Coming off Ticagrelor

[Heartbear]

Question - does anyone on the forum have experience of coming off Ticagrelor medication and experienced any complications from doing so? The background to my query is below:

It's almost three years since my major heart attack, 12 July 2020 - I remember it well. I am currently on a fairly common combination of medication - Ticagrelor, Aspirin, Bisoprolol, Ramiprill, Atorvastatin and Lansoprazole. I was put on Ticagrelor in November 2021 in place of Clopidogrel and Rivaoxaban - a decision made by the cardiologist given my recovery and was discharged from Barts Heart Centre. I was told that Ticagrelor should be dropped in July 2023, three years on from the HA event. I am very stable with the current meds and am back to running regularly now (I was going running the morning of 12 July when it all kicked off).

I talked to my GP a few months ago when I was there for something unrelated. She said that there is no evidence of the benefit of continuing Ticagrelor, or not, after three years or so and it's common to be dropped at that stage.

Interested to know if anyone has had any adverse consequences of dropping the medication. Obviously, I'll be happy not to be putting a drug in me twice a day if I don't have to.

Thanks,

Graham

[MrsSuzuki]

Ticagrelor or clopidogrel is usually stopped after one year, but of course everyone is different. I was prescribed clopidogrel for a year and stopped it with no issues.

Lily

[Heartbear in reply to MrsSuzuki]

Thanks Lily, that's reassuring to know

All the best, Graham

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I was on Ticagrelor for coming up 2 years I came of it without a problem and if anything when it is needed yes good to take bit the positives are when you stop it if you have had any breathing issues that can improve as well as if you have been getting lots of bruisers then that will stop to x

[Heartbear in reply to BeKind28-]

Hi BeKind28,

Thanks for your reply which is good to hear. Sounds like we are on similar timescales as I will have been on Ticagrelor for almost two years. I've not had any breathing problems (thankfully - actually I didn't know that can be a consequence), as for the bruises, I get them in the most unusual places - a case of "how on earth did I get that one?!". Good to know they will ease. I'll still be on aspirin so may still attract some bruising.

Take care, Graham

[BeKind28- in reply to Heartbear]

Hello

It was my Cardiologist when I was coming of them as I had been complaining about my breathing that said they can for some make breathing a little worse so that is not for everyone

If you are like me when I stopped them I very rarely get a bruise now only like normally when people do and I am on Aspirin so has to be a positive

I doubt you will tell you have stopped them and it is a good sign that they think you now no longer need them and Aspirin will be fine now

You seem to have done really well and they are happy with you which is the main thing and the progress you have made x

[Ethel14 in reply to BeKind28-]

Aftermy first ha in 2014 I was on 90mg Ticagrelor for 12 months, after my second ha 2022 Ticagrelor 90mg 12 months followed by 60mg for 3 years.

Advances in Research found it more beneficial for people with stents.

Hope this helps ♥️

[cgpt]

I was on ticagrelor for a year which seems to be the standard practice. I stopped and haven't even noticed anything. Happy that there are two less tablets in a day. Now I can take all my medication in one go and forget about it for the rest of the day.

[Heartbear]

Hi cpgt, I appreciate your reply, thank you - it gives me assurance. As you say, I'll also be happy not to take the two pills a day, though my routine is to wolf down twice a day - morning is aspirin, bisoprolol, and lansoprazole, evening is ramipril and the statin.

Thanks again and best wishes, Graham

[Mentdent]

No problems. Just fewer bruises.

[LSCE]

No problems stopping after taking for 2 years.

[Coopergirl52]

I was on Ticagrelor 90mg for one year after HA last April it said in my notes from cardiologist when this is is up to moved down to 60mg dose for a further 3 years take it morning and evening.

[Alison_L]

Hi Heartbear. No adverse effects for me 😀

[Dillon1]

Thank you for asking this question, l am about to stop Clopidogrel after taking for a year and it's reassuring seeing your replies. Hope neither of us have any lasting effects and less tablets a day

[MumaLines]

I was on Ticagrelor after my Heart Attack and Bypass for 1 year only. I was told at the beginning it would be for 1 year only. I can't remember suffering any side effects coming off them. I continued with Clopidogrel.

[YorkshireBlue]

I came off aftyer one year without any issues indeed the main benefit was that the bruising stopped almost immediately. Best wishes & good luck.

[Karabiner]

Hi Heartbeat. I've had three events and been on numerous doses of both Clopidogrel and Ticagrelor, usually for standard 12 months. I've even been switched from T to C within 12 months. And whether stopping or being switched, I've noticed no changes in symptoms. The cardiologist didn't seem bothered about switching drugs mid course to try and eliminate some unexplained pain issues. One strategy you might employ, and it's completely unofficial is to wean you last month's dose to a tablet a day, and then perhaps to one every second day. That said cardiology never seems to advise this.

[wischo]

I was on Clopidogrel for 14 months after stent and stopped with no ill effects, I would say just stop as the risk of bleeding clearly outweighs any other risks as outlined by your GP.

[Qualipop]

I took Ticagrelor for 3 months after my heart attack but it made me feel as if I couldn't get my breath even though my sats were fine so it was stopped for a week then swapped for clopidogrel. I had no side or ill effects at all stopping it.

[Maisie2014]

I cannot come off them. I had my HA 4 years ago and, after the first year, had my dose reduced from 90mg to 60mg. I have been having regular annual checks with my GP who said I should come off them. I referred him to my discharge summary from hospital which said I should take them lifelong. After consulting with the cardiologist at the surgery they agreed I should remain on them.