Jeff 55
07-11-2008, 09:30 PM
I'm almost 53 yrs old and had a heart attack in Nov of 2006. I had two Cypher drug eluting stents implanted (99 % blockages) just days before they achieved notoriety. ;) I've been taking daily since then 1 Plavix,Metropol,Simvastatin and an aspirin. My cardiologist told me at last visit in January that I could quit taking the Plavix as he actually recommends it for only one year after surgery. At the time I told him that the cost was no problem and I really feared having a clot and stroke more than anything. He told me that he would leave it up to me. Since then my finances have taken a downturn and its possible that I could lose my insurance. I've been considering getting off it,but I've just become aware of the study regarding "Plavix Rebound" that suggests that incidence of heart attacks/clots strokes etc are doubled within the 1st 90 days after stopping taking it. I guess what I'd like to know if anybody has any experiences positive or negative to relate with stopping taking it by tapering off or cold turkey?
Thanks for any replies,
Jeff
Thanks for any replies,
Jeff
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nosa47
07-12-2008, 07:24 PM
I was, like you and anybody else that is/was on Plavix, very hesitant and leary about stopping the medication after one year. It seems that you only hear the horror stories when something goes wrong but in reality, in the majority of the cases, people stop taking plavix after a period of time after stent implantation with no ill effects. Many cardiologists recommend a one-year course and a few advise of taking it for life. I took plavix along with a full-dose aspirin (325 mg) after undergoing a mini-bypass surgery (midcab) on the LAD and a drug-eluting stent implant (Taxus) on the RCA.
I stopped the plavix on my cardiologist's advice after 13 months since he recommends a 12-months course for most his patients (not sure if there are exceptions). I did not taper it off, I just stopped it the second day after my visit to his office. I am still taking the full-dose aspirin and will be doing so for life. I had no side effects whatsoever from stopping the plavix except for beneficial ones. I no longer suffer the constant bleeding and bruising from shaving and bumping into things along with GI symptoms that I used to have, and feel generally a lot better than I did before.
Having said that, every patient's case is different. Are you taking a good care of yourself? i.e. eating a heart friendly diet and excercising, not smoking, managing your weight, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, stress and other knows risks factors? If you are taking care of these issues, and you do not have a history of easily re-stenosing or clotting and there were no complications since your stent implants, it has been my experience (and others on this board) that there would be no problem stopping the plavix.
Once you make your decision based on the factors I mentioned above and on your cardiologist's advice, you will overcome the fear and worry factors and take the appropriate action. If your are not already taking a full-dose aspirin, ask your doctor if you should do so( highly recommended) and that, of course, should be for life. Do some research on this board under "plavix" and you will find some old posts that might be of value for you in making a decision. I hope everything works out fine for you.
I stopped the plavix on my cardiologist's advice after 13 months since he recommends a 12-months course for most his patients (not sure if there are exceptions). I did not taper it off, I just stopped it the second day after my visit to his office. I am still taking the full-dose aspirin and will be doing so for life. I had no side effects whatsoever from stopping the plavix except for beneficial ones. I no longer suffer the constant bleeding and bruising from shaving and bumping into things along with GI symptoms that I used to have, and feel generally a lot better than I did before.
Having said that, every patient's case is different. Are you taking a good care of yourself? i.e. eating a heart friendly diet and excercising, not smoking, managing your weight, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, stress and other knows risks factors? If you are taking care of these issues, and you do not have a history of easily re-stenosing or clotting and there were no complications since your stent implants, it has been my experience (and others on this board) that there would be no problem stopping the plavix.
Once you make your decision based on the factors I mentioned above and on your cardiologist's advice, you will overcome the fear and worry factors and take the appropriate action. If your are not already taking a full-dose aspirin, ask your doctor if you should do so( highly recommended) and that, of course, should be for life. Do some research on this board under "plavix" and you will find some old posts that might be of value for you in making a decision. I hope everything works out fine for you.
Jeff 55
07-13-2008, 12:41 AM
Thanks for the reply! I know that its usually the horror rather than success stories that you hear about it. I searched for Plavix rebound and didn't find anything but see that the vast majority here haven't had any problems stopping and just a couple have had additional problems after. I'm in very good shape re the things you've mentioned other than my stress level being high enough that my doctor put me on an antidepressant for anxiety last week. I've been taking full strength aspirin daily since the stents were implanted.
I am extremely tired of the same things you mentioned such as bleeding profusely from small cuts scratches, the bruising etc.
As I have 14 Plavix left I think I might as well take one every other day for the 1st seven,then one every 3 for the remaining 7. That probably won't make any difference at all but may make me feel better about it! :D
Thanks again for the reply, I appreciate it!
I am extremely tired of the same things you mentioned such as bleeding profusely from small cuts scratches, the bruising etc.
As I have 14 Plavix left I think I might as well take one every other day for the 1st seven,then one every 3 for the remaining 7. That probably won't make any difference at all but may make me feel better about it! :D
Thanks again for the reply, I appreciate it!