How Long to Take Plavix

(The last post I saw on this was dated in 2006).

Standard operating procedure today (USA) seems to be if you put in a DES (drug eluding stent), the patient is on Plavix for at least a year. I have one EP telling me that since I've been on Plavix 18 months and still take coumadin and aspirin, I should stop the Plavix. Not good for my blood. I've had a CHF specialist tell me I should stay on Plavix just about forever. I've had a GP tell me there are no studies to support the benefits of Plavix beyond a year and I've had another say, there are indications longer term use of Plavix is helpful. Anyone have more info?

In the US, a 90 day supply of Plavix is $438 and there is no generic substitute so beyond just good health, there is a financial factor.

3 Comments

Side Comment Solution

by mrag - 2009-11-13 07:11:40

While I can see and very much appreciate your point and response on ONE specialist, basically you would eliminate the Republican AND Democratic parties in one swoop and listen to only one of them ;-)

I do NOT want to hear one doctor nod his/her head in agreement with another. One can go into any courtroom in any city on any day and get one doctor to agree (or disagree) with another. I am not religious either so I'm not inclined to "just believe" for the the sake of believing (as much as I may like to).

There should be reasonably definitive information on this Plavix issue. As I am the one that ultimately pays in dollars and in health, I want to hear some equally definitive answers. Hopefully they come from my primary cardiologist, but he is not going to get a free ride from me. I require continual proof.

So...is there "global warming" or not?

(I do very much appreciate the time, thought and effort of your reply-I'm just in one of my "cranky" days)

Conflicting recommendations

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-14 12:11:41

If you have the time and inclination the best way to deal with these issues is to study up on them yourself. Then listen to the suggestions (or biases) of the various docs and specialists. A lot of the decisions aren't purely medical. They involve our willingness to take risks and accept the consequences. I have chosen to avoid the statin meds and thinners like Plavix after reading up on them. But I have faced doctors predicting a 50-50 chance of a heart attack in the next year (for the last 10 years).

One of the first things I let any doc know on the first visit is that I consider him to be a consultant not a manager. It has worked good for me, but is sure a lot of work. It has kept me out of a lot of bad situations.

By the way a book I have found interesting reading is "How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman, MD. He is no lightweight and teaches at Harvard Medical School. He covers the various errors doctors make and how to spot them.

best,

frank

Good thoughts

by mrag - 2009-11-16 04:11:51

My initial problem originated because I have TWO (allegedly quite good) cardiologists (at different hospitals) that I trust, but giving me seemingly(!) conflicting advice. One says stop Plavix because of bleeding issues, the other says there are "indications" of benefits in long term use of Plavix. Not necessarily conflicting-one is very good if I might be in a serious car accident or fall off a ladder and bled to death, the other might be good so I live long enough to throw any existing politician out a very high window and or otherwise avoid certain other heart complications.

What has really got me pissed off now is no one knows shit. Come on-how many people are taking Plavix, aspirin AND coumadin? Obama and crew want to "save" billions by cutting fraud and waste and they can't get a fuckin simple answer for these three drugs that millions take? Meanwhile, Zetia is being deemed a "failure" and the drug companies are "giving" the government an $8 BILLION dollar discount while raising their prices $10 BILLION!

You can't be an atheist. Impossible. You have to believe George Carlin is up there laughing his ass off.

(hey, thanks for responding-it is appreciated-we live in a nut job world)

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