Clopidogrel

[Davey77]

Has anyone else been prescribed Clopidogrel for more than a year after having stents fitted?

Everything I've seen suggests it is prescribed for a year, but I'm still on it nearly 3 years later. Even the doctor who gave me blood test results said he couldn't see any purpose in this but said I should check with my GP in case he had other instructions from the cardiologist. I suspect my doctor simply doesn't bother to review anything and my chances of getting an appointment to discuss it are roughly the same as winning the Lottery.

I am also on Rivaroxaban. Does anyone know any possible reason for continuing the Clopidogrel for so long?

[Ageingfast]

my small GP practice has a member of staff to discuss prescriptions. Worth a try.

I have taken clopidogrel for years. I love it. As soon as I stop taking it I get migraines flood in.

Prescribed after a stroke. Continued after open heart surgery.

Another option is to speak to your chemist.

Good luck

C.

[Happyrosie]

yes! My husband has now been on Clop since the revision of his stents in 2007. As far as I can remember it, the latest NICE guidance is that each case should be viewed in isolation by the cardiologist. In other words it depends on the cardiologist and her view of that particular patient.

He (husband!) also takes aspirin. These have to stop about a week before any operation or procedure.

[AAJJTt]

Hi, as mentioned I think the guidance is very individualistic.

I had an NSTEMI type II 5 years ago - no stents. Later on diagnosed with Afib; suspected root cause. I was then placed on a dual therapy - Edoxaban and Clopidogrel.

The NOAC was removed (below threshold for anti-coagulation) but the Clopidogrel was continued, given my HA.

[VaniaG]

I was on it for 5 years. They just switched me to baby aspirin. I didn’t mind Clopidogrel…but baby aspirin is easier to swallow. 😊

[Tabac]

I was put on Clopidogrel for life after my last angiogram and stent in Nov. 2021 due to the state of my arteries. I'm borderline for needing a bypass.

[devonian186]

I had to remind my GP that I was supposed to come off this medication after a year.

Perhaps your GP needs a reminder or a better person to speak to would be the pharmacist at your practice who can look at your other drugs in context

[Jackabee]

I have been on Clopidogrel for over three years now. I questioned it with the practice pharmacist but he was adamant that I carry on. I didn’t have a heart attack or have high cholesterol or blocked arteries. My heart failure was found unexpectedly.

[CyclingTime]

I found with mine I had to raise it with the doctor otherwise they don't even think about it

[Davey77]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll see if an E Mail to the surgery prompts someone to look at it, so I know it's being done for a purpose, not out of neglect

[pete109]

I’ve had 4 stents, last 2 were 16 months ago, the end date for taking clopidogrel is written on my prescriptions and also on the label on the packets, I stopped taking it when the date was up, my doctor didn’t remind me to, but for some unknown reason it still appears on my repeat prescriptions, I don’t know if all prescription formats are identical, I would have thought they should be, but the end date appears after the “one to be taken each day until” and then the date. It’s worth checking because if you don’t need to keep taking it because it causes all sorts of problems to your body, bruising easily, bleeding etc and dental treatment is a problem too on this medication.

[Jedi14]

I did'nt know that, thanks for the info! I will soon be approaching 12 months on Clopidogrel. I think there is tendacy by doctors to "let sleeping dogs lie". I think that they don't want to take responsibility for anything going wrong... Unless you decide when to stop, they won't!

I also happen to know someone at work who's loved one, was prescribed several medications. Years down the line they discovered there was nothing wrong with the heart!

But even then the medications are on going until such time that the hospital says STOP. The hospital in reality is dragging its feet and is not saying STOP. It is now down to the patient when to stop! This dilly dallying is because no one can say what the real after effect will be if any medication is stopped.

[KIMMY60]

Try ringing your specialists secretary and query about your tablets, leave them a message sometimes works

[Farmer63]

Hi, after HA I was to take Aspirin and Clopidogrel for year, however I was unable to take aspirin due to acid reflux, so my cardiologist decided I should come off aspirin and stay on the Clopidogrel for life, that was two years ago.

[Sususulio]

I’m on it for life and also take apixaban - explained to me that aspirin wasn’t an option with taking the anticoagulant prescribed due to rogue blood clot gene