Clopidrogel

[Marshmallow888]

following MI July 23 and angioplasty I was prescribed Clopidrogel 75mgs daily amongst other meds

I suffered nasal haemorrhaging on 3 occasions in the following months which required Ambulance to A & E where on each visit I bled profusely for 6 to 10 hours before it stopped

I have been suffering with dreadful side effects and again in October 23 my muscles/joints caused my body to seize up again Emergency admission to A&E where I was admitted again to AAU this time. After a week of scratching their heads the medical team said I had. Polyarticular Migratory Rheumatoid Arthritis. Started me on Colcichine which gave me terrible diarrhoea so ceased

paracetamol given discharged home. At OPD appointment with Consultant Rheumatologist I was informed special blood test results do not indicate above diagnosis

so I now have moved house and my new GP has contacted Cardiologist at former hospital who indicates I must stay on Clopidrogel 😳. At his clinic he said 6 months then stop it. It’s now 9 months. Side effects now include terrible joint pains that alternate on daily basis - paracetamol does nothing to ease pain. My anxiety levels are horrendous now. I have just started to experience awful indigestion [ never had in my life] after any food I eat, which is minimal as I’m constantly feeling nausea to name the worst side affects

Cannot get GP appt till end April. Should I just stop taking it?!?!?!

thanks for reading this saga. I’m at the end of my tether and any help would be so appreciated

[Qualipop]

First you need to insist on an immediate GP appointment. Tell them the problems are unbearable; whatever it takes to get you in same day even if you exaggerate. I assume you've been given a tablet to protect your stomach while taking clopidogrel, if not you need one. You seem to be blaming clopidogrel for everything but could the pain you mention be caused by your statin? There are plenty of alternatives. You really need to demand an urgent medication review. Ticagrelor is an alternative to clopidogrel. If the cardiologist said to st op clopi after 6 months, that should be in your records and on the letter that was sent to your GP on discharge. Some people can stop after 6 months, others twelve and some have to stay on it for life ( or something similar. Does this GP surgery have their own pharmacist? You may get a quicker appointment with them than with a GP but you don't need to see a specific named GP. You should be able to get a same day appointment with whoever is on duty if you complain of severe pain. Don't let a receptionist decide whether you need to be seen.

[Taviterry in reply to Qualipop]

My heart surgeon said that I didn't need an antacid tablet to protect my stomach, my GP said I did, my surgeon said (again) that I didn't. After two months of stomach discomfort I started on Lansoprazole and within days the discomfort had gone.

[Marshmallow888 in reply to Qualipop]

thank you for your response Qualipop 🙏🏼

I have tried to secure an emergency GP appointment and was asked to ring 999 or go to hospital 😏

I forgot to mention in my post I am intolerant of meds and in 1988 I was diagnosed with hypertension it took my then GP 18 months to find a drug that was actually tolerated

I was prescribed on discharge initially. Lansoprazole. Aspirin. , upped my Adizem from 180mgs to 300mgs , Candestartin, Clopidrogel ,statins x 2 etc

It’s nigh impossible to get even telephone call back down here let alone face to face - it’s a logistical nightmare

I saw GP in December when I moved into rental property and she said I couldn’t stop it till she’d spoken to my former Cardiologist. I supplied contact tel no of his Secretary

Response was I have significant CAD and should remain on Clopidrogel

At my 8 weeks follow up I explained the intolerance and 3 emergency admissions with nasal haemorrhaging etc and he said ….’stay on it till 6 months has passed’.

You have mentioned speaking to the Pharmacit in your kind response and I think this is the only way forward for me. I will make contact this pm in person to see if I can change drug

I saw Practice Nurse Friday last to see if she could advise as I could nor secure appt with GP via NHS app or receptionist till mid May !?!?! She said earliest she could see on screen is 22/4/24 with GP which I accepted

So there we have it and now rampant indigestion if I eat a morsel of food another nail in the Clopi coffin 😧

[Qualipop in reply to Marshmallow888]

Definitely speak to the pharmacist; they are better qualified than GPs on meds. I'm like you, very intolerant of most meds. My own GP greets me with "Hello trouble". I had every one of my meds changed after my heart attack. YOu must at least have something to protect your stomach or you could end up with an ulcer. Any chance you could change GP again? Ask around local people who can actually get an appointment and where they go. I never use online booking; always s peak to them in person. They do have daily emergency appointments they can give out.

[Classic100]

Hello. Sorry to hear about your problem at the moment and hope you soon get all sorted. I am on the same drug and suffer terrible stomach issues, diarrhea etc. I am now beginning to think the problem lies with the satin I am taking 80 mg Astrovasatin. Just a thought if you are also taking satins. I have stop taking satins for 5 days now and I have some improvement but told it may take 2 weeks off to show further improvement. Please don't just stop taking these go like I did to your GP first and discuss your concerns and they will advise a plan to be put in place.