Should a person be weaned from Plavix or taken off Plavix "cold turkey?"?
Question posted by Konablue on 27 Dec 2010
Last updated on 1 September 2018
My reason for asking this question: A former, "newly acquired," physician instructed me to stop taking Plavix. I had been on Plavix for a period of approximately 5 years. The Plavix was prescribed for me by another physician after having several surgeries on my Femoral Arteries. The last surgery was for the placement of stents in both Femoral's. Prior to this I had a Aortal/Femoral bypass in '95.
When this (former, newly acquired physician) told me to stop taking the drug and said I no longer needed it, I simply stopped taking Plavix that day. Three months after discontinuing this medication, I entered the hospital with extensive Pulmonary Emboli involving both lungs and a Myocardial Infarction which required Open Heart surgery 4 months after that hospitalization. I'm not sure if the Myocardial Infarction involved a blood clot.
I've done some reading but can't seem to find an answer to this question. The episode with the Pulmonary Emboli and Myocardial Infarction was nearly 2 years ago. I would like to read some material regarding the d.c.'ing of Plavix and possible side effects of discontinuing it cold turkey, if any. Thank you.
I had a heart attack in 2008, 100% blockage, in which I had two stents placed. At that time I was put on Plavix and a baby aspirin for what the cardiologist said was for life along with blood pressure medicine. Then again in 2014, I had another heart attack, another 100% blockage in which two more stents were placed. I had always taken my Plavix religiously. So Plavix will not prevent another heart attack, but I think it probably would've happened sooner if I had not been on Plavix. The two attacks were different, but heart attacks none the less, but now my blood pressure reads 117/75. Not bad for 67 years old huh.
Votes: +0
CH
Chyk41
22 Oct 2017
Your last physician should not have discontinued your plavix without fully checking you condition and the reasoning for your remaining on it. I am a cardiac patient and when hopitalized two months ago for extreme dehydration the first thing the doctors said was that I needed to stop taking my plavix without fully looking at my medical records. I have one stent in my main coronary artery, it is the second smallest stent that they make and I can't have restenosis. Due to the fact that it is just outside of the aorta I have to take very good care of it. My platelet count is in the high range of normal and a blood clot of any kind could kill me. My cardiologist set down with me and carefully covered why I would have to remain on plavix as long as I have my heart, I'm a transplant candidate. You have to be you front line advocate for yourself and before blindly following a doctors order go through your medical information with a new doctor very carefully.
The only way I can be taken off plavix is in a hospital where they have switched me to heparin. Your new doctor didn't fully read your chart and made a big mistake.
Coming off of plavix is easy and you just stop. Your platelet count returns to normal within 7 to 10 days. And you are up to full clotting ability within the first 30 days of stopping with no side effects. Just make sure of the reason for stopping doesnt interfere with any condition you may already have. Not all people can come off plavix.
A pulmonary embolism is directly caused by a blood clot and is probably the cause of your myocardial infarction.
Votes: +0
NI
Nightwatch12
22 Oct 2017
I had a heart May of 2013, 90 % blockage, one stent was placed. I was also told that I had two other arteries with 40% blockages. I was told to take Plavix, baby aspirin, metoprolol(BP). Jan/2015 I had a second stent placed, one of the 40% became 99 %. Still on the same meds. I am not having any problems with the medications at this time. I was told by my Doctor that I would probably be taking plavix and baby aspirin for life.
Votes: +0
PT
Ptc613
1 Sep 2018
Hello, I was put on plavix in 2012 with my first stent at 46, a second stent 2015 after Minor heart attack.. 3 other blockages at this time. With this said I alway try to ween myself off the plavix and 5 days into weening, I start to get chest pain and shortness of breath, so I start taking it again. I take baby aspirin also, my doctor and other cardiac friends have told me they never had an issue while being taken off their Plavix.. Could it be just Anxiety or is my body really telling me I need it? So confused.. hate taking it everyday! Thank you in advance
PT
Ptc613
1 Sep 2018
Hello, I was put on plavix in 2012 with my first stent at 46, a second stent 2015 after Minor heart attack.. 3 other blockages at this time. With this said I alway try to ween myself off the plavix and 5 days into weening, I start to get chest pain and shortness of breath, so I start taking it again. I take baby aspirin also, my doctor and other cardiac friends have told me they never had an issue while being taken off their Plavix.. Could it be just Anxiety or is my body really telling me I need it? So confused.. hate taking it everyday! Thank you in advance
UN
unclemark1962
11 March 2017
I know this was posted years ago, but to all who see this. Never ever stop taking your Plavix you will have a stroke or heart attack. It is just a matter of when. My brothers friend was on Plavix and he stop taking his because he thought he did not need it anymore and he said he could save a few dollars. Well he suffered a stroke 2 months later and sits in a wheel chair for life. I have a stent too and I am always warned by my cardiologist to never stop. He said I will risk death.
