Plavix & Aspirin Concerns

[Becky]

Val wrote:

does anyone have any information between the relationship of Plavix and mental confusion and or depression? I really need your help now.

If you have had any heart stuff going on, including stents placed, angio, or any type of surgery ppl usually get a depression. Its very common. The plavix is not the cause. If you feel you need more help you should talk to a professional about it. The mental confusion could be a sign of Anemia. You can ask for a complete CBC, to check your iron levels. Low levels will cause confusion and making it hard to concentrate as well.

[muskyhusky]

wendy wrote:

<quoted text>
did you ever find out more about this? my mom started on plavix 6 weeks ago and she was totally sharp but now she is so confused it isn't even the same woman- I saw a commercial advertising plavix and they said if confusion appears call your doctor right away...we did and her cardiologist said she needs it, but it has changed her from sharp as a tack to a senile person in 6 weeks! anyone know more about this?

I would see another Dr. there are other blood thinners she can be put on, get a second opinion.

[Darlene]

I also am wondering about the connection of Plavix and mental confusion. My husband started Plavix three monts ago. Three weeks later he had an allergic reaction and was given prednisone and benedryl. The outword signs went away. Now he is very confused at times, gets up and cleans in the middle of the night instead of sleeping - has no sense of time-, throws good stuff away, sometimes can't remember the word ge needs, puts things in odd places, etc. He has headaches and popping in his head. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Is there anything that can be done? The doctors are really of no help because he taks fine in the little time he is with them.

[muskyhusky]

Darlene wrote:

I also am wondering about the connection of Plavix and mental confusion. My husband started Plavix three monts ago. Three weeks later he had an allergic reaction and was given prednisone and benedryl. The outword signs went away. Now he is very confused at times, gets up and cleans in the middle of the night instead of sleeping - has no sense of time-, throws good stuff away, sometimes can't remember the word ge needs, puts things in odd places, etc. He has headaches and popping in his head. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Is there anything that can be done? The doctors are really of no help because he talks fine in the little time he is with them.

Here are the side effects of Plavix, your Dr. should take a look at them:

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Plavix and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

nosebleed or other bleeding that will not stop;
black, bloody, or tarry stools;
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance; or
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness, fever, and urinating more or less than usual.

[jamesgang]

my husband takes plavix with an adult asprin 325mg i think. but our pharmacy said you couldnt get generic plavix. which is true can you or not? i know we did when he was 1st starting but then plavix sued the generic company i thought. what up? he has no insurance and we are having a time with keeping him supplied!

[Darlene]

We found out from the neurologist my husband's confusion was caused by a small stroke (probably happened in the hospital while he was there fighting an infection in his previous surgery wound) instead of the Plavix. She also told us that his carotid arteries are blocked 98-99% on the right side bottom and up into the face and 90-95% on the left side. She said there is no need to do surgery on the carotid arteries because the top part where the arteries split at the upper portion cannot be operated on because they go up into the brain. The only hope he has is that they don't block any more and that his simistaton starts dissolving the plaque.

[muskyhusky]

I'm on simvastatin too, I did go off the plavix because I needed to loose weight and I've lost 10 lbs so far...I'm trying to get to 110, I quit smoking 2 and a half years ago and gained 45 lbs. so I am now at 135 lbs.. I am taking the baby aspirin once a day and fish oil which a natural blood thinner.

[Donnalee]

Darlene wrote:

We found out from the neurologist my husband's confusion was caused by a small stroke (probably happened in the hospital while he was there fighting an infection in his previous surgery wound) instead of the Plavix. She also told us that his carotid arteries are blocked 98-99% on the right side bottom and up into the face and 90-95% on the left side. She said there is no need to do surgery on the carotid arteries because the top part where the arteries split at the upper portion cannot be operated on because they go up into the brain. The only hope he has is that they don't block any more and that his simistaton starts dissolving the plaque.

Darlene get another medical opinion concerning the surgery. Also look at the Dean Ornish Program as a way to help control the situation through diet, stress management,and supervised exercise. These are hospital programs that your husband may qualify. This program was/is my saving grace. It is not easy...but 'I have everything to live for and nothing to die for'Good Luck and don't take a 'wait' position!

[noMOREtv4u]

KarM wrote:

You all should worry. Sorry to alarm anyone. My dad,who passed away this October, was taking the generic Plavix along with baby aspirin ever since his stent operation 4 yrs. ago. He had a stroke, not a clot but a brain bleed. He went into a coma & the next day he was brain dead. I know in my heart that it was due to his meds. Please do not rely solely on your doctor, alone. Do your own research & let your body tell you what meds it agrees with, side effect wise, not the doctor. May God bless & guide you all to a healthier you.

There is no generic Plavix. I don't know what your dad was on, but it obviously could not have been anything like Plavix, since there is no drug like Plavix but Plavix. It will be a while before the patent runs out.

[Malcolm]

My wife (61 yr old) went into hospital (on 8 December) to have a stent in her right artery. She was put on Plavix and asprin to reduce risk of clotting round the stent. Operation was "routine" and appeared to go well but 14hrs later she complained of severe headaches and then severe nausea. They discovered through a CTG scan that she had a small bleed in her brain (cerebellum). She was immediately taken off "blood-thinning" drugs (Plavix and asprin) and into ICU. Bleed in brain has not got any worse and she has gradually felt better. Still in hospital under observation but not ICU. Dilemma now is when/if she should go back on Plavix and/or asprin. With it her risk of bleed increases; without it her risk of artery clotting increases.
Has anyone reading this heard of a similar situation and can put me in touch with relevant specialists. Specialists currently treating her have never seen this situation and so have no experience to help them.