Hi. My husband has an angioplasty scheduled for next Friday. He asked the question as to whether he needs to cease his Apixaban prior to having it done. He was told no just to carry on taking all his medication. As he didn’t think this right he contacted his cardiologist’s secretary & she agreed. However, (I know we shouldn’t) but on googling it, it does say to stop 48 hours before.
He’s is a bit confused. Any one out there who can advise?
TIA
Your husband should have been given definitive instructions about temporarily discontinuing any current medication prior to the procedure during his pre-assessment interview by the team undertaking the procedure. But if your husband is unclear or concerned he should again contact the team and no-one else for clarification, for no one else is responsible. The medical secretary was wrong to pass an opinion in my view, he/she is not qualified to give a view on a medical matter like that, certainly any medical secretaries I have dealt with have refrained from doing so. And finally what other people on this forum may or may not have done regarding stopping medication should not be used to determine what your husband does or does not do.
Thank you for your response. He had his pre-assessment way back in May & he can’t remember what they told him. Nothing sent in writing to him. Think he needs to clarify again. He would hate to get there & be told they can’t do it. He’s been waiting for months.
Hello 
I can imagine you will be confused I would be to
I was given very clear instructions which medication I had to stop and how long before the procedure , I was also given the number to the angiogram ward if I needed to ask anything as the Nurses in there assist every day and they know everything or so I found
So if you have no jou getting hold of your Husbands Consultant if you do not have the number for the angiogram department phone the switchboard at the Hospital he is having it done at and ask to be put through and speak to someone in there they will be able to advise you which is the correct information out of the ones you have been given
Good Luck I hope you get the answer you need and I hope your Husbands angiogram goes well to x
Thank you for your response. Yes, I think he needs to contact someone again to clarify. He had his pre-assessment back in May & he can’t remember what they told him. Nothing put in writing to him.
He would hate to get there & to be told they can’t do it. He’s been waiting months.
Hello
I was given some leaflets as I went and had a look round in the angiogram department prior and the Nurses were so nice they jotted a few things down on the leaflets so I would not forget and one was when to stop a certain med I was on
I totally get that it would be devastating after waiting all this time to get there and be told he could not have it done so Monday I would personally phone the angiogram department ask if you could speak to the head Nurse on Duty or if they would phone you back or try the Consultant again even though it may be harder to get to speak personally to the Consultant
So many other procedures we have done they do send a letter out with all the information what to do and what not to do prior yet when we need one they don't and it can be so hard to remember what they say but let's hope you can get to talk to them
Let us know how you get on x
The team doing the angiogram should be aware of what meds he is on and advise him accordingly. I did not have to alter anything, but I am not on apixaban.
i have had many angiograms and will be having another soon.
I've always stopped blood thinners a few days before I'm on warfarin but I'm sure it applies whatever your on.
I agree ring cardiology and check
Call the switchboard. I’d ask for Cardiology and explain. Here, I would be connected to pre-assessment, who will advise. No need to ask a Consultant.
I will do that tomorrow - thanks for your advice 😊
i was told to carry on with mine when I had an angiogram a few months after my HA and stent .
I take many meds for heart reasons including antiplatelets and asprin (together they thin the blood somewhat), I am also type2 diabetic. Metformin was the only med I needed to cease just prior to my angiograms/procedures (have had 7 in total).
Definately best to check with cardio team before hand.
Hi,
I hope angiogram goes well. I was told to stop Nicorandil and verapamil 3 days prior but to continue with other medications.
I suggest contacting consultant before stopping anything.
With best wishes,
Trust the doctors, if you look hard enough on google you will always find something that contradict the doctors, it must be very hard now for doctors having to battle with google trained patients, in my last hospital stay the other week people were checking on google while the doctor was talking to them, we need to have faith in out medical staff, what would you have done before the internet? Google has made us question everything in life now life is a lot more stressful. I am sure the angiogram will be fine, I was panicking before mine but it’s nothing to worry about to be honest.
I had stopped my blood thinner before my angiogram for other reasons and the cardiologist went mad and had to give me a large dose before he could do it.
I had my angiogram on Friday last at Bristol Heart Institute.
A brilliant day with a brilliant team, not simply for immediate news of a positive outcome.
I scored them 99/100 - they dropped a point for no ice cream with my delicious fruit crumble - and I've asked if I can have another procedure asap 
btb, the briefing nurse advised me to stop only my rivaroxaban the day before - but please check with your local team.
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