Clopidogrel and washout period

[celloting]

Does anyone know what is the washout period for coming off clopidogrel? This is day 12 since I stopped and I'm still feeling the effects (light-headed, dizzy). I know the actual dosage takes 33 hours to clear out and 7 days for the platelets to be re-activated. All the clinicians (GPs, pharmacists) I asked, none was any wiser.

[Wittycjt]

Google “coming off clopidogrel abruptly”. You should get your answer, Cindy in NJ

[EffieGee]

Hi I'm on clopidogrel and amlodipine too and new to this so not sure if what you describe are side effects from the meds or after effects from the tia, or God forbid, another tia .....all mixed with a dose of fear and anxiety. I was on aspirin before clopidogrel. If you have info or links re clopidogrel, I'd be grateful. Why did you stop taking it? My info is all coming from the internet too. I feel lousy today! Nausea, unbalanced, muzzy, some sort of numbness on part of the face, lightheaded and out of it, these are all since the event and these new tablets. Thanks. I hope you're feeling better.

[celloting in reply to EffieGee]

I stopped clopidogrel because of the side effects (headache, dizzy, lightheaded, reduced immunity, fear of bleeding), but all that has since changed because my CT heart scan results now confirmed I've moderate arterial calcification. So, I'm back on blood thinner but this time aspirin 75mg, my choice and GP agreed. I think they're all about the same, perhaps clopidogrel 75mg is more potent. I also came off statin and GP now wanting me to resume understandably, but it made me very ill with side effects. So now I'm trying natural remedies (vitamin B3/niacin, red yeast rice, Chinese fermented red bean curd, etc). Hope you're feeling better. Rest is still one of the best medicines!

[EffieGee in reply to celloting]

I need reassurance from the medics, especially about this pharma drugs mix. Been reading up on clopidogrel and honestly not awfully Happy with reviews. My gp is ringing me later, will tell him about my side effects and request aspirin instead. Thanks for replying so promptly. Yes I'm in bed, every day ,hoping the old body will be grateful and heal.

[celloting in reply to EffieGee]

Sorry to hear that. Not sure if anyone can provide the reassurance. I'm not as experienced as other survivors, but in the last seven months I've learned that with any drug (synthetic or natural) there are side effects, including aspirin. Some people react more adversely to them than others, eg I get terrible side effects from statin! But I'm faced with the possibility of having to resume, but I'm resisting for now by trying natural alternatives, which is more work than just popping pills. No one lives forever, so the question is can or do drugs prolong our lives given our conditions? The choice is yours.

[EffieGee]

Thanks, I'd prefer to go down the natural route too. For other conditions I'd been taking serrapeptase, taurine, NAC, Vit D3+K2-mk7, magnesium malate and gluc, cannabidiol oil (legal) plus some pharmas. I had to rework those because of possible interactions with the new drugs. The outcome of the GP chat re side effects was stop amlodipine from tomorrow but monitor through BP check next week, consider other drugs to replace if necessary. Assess the side effects until Monday and,if still apparent, stop clopidigrel and take aspirin ..... so we'll see!

[Wittycjt in reply to EffieGee]

Do you have “ Hughes” too?

[EffieGee in reply to Wittycjt]

I've no idea though it wouldn't surprise me as I've had auto immune disease since I was a child. I'm not overly impressed with the lack of response from various clinicians since my 'stroke' almost 7 weeks ago. I'm really having to do my own research. I'm getting no answers otherwise. I'm finding out for myself and I'm at the beginning of this road.

[Wittycjt in reply to EffieGee]

Hughes can be tested by lab work. Look it up on line it will,tell you the tests that need to be done. I believe it is LA= lupus anticoagulant, Igg, Igm, anticardiolipin, and another one? Anti beta2 GP1, Good luck Cindy

[Wittycjt in reply to Wittycjt]

They must be done once and if anything comes back positive, again in twelve weeks, Cindy

[EffieGee in reply to Wittycjt]

Thanks Cindy, I appreciate the information.

[celloting in reply to Wittycjt]

Luckily, no.

[2stroke]

See"HOW TO COME OFF Clopidogrel" on line or "Clopidogrel withdrawal"

[2stroke]

nhs.uk/conditions/clopidogrel

[EffieGee in reply to 2stroke]

Thanks 2 stroke, I managed to get another appointment with my GP next Thursday, having been trying since last Wednesday to get some sense from the consultant and the GP practice. To no avail, even though I told both that last Monday's urine test showed blood. I'm all over the place when walking, terrible nausea and often the room's spinning when I'm laying in bed. I take 75mg clopidogrel at 13.00 hours every day. It is weird that these symptoms are most noticeable from awakening to early afternoon. Then there's some relief until bedtime thought I'm still careful how I walk and turn. I put these hours of respite to good use and have found a huge amount of info on Plavix even last night and today. This includes class actions that have been taken over a number of years by patients damaged by the drug. I'm feeling inclined to take my chances with aspirin even though clopidogrel is said to be 9% more effective at first. (That depends on the document too!) I am concerned about the medium- long term effects, > 12months and onwards. Comments for celloting too, with thanks for your input.

[celloting]

I've since switched to aspirin, which is a lot more agreeable with me. Thanks.

[EffieGee in reply to celloting]

Thanks! I hope this will suit me better too, a switch to aspirin. Noticeably no mention of dizziness on the side effects pages I've seen about clopidogrel but it's definitely there for you and me.....and it's holding me back. I hope the GP has my blood results from the consultant. And will be able to change to aspirin. I just found out that my brother and his daughter have malformed hearts so have informed the consultant and my GP. I still have to wait until January for a halter test, a long waiting list!

[celloting in reply to EffieGee]

Good luck with the aspirin. You should be okay as it's well proven to work for thousands of years! I'm taking it every other night now, just topping it up, as agreed with my GP. We know from research that, once you stop taking it, it takes up to seven days for the platelets to be reactivated. You do what is right for you.

[sargrith]

I've been on clopidogrel for 5 years. I had several bad pains in my head at the start always at about the same time each day lasting for a short time. I was prescribed them as an alternative to asprin as they gave me stomach pains. At one time I stopped taking them for 14 days as advised by my doctor after I had an accident causing a small artery to burst in my leg which started bleeding and became infected so was put on antibiotics.I was told to stop clopidogrel which, as you know, stops the platelets sticking together and therefore hinders the stopping of bleeding. I think they do a great job and have had no ill effects from them after the first few weeks, as stated above, and none when stopping and starting again. I wouldn't worry about having a short period on light-headedness. Good luck

[EffieGee]

I just caught up with your post sargrith, thank you. After seeing my GP today, I started clopidogrel again, fingers crossed.

[2stroke]

celloting

BE careful, isn't Clopidogrel a clot buster/bloodthinner.

[Twoes]

Having read all the information on the subject of Clopidogrel here, nobody has mentioned acid reflux. After taking it for 18 months I now suffer horrible reflux problems which causes a dry cough and damage to vocal cords. I know some reflux medication is not to be taken with Clopidogrel but find it difficult to find out what I could take.

Anyone else had this problem as I feel like stopping the TIA meds as I'm so fed up.