subject: Plavix With Its Anti-Platelet Qualities Prevents Formation of Blood Clots [print this page] Plavix With Its Anti-Platelet Qualities Prevents Formation of Blood Clots
Plavix With Its Anti-Platelet Qualities Prevents Formation of Blood Clots
Plavix is an anti-platelet medicine that helps keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots, which usually is the main cause of heart attacks and strokes. Plavix is also recommended for people who have experienced a recent clot-related occurrence or who have been diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease, which implies poor circulation in the legs.
Reasons for Prescribing Plavix
Plavix helps blood to flow more easily, reducing the risk of a future heart attack or stroke. The active ingredient in Plavix is clopidogrel bisulfate, and when taken with aspirin, it is also recommended for people who have Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), a condition that encompasses chest pain and two types of heart attack.
Normally, platelets help the blood to clot when needed, as is seen after an injury. However, when arteries narrow due to fat deposits, platelets stick together in the vessels. These fat deposits can rupture, leading to more platelets clumping together, causing a larger blockage of the artery. This increases the chances of heart attack, stroke and other circulation conditions. Plavix reduces such occurrences by preventing platelets from forming into clots.
Contra Indications
Patients must be aware of the fact that genetic factors and some medicines reduce the effect of Plavix, which could result in putting you at a greater risk for heart attack and stroke. To combat this, your health expert might need to conduct genetic tests to determine the correct dosage. Do not stop taking Plavix abruptly, as it could increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, and follow the physician's advice.
Who should not take Plavix?
Individuals with stomach ulcers or conditions that cause bleeding should not use Plavix. Taking Plavix along with aspirin could increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. It is also contra indicated in patients with active pathological bleeding such as peptic ulcer or intracranial hemorrhage.
Plavix Side-Effects
Some serious side effects of Plavix could be fever, unexplained weakness or confusion, or excessive bleeding, which are signs of a rare fatal condition, which could occur about 2 weeks of taking Plavix. Talk to your physician about other potentially dangerous side-effects. Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with Plavix, especially if you've had a stroke. The most common side-effects of Plavix are severe itching, a severe rash characterized by the appearance of purplish spots or patches, diarrhoea and rash. Plavix increases the risk of bleeding and using other drugs along with Plavix may further increase the risk of bleeding. Patients with the propensity for bleeding disorders should be monitored while taking this medication. Another condition to watch out for is Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which might occurin reaction toPlavix. Symptoms include decreased number of blood cells, reduced kidney function and fever.
Dosage
Plavix is usually had once daily with or without food. The ingredient clopidogrel is activated by enzymes in the liver and therefore people who have reduced activity of liver enzymes that animate clopidogrel may not respond well to Plavix. The physician recommended adult dose is 75mg once daily with or without food.
