Plavix

I am interested in hearing about your Plavix experiences.

I have read that the majority of people, about 87%, do not have issues with it, but the remaining 13% do. We can be genotyped to find out where we fall on this continuum. Has anyone been genotyped for Plavix prior to surgery?

Has anyone been given other options, instead of Plavix?

Campanile...there is a site... the American Recall Center...

It has a spot: Anticoagulents: Shattering the Myths....

http://www.recallcenter.com/anticoagulents-shattering-the-myths

(I just tried this site...and up opos "page not available"...and, it is printed on my page I reference...so just search: American Recall Center )

The only time I had Plavix (known) was on my last angio...stopped early on an 8 week prescription... due to flu-type symptoms...and the beginning of the hideous migraine aura... However, I did learn,. that Plavix was also admin'd w/the other drugs during the angio procedure...yes, the prescription was stopped early...

I learned of this Recall Center (09/30/15) because there is info on tv re: recalls and/or potential recalls on two named: Xarelto and Pradaxa...which I planned to post...as I have no idea who has any brand names other than Plavix...

At the bottom of the first page (1 of 6) notes MYTH: anticoags are called blood thinners because they thin the blood...to FACT: anticoags do not thin the blood; they simply prevent it from forming clots.

Now, I do know from my day of "coil embolization"... the anesthesia record notes protamine...which is an offset to "coag" blood...after heparin...toradol...nitroprusside, fentanyl and midazolam...a/w/a ... all the usual anesthesia drugs...By the way, this day was after coronary care...after the initial angios...

You likely have researched all this data in bringing up your question...I found the Mayo Clinic pages on the Genotype... and they ref the FDA data back to early 2010...over 5 years of this data available...

I hope members who have had, or still have, any anti-coags share what was explained to them and/or what they may have read in the patient labeling of the prescriptions...and, the brand names...

I was one that developed an internal bleed from the Plavix and it caused a lot of stomach pain. I was given a drug called "Ticlid" Ticlopidine to replace it which I tolerated with no problem. I think it was made in Canada and was a little hard to get seemed as though they had to order it each time. I no longer take either one.

Patio,
Thank you for the link. FYI, I am doing my due diligence, because I cannot handle any more medical issues.

Kevin,
Thank you for posting I am sorry you had difficulty with Plavix, but were fortunate to be given a satisfactory replacement. I read that Ticlid is an older drug, which Plavix replaced. I don’t understand why more doctors aren’t doing genotyping. It can be done through 23andme for $99, which gives considerable DNA bang for the buck. My mother participated in Parkinson’s research through them in 2006 and Plavix is one of the drugs they reported on.

I read that stopping Plavix suddenly is not a good idea.

I was on it prior to the pipeline surgery and then for about 4 months following. I hated it… It ruined my stomach and I had to take so much Zantac with it! I couldn’t digest food properly, and I wound up with terrible constipation. Was so glad when they said I could go off of it and just continue on aspirin.

Tara,

Did you just stop taking it?

I had terrible stomach problems with NSAIDs. I think neurotin, which I am taking for complex regional pain syndrome, is causing me stomach issues, headaches. I spent yesterday with an ice pack on my head-I couldn’t eat, but I was craving crap food. The idea of more distress with plavix makes me cringe.

I am investigating supplements like olive leaf extract which is said to clean out and keep the arteries clear.

hi, i blamed neurotin for all kinds of things, it was not the meds, after discontinuing im the same 6 yrs post gr5 sah, tc xoxo



Campanile said:

Tara,

Did you just stop taking it?

I had terrible stomach problems with NSAIDs. I think neurotin, which I am taking for complex regional pain syndrome, is causing me stomach issues, headaches. I spent yesterday with an ice pack on my head-I couldn't eat, but I was craving crap food. The idea of more distress with plavix makes me cringe.

I am investigating supplements like olive leaf extract which is said to clean out and keep the arteries clear.

Campanile...after my stopping 8 week prescription of Plavix early...then the neurologist prescribed

Neurontin (gabapentin)...and, had to stop that more quickly..neurologist then prescribed Depakote (sp?) which I did not fill...I have no memory as to whether that was my decision...or if memory had blanked at having a prescription... Patioplans...

Campanile said:

Tara,

Did you just stop taking it?

