“Is plavix( clopidogrel ) a blood thinner?”
I had a heart attack last June. I was prescribed plavix( clopidogrel ) by my cardiologist- 75mg daily. I am scheduled to have knee replacement surgery in 3 weeks and wanted to know if I should stop taking plavix. Is plavix a blood thinner that should be stopped before surgery? If so, should I be weaning off and then slowly increasing the dose when I go back on it?
17 Answers
This is a question that your Cardiologist really should be answering.
Plavix is not a 'blood thinner' but a platelet inhibitor. You will need to stop the medication at least 10 days before the surgery. However you should check with your cardiologist first and should have had a cardiac clearance. Following the surgery you can restart the medication in general 48 hours after the procedure. Some surgeon prefer you to be off Plavix a bit longer. Check with your provider.
Julia G. Ansari
Cardiologist
The guideline is suggesting after a heart attack whether you get a stent or not you you should take aspirin and a medication such as plavix for a minimal of one year. Plavix is anti platelet and not a blood thinner like coumadin. However from a different mechanism from the usual blood thinner it also makes you to be more prone to bleeding by preventing platelets to stick to each other to form a clot. Depends on the surgeon that does the operation they may want you to stop plavix 5 days prior to surgery. You should consult with your cardiologist.
I cannot answer such specific questions about your situation, because I don't have your medical records. Yes, plavix is a blood thinner. I would advise you to ask your specific physician.
You SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT STOP PLAVIX without approval from your prescribing cardiologist. If you have had a STENT, stopping PLAVIX could result in a heart attack. You need to discuss everything with your cardiologist.
Yes,Plavix is a blood thinner. Yes, it must be managed before surgery. However, the reason you are on it is very important and should be discussed with your anesthesiologist, surgeon, and cardiologist all on the same page. You would not want to have your knee replacement cause an unnecessary problem with your heart. Please immediately ask for a pre-anesthetic consultation with a physician anesthesiologist.
Plavix is an anti-platelet agent which decreases blood clot formation. Lay people will often call this a blood thinner. DO NOT STOP taking plavix without discussing this with your cardiologist first. Since you had a heart attack, you may have had a coronary stent placed. These stents can close off (clot) if you suddenly stop plavix and cause another heart attack. Your cardiologist may want to change you to a different "blood thinning" agent for surgery that can be easily reversed as a bridge until you can safely go back on plavix. Since all blood thinners can increase the amount of bleeding during surgery, it is important that your orthopedic surgeon and cardiologist coordinate when to stop and start plavix in preparation for your surgery. We have many patients who need anti platelet agents for a variety of medical issues and go on to have successful surgery with appropriate medication management.
Aspirin and placix are used as antiplatelet drugs. It protects the stents and unstable plaque. If a patient has a stent with heart attack its recommended to use aspirin and plavix for minimum 12 months and aspirin there after. People on aspirin and plavix have increased tendency for bleeding. There mechanism of action however is different from what in cardiology we call blood thinner like coumadin. The decision to stop plavix shd be discussed with your cardiologist and is based on the urgency and patient preference.
See your cardiologist.You may need a sress test before elective surgery.Plavix inhibits platelet funtion and therefore is a blood thinner which should be stopped 5-6 day before surgery
Plavix should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to major orthopedic surgery. Consult with your cardiologist, surgeon, and anesthesiologist well before. They may plan a bridging therapy for blood thinning before surgery and test your blood for its clotting ability. These have a direct influence on the choice of anesthetics that you can receive.
Most of the time plavix is used for one year , but longer if a stent were inserted in certain cases. Plavix is a blood thinner by blocking platet adhesion to the inner lining of your blood vessels. It should be stoped 5-7 days prior to surgery and no weaning is needed. It's possible that you no longer need it but that is up to your cardiologist .
You are correct in the sense that Plavix is a blood thinner and increases the risk of bleeding during and immediately following surgery. Please do not alter or change taking your Plavix on your own. It is not clear from your question whether you had cardiac stents placed after your heart attack. Customarily, we send our patients who had recent heart attacks to their cardiologist for clearance. Your cardiologist will see you before your surgery and provide guidance regarding the dosage and administration of the Plavix surrounding your surgery. Please do not alter your Plavix dose on your own, that will increase your risk of having another heart attack, Please seek the guidance of your cardiologist who is familiar with your medical history.
Thank you and good luck with your surgery.
Dr Ketch
Thank you and good luck with your surgery.
Dr Ketch
Consult with your Doctor and your
Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologist
In my practice, I recommend to hold plavix 5 preop in this type of procedure. Plavix is an antiplatelet agent. Consult with cardio for the alternatives you have.
Good luck
Good luck
Plavix is a blood thinner and should be stopped for many surgeries, particularly a knee replacement. Make sure your cardiologist is aware of the surgery and clears you to come off the medication. He/she may decide to replace it with another medication or have you stop totally. Typically patients stop the medication for 7 days before and restart after 2 days--the specific timing would be determined by your cardiologist and orthopedic surgeon.
It's definitely a blood thinner. Only your cardiologist can stop it. And it definitely needs to be stopped for surgery. There is no weaning process. It is stopped 5 days before surgery only if cardiologist allows. Then it is restarted a day or 2 after surgery.
Yes Plavix is a blood thinner.
Usually before any major surgery you will be advise to stop Plavix.
But you situation is different-you had a heart attack recently and if any stent was deployed in your heart blocked vessel then you cannot stop Plavix so soon
But if no stent was deployed then may be possible to stop Plavix earlier but risk benefit need to be discussed with your primary cardiologist .
No you do not have to wean or gradually to increase the dose.Start back with the full dose.i hope I tried to answer your questions if it helps. Thanks for the opportunity.
Usually before any major surgery you will be advise to stop Plavix.
But you situation is different-you had a heart attack recently and if any stent was deployed in your heart blocked vessel then you cannot stop Plavix so soon
But if no stent was deployed then may be possible to stop Plavix earlier but risk benefit need to be discussed with your primary cardiologist .
No you do not have to wean or gradually to increase the dose.Start back with the full dose.i hope I tried to answer your questions if it helps. Thanks for the opportunity.
