How long should I stay on clopidogrel?

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 take clopidogrel 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.

Can Plavix 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.

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.

Do you need to wean off Plavix?

Abrupt cessation of clopidogrel results in an early rise in platelet aggregability in patients with BMS that is attenuated by a tapering regimen. Clopidogrel administration every other day may achieve similar levels of platelet inhibition as full dose therapy.

What are the long term side effects 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.

Can I stop taking Plavix after 6 months?

April 6, 2011 (New Orleans, Louisiana) — A small trial testing the appropriate duration of dual antiplatelet therapy suggests that some patients can stop clopidogrel (Plavix, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi-Aventis) after just six months following drug-eluting-stent implantation.

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.

What are the side effects of taking Plavix long term?

Side effect details

  • Allergic reaction. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Plavix.
  • Bruising. You may have bruising while you’re taking Plavix.
  • Skin rash. It’s possible to have skin rashes while you’re using Plavix.
  • Nosebleeds.
  • Headaches.
  • Blood in your urine.
  • Itching.
  • Diarrhea.

Do you have to wean off Plavix?

You should never stop taking any prescribed medication without talking to your doctor, but especially not Plavix. Patients who stop taking Plavix can develop clotting and could suffer a heart attack or stroke or other damage to their cardiovascular system.

Is it safe to stop taking 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.

Is it OK to take Plavix every other day?