I had terrible stomach problems with NSAIDs. I think neurotin, which I am taking for complex regional pain syndrome, is causing me stomach issues, headaches. I spent yesterday with an ice pack on my head-I couldn't eat, but I was craving crap food. The idea of more distress with plavix makes me cringe.

I am investigating supplements like olive leaf extract which is said to clean out and keep the arteries clear.

I was on plavix starting a couple of weeks prior to stent/coiling and stayed on it for 6 months. I hated the bruising! any little bump and I would get a huge bruise from it, my neighbours dog scratched her claws down my leg and you wouldn't believe how bad it looked, it was black from bruising. half the time I didn't even know how I got a large bruise. But I did stop it suddenly when told to, no problems, I was glad to be off it and just on the aspirin now. No other issues with it.

I had blood test before placing me on plavix and I wasn’t suitable so I was put on efient which is a fairly new drug but I had so many problems with it. I’m glad to be off it now and just on asprin.

Sharong, Thank you-I appreciate your response!

Patio, you, too!

Kelly, it is comforting to know that you were tested, but upsetting that you ended up on a drug that caused you problems. I hope the aspirin is working well for you.

Thanks for the info, I have to wear long sleeve as I too have, black, green & red marks all over arms UGH! I know I need to take for no clots, but hope at my 6-month checkup I can stop Plavix & Aspirin. It is good hear others experience. Star
sharong said:

I was on plavix starting a couple of weeks prior to stent/coiling and stayed on it for 6 months. I hated the bruising! any little bump and I would get a huge bruise from it, my neighbours dog scratched her claws down my leg and you wouldn't believe how bad it looked, it was black from bruising. half the time I didn't even know how I got a large bruise. But I did stop it suddenly when told to, no problems, I was glad to be off it and just on the aspirin now. No other issues with it.

I just started taking olive leaf extract for its many benefits, including artery cleansing. I wish I had started taking it in March when I was first diagnosed. Fortunately, I am not hypertensive and my cholestrol is 239, I’m a non-smoker, but I am still worried about my age, 65, being a big negative factor, on the other hand I hate living with this aneurysm. Also, now I have the added stress of choosing a Medicare gap or advantage plan. It is so confusing-drug coverage!

Campanile, you've cleared the olive leaf extract with your doctors, haven't you?

Take good care of yourself!

Seenie from Moderator Support

Seenie,

I would like to answer in the affirmative, but my doctors are drug specialists. Supplements are not part of the allopathic paradigm. My husband’s doctor, also my doctor, did not admonish my husband for taking ubiquinol, a supplement, with his statin drug, because the results were so positive, but the doctor basically told me he doesn’t know anything about supplements. I take neurontin for electrical pain caused by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It works well for this, but I know it has created other issues for me. Since I started taking it I have constant nausea and cluster headaches. It is the only prescription med I take. I start low and go slow whenever I take anything new, so I can guage my reaction.

Hi camp they put me on plavix before my coiling procedure and it wasn’t working for me; so they put me on Effient & that worked however it was very expensive & my crazy insurance would not pay for it & my surgery was a week delayed

found this on olive leaf extract http://www.drugs.com/npp/olive-leaf.html. There is a warning for diabetics. As with anything, anyone chooses to take (or not) please research from credible sites. I would suggest not only conversing with your PCP, but also your pharmacist. My pharmacist was great at knowing the chemistry interactions of a lot of things, had the educational training to figure it out, if he didn’t know the answer. An Herbalist I heard lecture at one of the Mother Earth News Fairs warned, and warned and warned people of mixing herbs with pharmaceuticals.

Moltroub,

This is great info. Fortunately, I am aware that you have to be as informed about supplements as pharmaceuticals and thank goodness I am not diabetic.

Good for you Campanile! Knowledge is a wonderful thing!

I've been on Plavix (75mg) and 325 aspirin for a little over 3 months now. I started about a week before having my Pipeline Stent placed. No stomach issues for me, but I'm wondering if the numbness and swelling in my hands is a side effect. I initially thought it was a post-surgical symptom, but after looking up side effects of Plavix, it did mention that about 5% of people have hand swelling. All of my rings are either too tight or don't fit at all. I'll ask my surgeon when I see him on Nov. 2. I can live with it if I know it will eventually disappear. Other than that and of course all the bruises that come out of nowhere, I have no other complaints.