CLOPIDOGREL ( PLAVIX )

Clots in the blood cause more than 90% of heart attacks and more than 85% of strokes. And, once you've experienced one clot-related condition, your risk of another never goes away.
PLAVIX is proven to help keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots, which can help protect against a future heart attack or stroke.
Clots are a natural defense mechanism in the body, but sometimes they can put you at risk.
The use of clopidogrel (Plavix) appears to greatly reduce the risk of clot-induced late restenosis in drug-coated stents. Clopidogrel works by reducing the function of platelets, the tiny cells in the blood that help the blood to clot.
Taking clopidogrel greatly increases the risk of bleeding following most surgical procedures. Patients that are given Plavix prior to getting an angiogram and then find out they need coronary artery bypass surgery have to wait 3-5 days before the surgery is performed due to the increased risk of bleeding.
Possible side effects that can occur when taking this medication include: blood in the stool or urine, severe stomach pain, unusual bleeding or bruising. These side effects should be brought to the immediate attention of the physician.
Education is very important with patients that are prescribed Plavix. The one thing that I always tell patients that are being prescribed Plavix for the first time is that they will be back in the hospital with their stent being occluded within a week if they do not take the Plavix and that I have seen this happen on multiple occasions.

Above information can be found at http://heartdisease.about.com

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