Ticagrelor bruising

[Heartmum56]

I am 5 months post HA and stent. Came home very bruised from the angioplasty. That cleared up well but have had all sorts of random bruising since then. They just appear each morning from nowhere, no apparent injury or even a minor knock. Was accepting it but they seem to be getting worse the last few weeks. Anyone else had this or had medication changed because of it?

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Unfortunately a common side effect of anti-coagulant and anti-platelet medication including Ticagrelor is the tendency to bruise easily. There is very little you can do about it, other than be more cautious about bumps and bangs than perhaps you would have been before. However there are more serious side effects that can occur including mouth and nose bleeds and in that case, and certainly for any signs of internal bleeding, you should consult with your GP.

[Survivor1952]

I'm 13 weeks post AVR and CABG and 17 weeks post angioplasty. On Ticagrelor for 12 months post AVR and soluble aspirin for life. Plenty of mystery bruises and ones that I have taken a while to work out where they've come from. Latest two are a small bump on the top of my right hand, the bruise is the whole of the back of my hand and part way up my fingers. Another is from sitting on the seat belt buckle in the car.

As well as the bruises where I have the knock swells dramatically taking a couple of days to go down.

I can still make out a faint discolouring from both my angioplasty and around the scar from my donor vein in my leg as well as the spot where a big bruise appeared on my foot a day or so after my AVR.

If I cut myself it takes ages to stop bleeding, even the smallest of cuts, I carry plasters with me, I also have to carry an anti-coagulant warning card with me at all times. I've added details to my phone as well so that they can be accessed by Emergency Services if necessary.

[MrsSuzuki]

I had the same very bad bruising on Ticagrelor. They swapped it for Clopidogrel which was better but still had smaller bruises for a year until it was stopped

Likyy

[Sewingpumpkin]

I was on Clopidogrel and had some epic bruises for apparently no reason. My favourite was a hand print on my arm because I crossed my arms. On a more serious note if you are feeling unsure as to whether you should speak to your doctor about it, it is worth asking to speak to one of the nurses on the British Heart Foundation helpline. They will be able to advise and I’ve also found that saying you have had a chat with them can help with getting a doctors appointment quicker.

All the best

[devonian186]

Clopidogrel caused my bruising which was quite epic after the slightest brush against something. I stopped taking it a year after surgery and bruising is now no worse than before I went to surgery.

[NannyPat1]

I was exactly the same. It’s so lovely when the year is up and you can drop that drug. Meanwhile Arnica cream is vg for bruises. And as it’s coming up Autumn/Winter at least your bruises should be well covered!

[Golfgirl3]

Good morning. Ticagrelor made me look like an attack victim! This seems to be a common side effect and once I finished taking it after 12 months things improved immediately. At the risk of sounding flippant - it's easier to manage when it rains or it's cooler as 'cover up ' clothes can be worn.

[Barre01]

I had this problem, spoke to my gp who reassured me this was nothing to worry about, she said she had researched this matter. Still here 5 years later

[lizzieloo2]

My husband suffered with terrible bruising whilst he was on Ticagrelor following HA and one stent. He was put on it for 12 months to avoid clotting round the stent but had to ask about coming off. GP told him to stop once he had finished the latest repeat which he did back in May. Unfortunately, the bruising is continuing so his GP did a blood test which she said was normal so she hasn't bothered investigating further. He is still on aspirin and the bruising isn't as bad as when he was still taking Ticagrelor but it is still a problem now some 4 months later

[Harefieldfan]

Hi Heartmum. This happens with Ticagrelor as it’s an anti platelet. I get bruises -/ I don’t even know where they came from. Sympathies!

[Qualipop]

Oh it's wonderful isn't it? I looked like I'd done a bout in a boxing ring. Afraid it's normal with an anticoagulant. Mine was changed to clopidogrel because of breathing problems on ticagrelor but it made no difference to the bruising. I still have small bruises everywhere 5 years later and that's now only from aspirin. TIcagrelor is normally stopped after a year.

[BicuspidBloke]

I had loads of bruising with Ticagrelor, usually on the belly or chest. Just random ones appearing overnight even if I hadn't bumped in to things. The missus was becoming suspicious of them! It does ease over time (mine started easing just after the missus accused them of being finger marks - them stopping appearing didn't help!). It took 9 or 10 months. Been off Ticagrelor about six or seven weeks now and had nothing with the aspirin.