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How Long Plavix And Aspirin Be Continued For Heart Stroke?
Question: My stroke specialist mentioned the other day that he usually only wants to keep a patient on Plavix and aspirin for 3 months but I forgot to ask him why. I'm not sure if it becomes less effective or if it's due to side effects or what. Any suggestions as to why he would want to limit the time like that while he is still trying to figure out the cause of my strokes?
Brief Answer:
No apparent reason for the same.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I fully understand your concerns and it is quite understandable that he has put you on dual antiplatelet(aspirin and clopidogrel;plavix is clopidogrel) therapy as I can see in your medical history that you are a case of recurrent strokes(probably infarts,though you did not mention whether infarcts or hemorrhage.But,as you are on antiplatelet drugs,I assume it to be infarct) with high risk factors like hypertension and high cholesterol.We usually put the patients of recurrent ischemic strokes on dual antiplatelets medicines instead of single.So,that's why he has probably started you on aspirin and plavix both instead of only one of them.
But,why to stop them after 3 months is just out of my minds.There is no apparent reason for the same.In fact,if you will stop them,you may have further stroke.Stopping the antiplatelets increases the risk for future strokes many fold.
I don't think anyone except him can tell you why he said so?Possibly you are misunderstood.Try to connect with him as only he can clear the doubt.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
No apparent reason for the same.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I fully understand your concerns and it is quite understandable that he has put you on dual antiplatelet(aspirin and clopidogrel;plavix is clopidogrel) therapy as I can see in your medical history that you are a case of recurrent strokes(probably infarts,though you did not mention whether infarcts or hemorrhage.But,as you are on antiplatelet drugs,I assume it to be infarct) with high risk factors like hypertension and high cholesterol.We usually put the patients of recurrent ischemic strokes on dual antiplatelets medicines instead of single.So,that's why he has probably started you on aspirin and plavix both instead of only one of them.
But,why to stop them after 3 months is just out of my minds.There is no apparent reason for the same.In fact,if you will stop them,you may have further stroke.Stopping the antiplatelets increases the risk for future strokes many fold.
I don't think anyone except him can tell you why he said so?Possibly you are misunderstood.Try to connect with him as only he can clear the doubt.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Brief Answer:
There can be different lines of management.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up and coordinating.
OK.This is an acceptable line of management even if he continues with single antiplatelet.Different treating doctors may adopt different but acceptable lines of management.
I personally,prefer to continue with dual antiplatelets in case of recurrent ischemic strokes,unless there is past history of any bleeding complication or hemorrhage.However,some physicians may take recurrent as more than two strokes and till two strokes they like to continue with a single antiplatelet.
Your treating doctor does not want to carry Plavix too far for the risk of any bleeding event.However,in absence of any history of bleeding episode and past hemorrhage,I think -Plavix and aspirin both may be continued even beyond 3 months.
Bottom line-Continuing single antiplatelet or double antiplatelets at this point are just two different acceptable approaches.It depends on the treating doctor,which way he want to go.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
There can be different lines of management.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for being in follow-up and coordinating.
OK.This is an acceptable line of management even if he continues with single antiplatelet.Different treating doctors may adopt different but acceptable lines of management.
I personally,prefer to continue with dual antiplatelets in case of recurrent ischemic strokes,unless there is past history of any bleeding complication or hemorrhage.However,some physicians may take recurrent as more than two strokes and till two strokes they like to continue with a single antiplatelet.
Your treating doctor does not want to carry Plavix too far for the risk of any bleeding event.However,in absence of any history of bleeding episode and past hemorrhage,I think -Plavix and aspirin both may be continued even beyond 3 months.
Bottom line-Continuing single antiplatelet or double antiplatelets at this point are just two different acceptable approaches.It depends on the treating doctor,which way he want to go.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have some further questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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