Plavix and Pantoprazole interaction?

[tony969]

I have been taking Plavix for 3 years after MI back in 2009/100% occlusion of the left ventricle artery/.I have 2 bare metal stents and one DES inside those two in the same artery. Taking Diltiazem, Lisinopril, Aspirin and Ranitidine as well. Have been having constant stomach and chest pains and the doctors are not able to find the cause- at least they don’t think it is a cardiac one./the chest pains/ My gastroenterologist suggested I stop taking Ranitidine and switch to Pantroprazole. I have read a lot about the interaction between Plavix and PPI’s but he thinks only Omeprazole have more effect on Plavix, not Pantoprazole. Please, let me know what your opinion is and have you heard about any interaction between those two? I don’t need an additional heart attack.
Thank you for your response

[ed34]

I've stopped plavix twice now after a year, my Doctor insists there is no evidence to suggest any benefits after a year. I was also on Omeprazole with Plavix both times. My Doc said the evidence is weak, and if it does reduce the effects of plavix, then it's only slight. Until more conclusive studies are done, who knows.

[jrbon]

You seems to have make your investigation... theoretically Pantoprazole has less interaction with plavix... however let me tell you my experience/info...

1) In Spain, we only take plavix por about 1 year after stents. So at least according with some trends, you could already stop it, or cancel its effects without problems.

2) My Cardiologist did not allowed me to take Omeprazole while I was on Plavix... What your cardiologist thinks?

3) PPIs either Pantoprazole or Omeprazole, at least in Spain, are supposed to be used for SHORT treatment (4-6 weeks) of very SPECIFICS diseases.

4) PPIs have quit a number of side effects when used for long term: No assimilation of Calcium, Vitamin Bs, Magnesium (which can affect your heart), increased broken hips...

In summary, I would not worry for the interaction with Plavix, since probably you no longer need it, I would be very worry for taking them without a clear diagnostic or reason.

If you have got a gastroscopy and they did not see the reason of your pain, chances are that you will get nothing from PPIs.

If you have not got the gastroscopy, I would get it before going on PPIs for life.

In the other hand, I am surprised that you are not on statins, in fact those gave me the same symptoms that you describe until I realized that were gases produced by them. Any OTC pill to reduce the gases solved my problem.

Are you taking any supplements? some like Taurine, COQ10, Omega-3.. can produce awful stomach problems

Jesus