Is Plavix Safe for Me?
This question has been asked by many visitors to the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute website since the article Cleveland Clinic-led international study looking at Plavix and Aspirin was published in the April 2006 New England Journal of Medicine*.
CHARISMA (Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance) was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study of the safety and efficacy of clopidogrel plus aspirin compared to aspirin alone in stable patients at high risk for a cardiovascular event.
The study concluded that long-term therapy with low-dose aspirin plus another antiplatelet agent, clopidogrel (Plavix®), is not more effective than aspirin alone in preventing heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in a broad patient population.
"This is an important study that completes the spectrum of patients evaluated for plavix therapy," says Stephen G. Ellis, MD, Section Head of Invasive/Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Sones Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in the Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. "Plavix was initially shown to be beneficial in high-risk patients such as those with heart attacks or stent placement, and the CHARISMA study addresses potential benefit in lower risk patients. The bottom line is that the benefit/risk ratio in patients only with atherosclerotic risk factors (e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol), but without symptoms of heart, carotid or peripheral vascular narrowings does not appear favorable for the addition of plavix to aspirin. Conversely, the drug still does appear beneficial for the millions of patients with established cardiovascular disease."
It is important to discuss with your doctor any concerns you may have about taking Plavix. If you have had an interventional procedure or prior coronary or peripheral artery disease, Plavix may be necessary for your condition. Do not stop taking Plavix without speaking to your physician.
Resources:
- Cleveland Clinic Research Explores Value of Two Blood Thinners Versus Just One
- Bhatt DL, Fox KA, Hacke W, Berger PB, Black HR, Boden WE, Cacoub P, Cohen EA, Creager MA, Easton JD, Flather MD, Haffner SM, Hamm CW, Hankey GJ, Johnston SC, Mak KH, Mas JL, Montalescot G, Pearson TA, Steg PG, Steinhubl SR, Weber MA, Brennan DM, Fabry-Ribaudo L, Booth J, Topol EJ. Clopidogrel and Aspirin versus Aspirin Alone for the Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events. N Engl J Med*. 2006 Mar 21
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