1. Community
  2. Blood & Immune System
  3. Anticoagulants

dates for prescriptions

Posted , 3 users are following.

MickE
MickE

Hi,

    this may not seem relevant to most of you but I suffer amongst other things from OCD and anxiety, as well as my heart condition. I am confused by what date to stop or change over my medication. Most pills seem to come in 28 for a months supply (some 30). I have been told to take Clopidogrel for 12 months, so does that mean by date or to the same day of the week or number of pills? after this I have to substitute soluble aspirin. (actually I was told to take aspirin and Clopidogrel for a month and then just Clopidogrel for the next 11 months. This was after having 4 stents.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • MickE
    MickE

    Posted

    as a contiuation of my last message, then go back on the aspirin. There is a cease date on my repeat subscription but that is beyond the strat date from last year but just til the end of the month. May be it is not that critical and near enough to round it up?
  • lucy02639
    lucy02639 MickE

    Posted

    I don't think you need to worry too much about exact dates. If you have just started taking the Clopidogrel in August 2016, just carry on taking it to the end of August 2017 and then switch to the soluble aspirin. More important, I think, is to try and take your clopidogrel at more or less the same time every day.

    • MickE
      MickE lucy02639

      Posted

      thanks Lucy, I have already posted  saying I was over worrying but I had not seen your reply then. Thanks for your support. I actually started on 21st August 2015 and stents done on 25th. So

      I took it from after stents fitted is the start date. My ongoing re prescription says until 1st September 2016, so thats what I will do (means taking about half a packet, so fine) I set an alarm on my phone and take at the same time each morning. I have been distracted a coupl e of times and took them later but mostly works fine.  I am or can be a bit crazy over the tablets and have to check everything and count them etc., I hate being that way but at least I don't have any pain. thanks again for support. I will now go on to something else to worry about!

       

  • MickE
    MickE

    Posted

    on second thoughts, embarrassingly, this is an example of me worrying too much about trifling details, theres anxiety and OCD for you. I am  sure we all have much more important things to worry about!
  • pebbalita
    pebbalita MickE

    Posted

    Sorry to disagree Micke But I understand your OCD BUT I think it wise to be concerned about WHEN you take your medicines especially in OUR conditions I think being a bit flippant is dangerous .Why not ask your doctor to WRITE DOWN or email yOUR EXACT TIME AND DAYS TO TAKE YOUR MEDS ..IT IS IMPORTANT WHATEVER OPINIONS YOU MAY READ HERE WE ARE NOT DOCTORS smile IF you stop or forget to take anticoagulants you are subject to storoke..I do not wish to a;arm you but your DOCTOR is the one to tell you in WRITING...I have seen some VERY unwise 

    Don't worry advice here including to me when I do MUCH research so know not ALL opinions are FACTUAL 

     Take care 

     

    • lucy02639
      lucy02639 pebbalita

      Posted

      Pebbalita,if this isn't alarmist,I don't know what is! I don't think Mick has any intention of being flippant but is merely bringing a sense of humour to dealing with his OCD. I am sure that he is perfectly capable of taking one Clopidogrel tablet at roughly the same time each day without anything written down, and I am also sure his doctor would expect this - my doctor certainly assumes that I can manage my medication without written instructions. Also I know for a fact that it would not make the slightest difference if he took Clopidogrel for 364 or 365 days before changing to soluble aspirin.

    • pebbalita
      pebbalita lucy02639

      Posted

      Lucy I am FAR from and alarmist I just take time to do my himework before jumoing in here and acting like a doctor..Do you kNOW that by stopping PLAVIX  for even ONE day without a replacement stronger than asperin CAN LEAD TO stroke .I will post below JUST ONE  of the scientific evidence posted on Internet by medical SPECIALISTS that know far MORE than YOU do about these drugs. I was on PLAVIX the commercail name for Clopidogrel for a year and HAD to be takaen off WITH a "Bridge  anticoagulant  herparin while a TOOTH WAS  to be extracted .I had many people tell me OH do not worry just stop it a few days  BEFORE any operation I think YOU were one of those  who said that also..I KNEW better thank God...I was then switched to  ELIQUIS  (which also can not  Just be stopped at will  without risking a stroke.

      ) OF course I know better and my surgeons could not belive a forum like this has the ability to give FALSE advise to patients   without medical knowledge .WE HERE are not supposed to act like Doctors but just give OUR experiences and side effects ets=c.I notice you give MANY posts on All kinds of Forums here . I hope people do not take your "advise as from a Medical EXPERT> Here is a little about Plavix for YOUR benifit so  one day LESS in the month IS a RISK.  They do that 28 per month to get you to buy another months worth, awful scam but thats the truth. This is ine expert mediv=cal adiser..I cut and paste Please note last paragraph

      How should I take Plavix?

