Ticagrelor. Is it causing my bleeding?

[Sidlers]

Anyone else on Ticagrelor blood thinners? If so, are you having any issues? I have started to experience blood collecting at the back of the throat, mainly at night, but today it’s been on and off every time I’ve moved! My wife managed to see a pharmacist this morning, who seemed to suspect that it’s this medication causing the problem and wondered why I was given it in the first instance? As he very rarely sees it prescribed! Any feedback would be appreciated!

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Any anti platelet or anti coagulant that is prescribed for us hearties is likely to come with an increased risk of bleeding. That's why we bruise easily and struggle to stop bleeding if we cut ourselves, or are asked to stop taking the medication prior to and perhaps after an intrusive medical procedure. If I were you I would be making an urgent appointment with my GP to discuss the condition, on the basis that bleeding from the throat is not normal under any circumstances with or without 'blood thinners'. I hope you get sorted.

[Instructor57]

Hi, it's often prescribed after a heart attack, that or clopidogrel.I was initially on Ticagrelor but for me it caused breathlessness so I was switched to clopidogrel, I then had no more issues. But as it happens I will come off Clopidogrel in another month

[Sidlers in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks for your reply. Clopidogrel is the recommendation of the pharmacist that my wife spoke to today! Fingers crossed I can get to see my GP sooner rather than later!!

[STEMI_Dave]

When I was on Prasugrel, which I think does the same job (same type of med as Clopidogrel?), I got several nose bleeds over the winter. I wonder if you're getting similar as a post-nasal drip, ie draining into the throat?

[Sidlers in reply to STEMI_Dave]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Dave. Definitely sounds like the same thing! Very disconcerting. Hopefully I can get it sorted soon.

[STEMI_Dave in reply to Sidlers]

If it's any re-assurance, since I stopped Prasugrel (per the 1 year schedule), I have had no nose bleeds so far this winter. Easy and apparently random bruising seems to have gone away entirely. Scratches (rose bushes!) stop bleeding reasonable quickly. So for me, not so bad as I am still on 75mg Aspirin.

Something I found helped me were saline nasal sprays (e.g. Sterimar) and nasal irrigation (NeilMed in my case; other brands are available). For me irrigation was preferable to blowing my nose, although one might be a bit squeamish seeing what's really up there getting cleared out.

Some people think nasal washes risk drying out the nasal membranes and making things worse. I just took things very gently and slowly.

That's just my experience, and none of that constitutes advice.

[Qualipop]

I was prescribed ticagrelor after my heart attack. It's the "Go to" medication after heart attack. I had problems with it affecting my breathing so it was changed to clopidogrel. I bruised very easily as you do with anti coagulants. Some people get nose bleeds which is what yours sounds like except it's running down your throat rather than out of your nose. These tablets don't actually thin your blood, they prevent it from clotting so easily and possibly causing blockages. You will have to ask your GP why it's been prescribed for you. Everyone's different. There are numerous reasons why it could have been prescribed. I have a friend who was put on anti coagulants just last week because she developed a DVT; a piece of the clot broke off and settled in her lung. You haven't explained what conditions you have so it's hard to guess why it's been prescribed.

[Sidlers in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for your reply Qualipop. I had three stents done in November. These tablets came as part of the usual medication that people seem to get.

[Qualipop in reply to Sidlers]

yes,that's normal. They are to prevent clots forming and blocking teh stents as I understand. If you feel that ticagrelor isn't suiting you because of the nose bleeds, you can ask for it to be changed. Ticagrelor made me feel as if I had bad asthma ( I didn't it's just how it felt) It was changed to clopidogrel. I had HA and two stents. Mine was stopped after 6 months but it's usually a year.

[baffle]

Hi Sidlers, , I have been talking ticagrelor since HA last August, apart from the customory bruise I don't have any other issues, so far, maybe a chat with your GP and a change of meds, hope you're sorted soon, all the best of luck

[Rosiemycat]

I took Ticagrelor for four years in all after having heart attack and 1 stent inserted in 2017 and other than quite prominent bruising I never had any bleeding from anywhere, if you can’t get a GP to deal with it I would go to A&E

[Sidlers in reply to Rosiemycat]

Thanks Rosiemycat. Hopefully get to see a GP tomorrow 🤞

[fishonabike]

if you are actively bleeding regularly you really should report this to your doctor as soon as possible - this can lead to a reduced red blood count (anaemia) and cause other complications

BTW if you struggle to swallow medication, or don't wash it down with enough fluid it can damage your oesophagus (tube which links you mouth and stomach) and cause bleeding