Votes: +0
CH
Chyk41
27 Dec 2011
I am on Plavix and I will be on it for life. I suffered an AMI a year ago and was given a DES (Drug Eluting Stent). Since that time I've learned that it is depended on the condition you have and your chances of forming a blood clot. My question is was your new doctor aware of your condition and why your other doctor saw fit to keep you on Plavix? What type of stents do you have in your Femoral Arteries?
Votes: +0
KO
Konablue
27 Dec 2011
Chyk41, Thank you for responding to my inquiry. In answer to your question 'was my new doctor aware of my condition,' I have to say I didn't have any condition to speak of except that 2 stents had been placed in my femoral arteries several years prior to open a narrowing in the graft placed around my femoral arteries to help to keep the femoral artery open. I was told by the new doctor (which I have since released) that I didn't need to be taking Plavix any longer and he never gave me an explanation nor did he instruct me to wean from this drug gradually. I knew nothing about how this drug, Plavix worked except that it was supposed to keep the blood from forming clots in and/or around the stent. I do not know what kind of stent I have but I do know it wasn't a DES.
Three months, almost to the date of stopping the Plavix, I ended up with a Myocardial Infarction in the left main artery and bilateral Pulmonary Emboli. I was wondering if perhaps I should have been weaned from the Plavix instead of being told to simply "stop taking the Plavix.?" Thanks again for your response.
CH
Chyk41
27 Dec 2011
Most who have been on Plavix and not Plavix and Aspirin are put on Aspirin when taken off of Plavix. Plavix is an anti-platelet which stops your platelet from sticking together to form a clot, then it doesn't stand a chance of breaking free and blocking an artery somewhere, causing a possible MI or stroke. I'm glad you let go of the new doctor, my cardiologist went through my femoral artery to put my stent in my heart it is the most common way to reach the heart. Your blood clots followed the same route. Take care.
KO
Konablue
5 Dec 2012
Thank you Chyk41. I appreciate your comments. I haven't been back to this site to read my responses for almost a year now. Time flies. The doctor that took me off from the Plavix at the time I had the Pulmonary Emboli did not instruct me to take aspirin after removing me from Plavix. After my experience with the Pulmonary Emboli and the clot in my heart, I've since been placed on Coumadin & Aspirin by the physician I have now. It's a challenge trying to get the INR in the normal range, but I don't mind since I don't want to worry about blood clots forming again. Thanks again for your response.
ED
edward1011
22 Dec 2012
I have 7 stents , the last 2 on june ,And i wastoll by my cardiologist that with thes new generation of stents that are cover with teflon you only need one year of plavix , the first 3 months after the intervention are the one that are the one that realy counts. I want to know if any one has sidf efects with Plavix , Because for me it has been a terrible experience , I have continus chest pains and my lrft arm cold after i wake up almost every morning.
I quit cold turkey for 8 months but i took asprin every day. Had no problems other than an increase in angina attacks. However when I finally got some insurance and went back to doctor I was told I was walking time bomb and I had to got back on plavix for life.
Votes: +0
KO
Konablue
5 Dec 2012
I'm really late in answering these posts. I apologize. Lots of things took place since I posted my request here. I thank you for your response skip1234. I wanted to answer your post since I am truly happy you didn't suffer any serious side effects from going off from Plavix for 8 months. I was not instructed to take Aspirin which probably would have helped me quite a bit had this former doctor told me to take aspirin. I have new physicians now and will probably be on Coumadin & Aspirin the rest of my life but it's no big deal when I think of the alternative. Thanks for answering my post. I hope you're still doing well.
NU
nuska
11 Jan 2011
My doctor said I would need Plavix for life. Not really a happy prospect as I suffer a lot of bruising, even from just scratching an itch. Sorry I cannot help further.
Votes: +0
KO
Konablue
5 Dec 2012
nuska, I apologize for not answering this post earlier. I've had much going on in my life since I posted and I guess I've neglected to follow up on a lot of things. I wanted to let you know that I appreciate your response. I hope you're still doing well on the Plavix. I'm sorry about the bruising. I can imagine how worrisome this must be. I wasn't familiar with Plavix when I was placed on this medication so I wasn't well informed or I would have thought to ask the physician if I should slowly wean myself off from it. That was a serious mistake on my part since the doctor didn't tell me to take an aspirin a day after going off from this drug. Thanks for your response nuska. : )
