Changes in medication a year after TAVI?

[Taviterry]

Next month sees the first anniversary of my TAVI, since when I've been on Ramipril, Clopidogrel and Omeprazole (and Simvastatin).

Has anyone had a reduction in their meds after a year, and, if so, why?

The review would be with my surgeon, who was insistent that I didn't need Omeprazole (but didn't tell me why not), but after eight weeks or so of stomach discomfort I gave into my GP's insistence that I did, with an immediate improvement in symptoms.

It goes without saying that the fewer pills I need to take the better.

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi Terry - immediately after triple bypass surgery almost two & a half years ago, I was prescribed Clopidogrel & Lansoprazole (together with aspirin, bisoprolol, furosemide and atorvastatin). The furosemide is a diuretic to be taken for only 14 days after surgery then stopped. The clopidogrel/aspirin dual blood thinning therapy was to ensure clots were kept at bay after surgery and the lansoprazole to alleviate the effects of clopidogrel/aspirin which can be quite severe on the innards for some people. 😊

The surgeon who performed my operation told me, just before being discharged from hospital, that both clopidogrel & lansoprazole drugs were to be taken for one year and could then be stopped but the aspirin is for life and, as far as I'm aware, this is fairly standard procedure after surgery.

I was delighted to be able to stop the clopidogrel after a year, but after speaking with the pharmacist at my GP surgery, have kept the lansoprazole on my monthly prescription to be used as a pill-in-the-pocket should I need it. I also have diverticular disease and as the daily coated aspirin can sometimes affect this, it was the pharmacist who suggested I do this and assured me that it's perfectly safe. As I only need to use the lansoprazole occasionally, thankfully, I asked the pharmacist to reduce the amount of lansoprazole pills on my prescription.

It's all worked out really well and on my one year 'anniversary' I was down to bisoprolol, baby aspirin and ezetimibe daily (unfortunately it was found while I was in hospital that my liver can't tolerate statins and, on discharge, I was prescribed ezetimibe instead.) It was great to see the amount of meds being reduced and saves taking a carrier bag to the chemist to collect my prescription! 😀 Good Luck with your review and hopefully you'll be able to bin the carrier bag too! Carol👍

[Happyrosie]

many people stop Clop after twelve months but not all. Take the advice of the cardiologist as this will vary according to your medical history.

[Taviterry in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks for your replies. Now to confess that there's a bit more to my query than I first let on. I had my TAVI done privately and am due for the first annual check-up with the surgeon next month, which will consist of an ECG and a brief chat. In fact I had this in November (at a cost of £850) during a period of exhaustion; the surgeon could find no problem, wondered if I was losing blood through my stomach and referred me to a private gastroenterologist who found "no reason" to suspect this, leaving me to the somewhat protracted ministrations of NHS haematologists. A visit to Casualty in March included another ECG (courtesy of the NHS) which found nothing untoward.

So I'm wondering whether I really need another ECG next month, followed by a brief chat with the surgeon, all at further cost. I was never prescribed aspirin, and I gather that this is something most people need to take for the rest of their lives once they come off Clopidogrel, having taken the two together.

I guess the best thing to do is to email the surgeon to explain the situation, wondering if I could defer a full follow-up for some months and tentatively wondering if I need to continue with Clopidogrel.

[jhutc16 in reply to Taviterry]

Hi, after triple bypass 7 years ago, I was prescribed aspirin, clopidegrol, bisoprolol and ramipril. I refused statins on principle. The clopidegrol was stopped after a year. I've had amlodipine added to my daily intake recently as my BP is always too high. I've never had any stomach probs from the aspirin and have never been offered any prazole drugs.

[Drummer20]

Hi Taviterry,

my cardio surgeon said I could ask the GP to review the medicines prescribed around the time of my aortic valve replacement.

I’m having a supervised trial gradually reducing the dose of Losartan and then bisprolol. I’m only taking 75mg aspirin now but I might have to continue with that to protect my tissue valve.

The GP said my cholesterol was high and I should take a statin.

It's all a balancing act.Im trying to control my cholesterol with diet and activity.Im 69 and its just recently they have offered a statin.I don’t think it’s hereditary. I feel really well since my valve replacement they are just keeping an eye on my blood pressure and cholesterol.

I’ve had no problems with the aspirin and decided not to take lanzoprazole.

If you tell them you don’t want to take a lot of medicines they generally do try to reduce them if they can.