x a day after 12 months. But was advised to stay on aspirin (baby 85ml- 1/day)regimen for life. Am doing much better with out all the meds granted am 48 no cholesterol or high blood pressure. Sometimes the meds regimen are prescribed to heart patients even when not needed since every case is different. So ask your doctor but do listen to your body that’s the best indicator. Stay well.

[Rosiemycat in reply to jouninab1]

Thank you for answering, I think as I’ve been on Ticagrelor so long it’s hard to face coming off it, I do have other medical problems which make me more concerned but it will be stopped in August 2021 so I have to accept that.

Good luck to you for the future

Shirley

[QuadroVEINia]

Hi, I was put onto Ticagrelor 13 weeks ago (for the first time) after a quadruple heart bypass. My understanding is it is a blood thinner and used for a limited period of time post surgery, Aspirin is taken alongside it and that is the one that is most essential. Prior to my bypass, I went through several procedures having EIGHT stents inserted, each time afterwards Clopidogrel was prescribed also a blood thinner (like Ticagrelor), alongside the Aspirin, but only for a period of 12 months after each procedure. I understand it is not a good idea to stay on the specialist blood thinners long term but I am not an expert and each case is different. You should speak to your GP/Cardiologist if you have concerns. Hope that helps some. Keep safe.

[Rosiemycat in reply to QuadroVEINia]

Thank you for replying, it does seem that most people are on Ticagrelor for 12 months and are glad to come off it at that time but I seem to feel safe on it but do accept it will stop in August 2021.

Good luck in the future

Shirley

[Corriefan33]

Hi, my situation is similar to yours. I had a heart attack in 2018 and a stent fitted. Unfortunately I also have heart failure which has responded well to exercise, medication and diet. I take Ticagrelor and Aspirin since 2018. Every time I have a medication review I am terrified my GP will stop it as she made some reference to only taking it for 12 months once but has not done anything about it and it will be 3 years next Feb. I have read other posts on here where people say no side effects after stopping it but that is not the issue for me as I agree with you that there are numerous articles on the internet that say stopping it can lead to strokes, heart attacks and death. I am going to fight to stay on it. Best wishes to you.

[Rosiemycat in reply to Corriefan33]

Thank you for your words, I am due to come off Ticagrelor in 4 months time which will be 4 years since my heart attack and I’m worried and so far you are the only person who seems to share my fear of coming off it and like you I’ve read up a lot online that after a number of days of stopping it your body reverts back to how it was before the heart attack so to my mind that puts me back at risk again especially as I have diabetes.

I know I’m not going to be allowed to stay on it after August as that is the longest amount of time that NICE the medical authority suggests it should be used for-but I am going to ask for an echocardiogram before then to check on the heart before I stop the Ticagrelor, assuming that’s the best check for it.

I’m grateful for you answering as I thought I was the only one with this fear and most people can’t wait to stop taking it.

Keep well

[firstlight40]

Your cardiologist will be the expert here. I was put on 90mg ticagrelor twice daily after stents (and on aspirin for life), and I'm told that's standard for a year to protect the stents as they bed in. I now bruise very easily but in my mind that's an acceptable side effect. But if you are on aspirin and ticagrelor, surgery or dental work becomes a problem and generally needs to be postponed.

I've read that some people are prescribed ticagrelor for life but at a lower dose (60mg). Maybe you could ask for the lower dose for a while to see how you get on ?

[Rosiemycat in reply to firstlight40]

Thank you, I didn’t explain very well, I had the Ticagrelor 90mg twice a day for 1 year and Aspirin for life, I was then put on 60mg twice a day for a further 3 years which will end in August this year. My concern is not that I think the stent hasn’t bedded in certainly after all this time but that Ticagrelor thins the blood and stops blood forming clots blocking heart vessels and I’m not sure Aspirin alone can work that well for the future.

Best wishes

[Lizbeth61 in reply to Rosiemycat]

Hi there. I know its been two years since you posted but just wondering if you eventually came off Ticagrelor? Im in the same position been on it 2.5 years but due to come off it. The bruising has got so bad the cardiologist advised me to stop it now but continue with the aspirin and statins. Im really nervous but hoping I will be protected enough with the aspirin and statins

[Rosiemycat in reply to Lizbeth61]

I understand exactly how you feel I was actually on Ticagrelor for 4 years and like you I had noticeable bruising but not bad enough to warrant coming off the drug. Like you I felt safe on the drug and protected from further heart problems rightly or wrongly and dreaded stopping it and now 2 years later after stopping it I’m fine I take Aspirin 75 mg daily -Statin Atorvastin 80mg daily - Bisoprolol Fumarate 1.25 mg daily and other blood pressure pills. I hope this helps reassure you.

Let me know how you get on.

[Lizbeth61 in reply to Rosiemycat]

Thanks so much for your reply. And yes its helped reassure me that you are ok 2 years down the line. Im not on blood pressure meds as my blood pressure is very low weirdly. Good luck and keep well x