Boxted re Clopidogrel

[Painfulleg]

I have to stop taking clopidogrel on 29/01/2022 after the 1 year period following a sucessful stent which followed a heart attack 12 /12 ago.Question, Do I just stop?

[Prada47]

Phone your Chemist or GP surgery as we don't know what else you are taking

Like are you just going to use Aspirin instead of Cloppy Dog Rel

It's always good to be getting off something though

Happy Christmas

[nellie237]

"Do I just stop?" I remember asking My GP exactly that a year after my HA/stent, and the answer was "Yes"

We get sent home with an armful of meds for life........to keep us alive, and often they forget to mention...Oh, apart from that one, which you'll need to stop in 6months or a year.

A year later when we are still alive, it's quite disconcerting to be told "Right, you have to stop taking that now"

I remember being pleased that the odd bruises stopped.

[Heather1957 in reply to nellie237]

I have been taking Clopidogrel since 2017 when I had a stroke and bypass. 7 weeks ago I had 2 stents fitted and was taken off the Clopidogrel and put on Aspirin and Brilique. My prescription states that after 12 months the Aspirin and Brilique is to stop and the Clopidogrel is to start again.

[nellie237 in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather,

You sound like you must be quite a complicated patient😞, and used to the bruises. I've got to admit I hadn't really noticed them until they stopped happening.

OHS and a stroke is quite a mountain you have climbed there.

I remember being on a trolley outside the Cath Lab, the Consultant came out to introduce himself, and confirm that he was intending to place a stent. I was quite relaxed about the whole thing (probably more than I should have been) until he said "If I can't place the stent, we'll have to open you up for bypass" At which point I thought "Whoa, you're telling me this NOW.....I've been here for 24hrs...and you choose not to mention this until NOW..........OK, now I think I would like some sedation please"🤣

[Heather1957 in reply to nellie237]

I count myself as a very lucky person, I had the stroke following the angiogram and until this happened I was just taking aspirin, I was then prescibed Clopidogrel long term, and am about 98% fully recovered. The bypass is in the LAD and TBH I think I was quite calm having that done and my angina completely disappeared. All was good until the angina re-appeared and I had an angioplasty. What shocked me was the Rotablation, as I had no warning, they just said I needed 2 stents and they needed to drill my Right artery to insert them. It is because this happened after only 4 years that my meds had to change. I don't know what the future holds but I just do as I am told.

I just thank goodness that we have advanced so much medically that we can have these procedures.

[nellie237 in reply to Heather1957]

How are you feeling now?

[Heather1957 in reply to nellie237]

No angina pain and apart from the odd twinge I'm feeling remarkably well thank you. I just hope this lasts longer than 4 years! So kind of you to ask,

[nellie237 in reply to Heather1957]

I'm very glad you are feeling better. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

[Nettekin]

Hi painfulleg. Assuming your doctor or cardiologist has given you this date, you can just stop. I had no ill effects from just stopping a year after my ha and as nellie says it was nice to lose the Technicolor skin designs! Any doubts or worries, check with your GP.

[Pitt12345]

After husbands second heart attack and then another blockage he has been told he must remain on his blood thinner for three years rather than just one. Normally it is one year which seems fine for most .

[MelB51 in reply to Pitt12345]

I have been on Clopidogrel for about 5 years now, so I am a bit perturbed. I haven’t had any consultations with any cardiac specialist for the same length of time. I might ask my GP to refer me to someone to discuss this issue with.

[Hidden in reply to MelB51]

I would definitely speak to your GP about this. The general time frame for clopidogrel is one year but obviously different conditions/patients might require more —and I’m not medically trained. Would definitely check !

[Danny462 in reply to Hidden]

Have been on clopidogrel and aspirin for three years come January but I have a Doctor's phone appointment tomorrow to discuss my meds which I booked a couple of weeks ago. I had four stent's three years ago but not seen doctor or cardiologist about my condition since

[Hidden in reply to Danny462]

Let us know how you get on. It doesn't seem right that you have had no follow up. Good luck

[Handel]

Hi Painfulleg.My hubby was taken off Clopidogrel 3 months after his quad bypass. Our GP said to just stop taking it. No effects at all!

Good luck to you.

All the best. Jan xx

[Alison_L]

Yes

[Qualipop]

Yep, that's what i did after the year was up.

[Cruise1]

My discharge letter from hospital after stents wrongly says clopidogrel for life, aspirin for one year. Raised this with consultant at checkup who corrected it. My GP still not updated repeat prescription after almost a year.