clopidogrel: Hello I have to come off... - British Heart Fou...

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clopidogrel

Platypus6 profile image
16 Replies

Hello

I have to come off clopidogrel for a week as I am having a colonoscopy, has anyone else had to do this ? We’re you ok coming off this medication? Thanks 😊

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Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6
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16 Replies
Ghost-233 profile image
Ghost-233

Hi I had to come off it a week before my angiogram and I was fine no side effects whatsoever. I hope your colonoscopy goes well. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis many years ago and there is no comparison between a colonoscopy then and now so much easier nowadays but still not a pleasant procedure. Good luck with everything.

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6 in reply to Ghost-233

Thanks for replying Ghost-233 I know it’s not pleasant procedure😩Thanks

annpavitt250448 profile image
annpavitt250448

I have got to do the same. As I am on this orbita trial they were not happy about me coming off it. Managed to contact the doc who is part of running the trail and he contacted his boss who is happy for me to come off for 5 days before. Luckily the cardiothoractic centre is on the same site as hospital I was having reassessment so he came over and spoke to bowel cancer nurses. Was a bit of a shock to discover they had found traces of blood in my poo sample when I Sent back the 2 year routine testing kit.Like you not looking forward to it but hoping they find nothing sinister

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6 in reply to annpavitt250448

Thanks for replying annpavitt250448 , the same found blood, good luck with your procedure.

ScoobyDoo71 profile image
ScoobyDoo71

Hi, I am literally about to restart taking my clopidogrel. I had to stop it for a week before I had my pacemaker battery replaced and am now couple days post procedure. It’s fairly routine to need to stop antiplatelets/anticoagulants pre invasive procedures as risk of bleeding more severely will be higher with them in your system.

Like anything it’s all about balancing risk . From the stopping clopidogrel I’ve been fine 🤞🙏. Just feeling bruised and battered after battery change.

Good luck with your colonoscopy.

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6 in reply to ScoobyDoo71

Thanks for replying ScoobyDoo71😁

Mac-beats profile image
Mac-beats

Hi there, came off Clopidogrel for 10 days a few weeks ago for a small procedure on my arm.

Had no problems/effects whatsoever, I think it’s common practice when getting surgery.

All the best.

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6 in reply to Mac-beats

Thanks for replying Mac-beats 😀

Mac-beats profile image
Mac-beats in reply to Platypus6

You’re welcome Platypus, don’t worry, you’ll be absolutely fine. Have a good day.

Clerkenweller profile image
Clerkenweller

completely normal and no problems.

Enwau profile image
Enwau

I was very interested to read about this as I am having a gastroscopy in two weeks time. I have been told to come off Rivaroxaban the day before but not Clopidogrel. I am puzzled by this as I have googled it and the advice was to come off it.

As far as the Colonoscopy is concerned I was advised to stop three days before. This would make sense because I understand that a colonoscopy is more invasive than a gastroscopy. However I find the advise for Clopidogrel a bit worrying.

I hope your colonoscopy goes well . I’ve had two a year since 2018 and I can assure you that there nothing to worry about. They have been totally painless.

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6 in reply to Enwau

Hi Enwau thanks for replying! I think the prep seems worse! I would contact the hospital where you are having the procedure and ask them if you need to come off clopidogrel. 😊

Enwau profile image
Enwau

Thank you Platybus. I contacted the hospital and they said there was no need to come off Clopidogrel. However I read an interesting article from the US in the much reviled Daily Mail yesterday. It was very unsupportive of Rivaroxaban as far as the risk of bleeding was concerned, especially if you are on Clopidogrel. I have been found to have blood in my urine at the moment, which makes me even more concerned. My GP was very dismissive of any article in the Daily Mail. I will continue to ask questions. Incidentally the article in question quoted Dr Wallis Lau drug safety expert at UCL as saying that ‘Apixaban might be preferable because of a lower rate of gastrointestinal bleeding.

annpavitt250448 profile image
annpavitt250448

Have you had your colonoscopy yet. I hope it went ok. Got mine today. Prep was horrible, hoping I never have to go through it again

Platypus6 profile image
Platypus6

yes I have they removed four polyps! Otherwise all clearIt was very unpleasant, the prep was awful! Good luck let me know you get on.

Hello. Yes! I came off this med in November last year. I had the usual anxiety and worries too. I am also on apixban.

I was on clopidogrel for 18 months longer than i should have been. 2.5 years in total. They 'forgot' to take me off this drug or miscommunication between the doc and cardiologist.

Anyways i actually noticed i get LESS chest pains as i was getting quite alot in the months before this. I was getting sharp pains on the left. Random ones that would catch you off guard. It may just be a coincidence though, not sure. But other than this i didn't notice difference.

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