Nose bleeds on clopidogrel- is that normal?

[Belka48]

Hello all,

I am hoping i can get some reassurance nd advice here.

I had a heart attack at the age of 48 last September - came from nowhere as I was considering myself very healthy and sporty.

I am now on clopidogrel and aspirin together and about 4 months in i developed nose bleeds that wont stop on their own. I get quite scared of those as with the first one i ended up in the hospital and they had to cauterise inside nostril to stop the bleed. Now i get a nose bleed once a month or so and it takes days to get it under control as it keeps re-bleeding. The doctors said it will keep happening whilst I am on clopidogrel and should settle when I am taken off it (which should be in September).

Has this been happening to anyone else and is there any advice on how to manage it without getting scared and anxious?

Any advice is highly appreciated.

Natalia

[Hidden]

Hello

I was on Tiagrelor same thing more or less both strong blood thinners as well as Aspirin

I was alright for quite a while and then the nose bleeds started and sometimes as you say it is frightening I even ended up at A&E one day as it would not stop

I ended up having my nose cauterised 3 times while I was taking both I am just on Aspirin now but at the time because the med was important to keep my blood thin I had to put up with it and I did struggle

Talk with your Doctor and see what they say but for some this can happen and I hope now you know it is not just you it will help reassure you at least

Let us know how you get on x

[Belka48 in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for your reply and I just found a related post from a month ago. I ended up in A&E yesterday for the second time but my GP is very uninterested in this - she says I will just have to manage it... he doctor in A&E mentioned it must be because of clopidogrel but I just read on the earlier post that it could be atorvastatin. So not sure now.

[Hidden in reply to Belka48]

Hello

I am sorry your Doctor is not been very supportive and just saying you will have to put up with it even though I must say I had to stop on the Ticagrelor which is very similar but usually it is a year you are on it I am not sure if they have told you how long you have to take it yourself but I have to say more than the atorvastatin I do think it will be clopidogrel that will be the culprit and I know it does make you feel so afraid I remember that time I ended up in A&E and because the blood was coming faster than I got mop it up by the time I got there they thought I had been in an accident !

But if this is the cause as suspected please try and not get over anxious over it nothing bad is happening even though awful to keep putting up with x

[Belka48 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much, BeKind, this really helps. I get really anxious with those bleeds and because of a very scary fist experience, every small nosebleed drives me into a panic and i end up with sky high blood pressure which then makes the bleeding worse. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day on the south coast and I spent in A&E and when I was sent home I still had two more re-bleeds and had two more today. Just so fed up, each time I try to do some mundane house work, the nose starts bleeding. Do I just stay in bed for the next 4 months... arghh.. so frustrating - apologies for the rant 😆

Really reassuring to know that it happens to so many in the same situation. We carry on!

[Hidden in reply to Belka48]

Hello

I know when I got my first few I have seen nose bleeds before but goodness this was on another scale and I was scared really scared

I just wish they would as I say let a nose Doctor have a look like I said I had mine cauterized 3 times so it was not successful in one way but gave me a break till I had to have it done again but after coming of these meds my nose bleeds did stop if that helps just a little bit

Sounds like you can come of them in 4 months but I would still push that Doctor because I am not sure if they realize just how bad these can be

I hope they slow down a little for you x

[Holiday12345 in reply to Belka48]

just seen your post how have your nose bleeds been in past 4 months? I totally understand your anxiety with the bleeds as I am the same. I’ve actually been stopped off my Clopidrogrel for a few weeks after another bad nose bleed and am terrified of it happening again esp when on my own. Meant to be taking half a baby Asprin 3 days a week but reacted to first one I took. Will try again tomorrow. I’m meant to be on Clopidrogrel for life. 🤦‍♀️

[AlfredV]

I came off clopidogrel 6 months after my HA and stent with no ill effects. Might be worth a chat with your doctor.

[Belka48 in reply to AlfredV]

Thank you, the cardiologist mentioned this to me when my first scary nosebleed happened but I was not near 6 month then. I now on month 7 so might consider it actually. Thanks for the advice!

[Blackcatsooty]

if your GP isn’t helpful then does the surgery have a medication specialist ? My small practice has just appointed one. Or try your chemist.

I have taken clopidogrel for seven years and it has cured my migraines. However, any minor medical treatments need to have clopidogrel stopped. I was advised I should not take aspirin whilst on clopidogrel. I think the notes might say no aspirin.

I love clopi as it stops migraine. As soon as I stop clopi then migraines descend within a day or three.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Belka48 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Thank you, I will request the medication review. Hope you stay migraine free!

[Gibson01]

I had a similar problem with Ticagrelor after my HA . The nosebleeds and treatment to stop them are really unpleasant and you have my sympathy. Fortunately my nosebleeds started about 11 months after HA so my nose was cauterised and I was able to stop the Ticagrelor. More recently after a failed angiogram I was prescribed Ticagrelor once again, this time for 18 months. Cardiologist switched this to Prasugrel as he felt it may be causing breathlessness. After a few months on Prasugrel I started with minor nosebleeds and would wake with thick blood in my mouth. My GP halved the Prasugrel dose and I was OK on it until the end of the 18 month period. Much better now that I have stopped it and only taking 75mg Aspirin.

I suggest you go back to your doctor and tell him/her that this problem is severe and cannot wait until September to be resolved.

[Barre01]

I think it is an age thing. I have been off clopi. for 3 years and last year suffered regular nose bleeds. I was chemically cauterised 4 times, was waiting for the electronic variety when the bleeds gradually stopped. Multiple blood vessels meet in the nose and skin thins with age.

[Belka48 in reply to Barre01]

Thanks, Barre01. Unfortunately for me I am quite young so not sure it will be the age thing in my case

[Flimflab]

Hi Belka I would agree with the suggestions below. For me personally any time I got a cut or a nosebleed when I was on clopidogrel I bled profusely. I studiously avoided getting grazes.

When I came off it everything was fine again.