aspirin-clopidogrel (Plavix)

I received a copy of a letter today, sent from my Cardiologist to my general Doctor, and it states that my coronary artery stenting last week gave excellent results. What concerns me is the statement at the bottom "I suggest taking aspiring and clopidogrel for a period of one year".
Surely not? Aspirin too? Is he nuts?

[curmudgen]

perhaps he read this paper - http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/32/12/2948.full

[jrbon]

All the people in Spain, including myself,  with drug coated stents receive Aspirin for life and Clopidogrel or Prasugrel for 1 year.

Both are anti-agregants but their mechanism of action are different.

Jesus

[ed34]

I think my regular Doctor will insist I stay on Aspirin for life, as a minimum. She usually tells me to take Plavix for life also.

[Flycaster305]

I had to take 81mg of aspirin for five years along with 81mg of aspirin.  I talked my doctor out of the plavix prescription recently, so I'm going on just 81mg of aspirin.  
Congratulations, Ed on the good report.

[Roster17]

I had one stent put in 6 yrs ago and my Cardio has me on 81mg aspirin and the plavix for life. I can only go off both for 10 days if I know I'm having any surgery, then I have to go back on both again. If I was in your situation, I would listen to your regular Doc and stay on both for life.

[Flycaster305]

I should have mentioned, Ed, I developed an unusually severe bruising/bleeding problem.  My arms started looking like the sky looks like inside the arctic circle on a January evening.  Even the slightest scrape or tap was causing my arms to bruise.  It is believed the combination of fish oil, aspirin and Plavix led to this problem.  Plavix was the obvious first drug to be eliminated.  I don't have a history of restinosis and it appears  81mg aspirin is my most efficient drug.

Keep us informed.

[yager91]

I have the same problem but I didn't take any medicine. Both my arms look
like a big tatoo. I think it might just be age. Bruised while working on car
motor years ago and still hasn't gone away.

[ed34]

If I cut myself shaving or accidentally with any sharp item, it seems to bleed for ages and ages. When I was off plavix, it wasn't too bad. I don't seem to have any bruising though. Speaking of bruising, my leg has stopped hurting and I have no idea why, but there is no bruise at all at the incision site this time. In March I looked like my leg had been beaten with baseball bats.

[linda1054]

I have been taking Plavix for 20 months.  while taking the brand Plavix I had moderate bruising. I switched to generic Plavix 2 months ago & have experienced severe bruising.  Anyone else experienced this with the generic?

[pippi331]

several stents  also bypass surgery and have been taking plavix for the past 10 years aprox. 3 weeks ago i started taking generic . After the first 10 to 14 days my skin was yellow im very tired and just not feeling myself short of breath etc.like i said this is my third week the yellow seems to be gone but im still very tired also have trouble catching my breath, i know i need to go to the dr.i was just wondering if any one else has problems with the generic?

[Flycaster305]

Just to complicate the Plavix/generic Plavix  issue, I was told to stop taking Plavix after bypass surgery, and the bruising immediately became a bigger issue and remains a bigger problem today.  I'm not sure the bruising/bleeding issue is completely understood.  I still take 80mg aspirin, and wonder if that is the cause.
pippi331, sometimes one is allergic to the filler with generic drugs.  I'd sure report your situation as soon as possible.