      Take Plavix exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

      Plavix can be taken with or without food.

      Because Plavix keeps your blood from clotting, it can also make it easier for you to bleed, even from a minor injury. Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have bleeding that will not stop.

      If you need surgery or dental work, tell the surgeon or dentist ahead of time that you are using Plavix. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time before having surgery, to prevent excessive bleeding. Follow your doctor's instructions and start taking this medicine again as soon as possible.

       *****You should not stop using this medicine suddenly. Use Plavix regularly even if you feel fine or have no symptoms. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. 

    • pebbalita
      pebbalita

      Posted

      Excuse typos I ususlly edit after a post do not see the edit button Sorry good editor,    lousy tyoist , I SEE my  typos immediately when posted sad 

    • pebbalita
      pebbalita lucy02639

      Posted

      oh BTW I did not mean to imply that MickE was being flippant I was referring to POSTS like yours being "Flippant " just to clarify

    • MickE
      MickE pebbalita

      Posted

      I am fine with times to take meds and I double (or more) check everything. I use a pill weekly oraganiser box as just a few minutes later you can forget what you have or have not taken. The issue was just the change ove date from Clopidogrel to Aspirin and I think the point Lucy made is as long as you are taking one or the other then the actual precise date you switch is not critical. My prescription info. indicates take til 1st Sept. so I will stop Clopidogrel on 31st Aug and start Aspirin on 1st Sept. and my mind now accepts that.

      thanks for your support

  • pebbalita
    pebbalita MickE

    Posted

    Never fear  or "Not  to  wiorry smile

    I have a sister with OCD so I am aware of your concern .Just remember to tale  EVERY DAY your clopidogrel (Plavix is commercaial name ) smile  not to miss a dose ...or risk of stroke .  most know this . I was on it for AFIB but decided to switch for personal reasons. you will be fine smile  Seems like you are not in permenantly as many are. Asperin if your doctor recommends Is fine.

  • lucy02639
    lucy02639 MickE

    Posted

    I really don't think I know better than my doctor; however, I do work with my doctor in an adult, non-dramatic partnership. I also refrain from dramatising myself and my heart condition. I took clopidogrel for seven years, have now been switched to Warfarin which I have been on for nearly three years, and expect to keep taking for the rest of my life. During the time I have been taking these meds. I have been operated on successfully for gall bladder removal, cataracts, appendicitis and a tonsillectomy. I have kept my INR completely stable for the whole time I have been on Warfarin,  and am now checked only every two months, as my doctor is confident that I am able to manage my medication successfully. The whole point of these forums is to give support and advice based on our own experience. We do not pretend to be medically trained and rely on the common sense of those reading our contributions to be aware of this fact.

    • MickE
      MickE lucy02639

      Posted

      well Lucy, this seems to have taken off a bit! My original query was when I was in one of my over worry mornings and I had been going round in circles. I am happy now about it. There was never an issue with not taking my clopidogrel on time and on a regular basis. I too have in take Warfarin for my AF an am quite stable,INR now only being checked on 8 weeks basis and only need 2mg per day. My only worry was the change over time but the principle of stopping clopidogrel and going on to aspirin, now the stents have settled in, was never in question and has been put in writing by the hospital consultants. I have a branch vessel with some stenosis, which has not been stented so I think the aspirin is for that as my consultant told me. So I am sure things will be fine.  At least I have never suffered pain, just the anxiety that drives me mad!

      thanks all for your support as usual, Mick

    • lucy02639
      lucy02639 MickE

      Posted

      Hi Mick, so pleased to hear that things seem good. You're doing really well to only be on 2mg. a day Warfarin; I'm on 3.5 and am always being told by my blood nurse how low that is! Hope all continues well. Lucy

    • pebbalita
      pebbalita lucy02639

      Posted

      Lucy I work with all four specialists?surgeons who are young enough to knnow the effects of the newer drugs ALL know about Warfarin a safe and sure drug for AFIB ,,WITH an antidote if a bleed ob=cccurs (Vitamin K ) but many doactors are Still unawre of the difference of other newer but less safe drugs for AFIB,Problem is with  Warfarin it takes nore blood tests to get the dose correct (I have NO veins due to hardening from Chemo  so that is out for me ...also many food interactions with Warfarin such as no  green leafy veggies like Spinich etc so does not work for everyone unfortunately)
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.