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clopidogrel or Asprin… get bruising when taken both

PhylP profile image
5 Replies

Good morning, I’m taking Atorvastatin 80mg, Amlodipian & Ezetembi for cholesterol / BP. I was also taking Clopidogrel 75mg but getting bruising regularly so suggested I take Asprin 75mg but the bruising is as bad.

It was suggested that if this was the case I could just stop taking blood thinners as it’s a balance between blood thinning verses internal bleeding. I’m now just don’t know what to do for the best. Any guidance would be most welcome. Thank you for reading

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PhylP
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5 Replies

I cannot remember if the bruising I get now, when I only take only enteric coated low dose aspirin, is any less than when I took both aspirin and Clopidogrel for the 12 months following my NSTEMI. What I do know, however is that I bruise more easily and cuts continue to bleed more than before I started to take these forms of medication a few years back. That said I have no evidence of internal bleeding and other than when I am told to temporarily stop aspirin if I have a medical procedure including dental, I consider the downside risk of not taking aspirin outweighs the risk of continuing, so I just put up with the nuisance.

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

just to add what Lowerfield says - my husband has been on Clop for some 17 years, only stopping before medical procedures. He recently asked a dermatologist consultant whether he should stop Clop before a skin operation and was told “no this is not advised” because the last time he had a similar op, bleeding didn’t stop until he went to A &E.

He spoke to his GP who said “you make a choice between heavy bleeding or having a heart attack”. So he didn’t stop the Clop on this occasion. Yes, he does have bruising and yes, if he is accidentally cut by, say, a bramble he bleeds a lot. No internal bleeding.

So you too need to decide for yourself whether to go against medical advice and stop the Clop.

PhylP profile image
PhylP in reply to Happyrosie

It was the consultant who switched me to Asprin when I said I bruised easily when taking clopidogrel. He then said if I still bruised when taking aspirin it was up to me if I decided to stop Asprin and take nothing! I’m worried and wonder whether I should just put up with the bruising, it’s then to decide which med would be better/less problem causing going forward.

Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

Oh, so you haven’t been told you ought to take it. That’s a bit different from my husband’s experience.

I think you need to talk this over with someone who knows your medical history, such as your GP, but if that isn’t possible then maybe you could phone the cardiac nurses at the BHF?

PhylP profile image
PhylP

I’m thinking the nurses at BHF might be a good starting point. Thank you

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