How long can you stay on clopidogrel?

Clopidogrel and low-dose aspirin
The key question for your doctor is whether the benefits outweigh the extra risk. This combination treatment is prescribed for a limited period of time, usually up to a maximum of 12 months.
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Should clopidogrel be taken for life?

Clopidogrel is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best if you take it for many months or even years. If you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach while you're taking clopidogrel.
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Can clopidogrel be taken long-term?

Safety Announcement. [ 11-06-2015 ] A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review has determined that long-term use of the blood-thinning drug Plavix (clopidogrel) does not increase or decrease overall risk of death in patients with, or at risk for, heart disease.
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Can I come off clopidogrel?

Feb. 5, 2008 -- Heart attack survivors and other heart patients may be more likely to die or suffer a heart attack in the first three months after stopping the drug Plavix, new research shows.
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Can you take Plavix for 10 years?

That's why people who get stents get blood-thinning treatment with a combination of aspirin and Plavix or similar drugs. But no one really knows how long patients should stay on Plavix. Current guidelines call for at least one year of treatment, but "there's still a high degree of uncertainty," Valgimigli tells WebMD.
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Dual antiplatelet therapy: How long is long enough?



When should I stop taking clopidogrel?

Although aspirin can be continued in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, clopidogrel should be stopped at least 5 days before the procedure when the surgery is scheduled and the risk of ischaemia is low.
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What are the side effects of long term use of Plavix?

The more common side effects of Plavix can include:
  • bleeding, such as from: cuts that take longer than usual to stop bleeding. nosebleeds.
  • bruising more often than usual.
  • fever.
  • muscle pain.
  • confusion.
  • skin rash or itching.
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Is it safe to stop clopidogrel after one year?

Contrary to some recent reports indicating a full 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unnecessary, a large Danish registry study shows that halting clopidogrel after 1 year raises the risk of death and reinfarction in myocardial infarction (MI) patients.
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Is it OK to take clopidogrel every other day?

Conclusions: Long term dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin 81 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg every other day beyond 12 months after PCI with DES may be a safe and efficacious cost-saving strategy to prevent VLST.
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What can you take instead of clopidogrel?

Besides oral anticoagulants, such as warfarin and the more recent dabigatran[9], and niche agents, such as cilostazol and ticlopidine[10,11], the most promising alternatives to clopidogrel in those with background aspirin therapy are prasugrel and ticagrelor.
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When is the best time to take clopidogrel 75 mg?

You can take clopidogrel at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, but take your doses at the same time of day each day. Most people prefer to take it in the morning, as they find this helps them to remember to take it regularly. You can take the tablet either before or after a meal.
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What are the side effects of clopidogrel 75 mg?

Common side effects of clopidogrel can include:
  • headaches or dizziness.
  • nausea.
  • diarrhoea or constipation.
  • indigestion (dyspepsia)
  • stomach ache or abdominal pain.
  • nosebleeds.
  • increased bleeding (your blood taking longer to clot – for example, when you cut yourself), or easy bruising.
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Does clopidogrel affect the kidneys?

Conclusions. In summary, among patients hospitalized with ACS and treated with clopidogrel, lower levels of kidney function were associated with a greater risk of death, hospitalization for AMI, and major bleeding.
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Is clopidogrel lifelong after stroke?

Currently, the uses of aspirin, clopidogrel, or aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole are valid alternatives for stroke or transient ischemic attack patients. To maximize the beneficial effects of these agents, the treatment should be initiated as early as possible and continue on a lifelong basis.
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Can you have a stroke while on clopidogrel?

Our study showed that more than half of the patients with aspirin failure were treated with clopidogrel-aspirin. In particular, a higher ESRS, which indicates an increased risk of recurrent stroke, was associated with the choice of clopidogrel-aspirin rather than aspirin.
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Which is safer aspirin or clopidogrel?

Aspirin combined with the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel is no better than aspirin alone for stroke prevention in people with a history of lacunar strokes, and the combination carries a greater risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to results of a trial funded by the National Institutes of Health.
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Can you ever stop taking blood thinners?

Medical researchers have developed and validated a rule that could let half of women with unexplained vein blood clots stop taking blood thinners for life. A Canadian-led research group has developed and validated a rule that could let half of women with unexplained vein blood clots stop taking blood thinners for life.
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Can you drink alcohol with clopidogrel?

Can I drink alcohol while taking clopidogrel? ️ Yes (within the recommended limits). Alcohol doesn't affect clopidogrel itself, but just be aware that drinking alcohol can irritate your stomach lining. This could increase the risk of getting a bleeding in the stomach.
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Does clopidogrel make you tired?

Clopidogrel may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: excessive tiredness. headache.
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Why is clopidogrel stopped after 12 months?

Among patients with MI, clopidogrel discontinuation within the first month after coronary stent implantation has been associated with a 9-fold increased risk of death by 12 months [20].
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Is it safe to stop clopidogrel for 7 days?

Despite the prevalence of surgical candidates on clopidogrel, no definitive guidelines exist for stopping the drug preoperatively. A 7 day off-clopidogrel period is commonly considered safe with regards to bleeding complications.
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How long should you take clopidogrel after a stent?

Background: American and European cardiology societies recommend six to 12 months of dual-antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) after drug-eluting stent placement to prevent late stent thrombosis.
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Can I drink coffee with clopidogrel?

These medications are used to slow blood clotting and include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), enoxaparin (Lovenox), and more. Health experts advise caution when combining them with coffee, which can also slow blood clotting.
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Can clopidogrel lower your blood pressure?

An increased risk of bleeding from any wound, nosebleeds, blood in the urine, and an increased likelihood of bruising are the most commonly reported side effects. May also cause muscle pain, taste disorders, rash, and lower blood pressure.
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What are the first signs of kidney problems?

Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little.
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