Dear doctor, I think I just posted this on a wrong forum. Starting again.
Been on Plavix for 6 years for 5 DES stents. Very recent, I had an event monitor for 3 years of ongoing, sporadic irregular heart beats that causes 5-8 seconds of dizziness/lightheadedness. Finally caught it on the event Monitor.
Doctor said monitor showed Atrial flutter in the upper chambers of heart. Told me to get off the Plavix and she would RX Pradexa which is like coumadin.(never been on coumadin or heparin) I am 74 years old and also take Nexium, Crestor, Avalide 150/12.5, Lopressor, 50,000mg of D3 daily, Synthroid for 3 thyroid nodules and Hashimoto's..(TSH is in the 3-8 range) I take .375 Bayer daily for sinus headaches and advil for knee arthritis. I have a high Parathyroid Level (serum) but normal calcium. Parathyroid adenoma is seen on Nuclear studies. My BNP is always in the 40-45 range. Have some asthma and use albuterol inhaler when needed. Also have sleep apnea. This is my medical history.
I was given no information on Pradaxa. With 5 DES stents...I am considering NOT going off the Plavix. Will this be a problem with Pradaxa. I bought the Pradaxa (very very expensive) but will not open the bottle until I am sure I can take all of the above meds and my Plavix, too. Is there any options for me if I decide NOT to take the Pradaxa. Am, I at risk of a stroke if I do not take it. I do not want to alter my other meds as I need them also. Would Coumadin be better? I need your help and advice. I do not want this med to be another Vioxx which I took in 2003. Pradaxa is sooo new and the unknowns concern me immesnsely. Thanks for any help you can give me..
Lenore