How long should the combination of aspirin and clopidogrel be used?

The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel is not recommended for routine use for any longer than 12 months after the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI), unless there are other indications to continue dual antiplatelet therapy, and the combination is usually recommended for a shorter duration after an ST-segment ...

How long can you take aspirin and clopidogrel together?

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.

When Should clopidogrel be stopped?

While current guidelines recommend cessation of clopidogrel 5 to 7 days before an operative procedure, our data demonstrate that timing of clopidogrel cessation within 7 days of an operative procedure does not affect the prevalence of postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion or mortality.

Should clopidogrel be taken long-term?

Take as directed

Clopidogrel oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug or don't take it at all: You increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. These conditions can be fatal.

How long does dual antiplatelet therapy take after stroke?

A 10- to 21-day course of dual antiplatelet therapy reduces stroke recurrence and improves quality of life after mild stroke or high-risk TIA. Low-dose aspirin and a 300-mg loading dose of clopidogrel should be started as soon as imaging rules out hemorrhage.

Asprin vs Plavix? Which is better?

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.

How long after ASA and Plavix should I take stroke?

Aspirin plus clopidogrel for 21 to 30 days after TIA or minor stroke reduces recurrent stroke. Aspirin plus clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin but less effective than anticoagulation for preventing stroke from atrial fibrillation.

Can you suddenly stop taking 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. Plavix is an antiplatelet drug.

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.

How long should I take clopidogrel after a stroke?

Based on the results of the CHANCE trial, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommends clopidogrel and aspirin for 21 days starting in the first 24 hours after a minor stroke or TIA.

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.

When do you stop dual antiplatelet therapy?

Based on the 2016 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines,¹ in patients at high bleeding risk with a second-generation drug-eluting stent, discontinuing DAPT is safe after 3 months in patients with stable ischemic heart disease, and after 6 months in patients with an acute coronary syndrome ...

Can I replace clopidogrel with aspirin?

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.

Can I take clopidogrel in the morning and aspirin at night?

Conclusions: Bedtime administration of aspirin and clopidogrel decreased morning surge of platelet aggregation while kept same antiplaelet efficay during other time of the day compared to taking these drugs at day-time.

What are the side effects of long term use of Plavix?

How long should you take Plavix?

The standard recommendation is typically at least 12 months of Plavix. But the study found that six months of treatment was enough to prevent rare but deadly complications, says researcher Marco Valgimigli, MD, of the University Hospital of Ferrara, in Italy.

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.

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.

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.

What are the side effects of clopidogrel 75 mg?

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.

Which is best clopidogrel or aspirin?

Clopidogrel is another guideline‐recommended antiplatelet agent²¹ and has been shown to be superior to aspirin in preventing composite vascular events and reducing hemorrhagic complications in a randomized controlled trial, CAPRIE (Clopidogrel versus Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischaemic Events).

How long do you stay on blood thinners after stroke?

If you have a stroke and your brain scan confirms that it has been caused by a blood clot, you will probably be given a daily dose of aspirin, which you will need to take for up to two weeks.

When do you stop aspirin after a stroke?

In conclusion, the discontinuation of aspirin especially for a period of 8–30 days could increase the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with high and very high-risk factors and we should be aware of the complications of stopping aspirin use. Not to use aspirin at all may be better than to stop it after use.

Can aspirin and clopidogrel prevent stroke?

Combination antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin may reduce the rate of recurrent stroke during the first 3 months after a minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A trial of combination antiplatelet therapy in a Chinese population has shown a reduction in the risk of recurrent stroke.