Hope someone can answer this,Please!! - Heart Disorders Message Board

Zimm · 06-04-2006, 05:38 PM

Hi,
I'd like to know if anyone with stent placement is taking Plavix and having problems from the Plavix and what type of problems. Many thanks for any info!

Lenin · 06-05-2006, 07:43 AM

I stopped Plavix after 2 months because of daily nosebleeds. I ignored the frequent bruising.
Even the last three weeks I was taking a pill every SECOND day. My research told me that no further benefit accrues from taking Plavix with aspirin more than 60 days after a stent placement...so it was 60 days and done.

I am a person who can take 10 aspirin in a day without nosebleeds.

Zimm, what problems might you be having with Plavix?

In my heart of hearts, I think Plavix will eventually be banned or severely restricted.

Zimm · 06-05-2006, 12:06 PM

Hi Lenin,
Thank you for your answer. I am having terrible headaches,digestive problems like cramping,bloating,nausea,burning up my chest and neck into my mouth, even though I am on Nexium plus backache,my legs feel like mush and they hurt plus lot of other things like all I have to do is lightly bump into something that might just lightly scratch the skin and a few minutes later I have blood running where ever I had hit. My primary said stop the Plavix,I'm just shy of 3 months but I was a little afraid with the stent and genetic buildup of plaque since I'm not on Cholestral med right now, I have to find one I can tolerate.

Fathersson · 06-05-2006, 12:42 PM

If you are close to 3-months since the stent went in, it should be well overgrown with new arterial epithelial cellls by now. So the risk of restenosis from stent-induced clotting is pretty small.

When I had my stent put in, I only went on Plavix for 90 days, along with a daily 81mg enteric coated aspirin and warfarin (which I'd been on for awhile anyway, due to a previous pulmonary embolism). I still take the aspirin and warfarin, but if it weren't for the PE, I'd be on only the aspirin for life.

For long term therapy there was a recent study (New Negland Journal Of Medicine) that found that aspirin by itself was just as effective as aspirin plus plavix, and better then plavix alone (as aspirin has a lower risk of bleeding episodes), at preventing recurring MI's in people who already have heart disease (and at a fraction of the cost too).

edit: the study was "Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischaemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance (CHARISMA)"

Zimm · 06-05-2006, 08:19 PM

Thank you Fathersson, I guess I get nervous with everything,worried about not being able to take cholestral medicine (Lipitor really messed up my muscles and bones and Zetia did a real job on my intestines) and now having problems with the Plavix. Makes me wonder what I'm going to do to prevent more cholestral buildup. We eat healthy,are not overweight,it's genetic.
Thanks again!