| Key to ratings for plavix: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
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| 2 | tia stroke | confusion,cloudiness in thinking,doctors dont know why I happen it. bp 116/63 hr 58 cholesterol 200. I eat good like oatmeal,turkey,chicken,salads,fruit always. dont smoke dont drink,exercise 1 1/2 hours a day 4 times a week. plus I tried to get sdi and they said no and tried to get state disablitiy they said no. what a terrible government we have Iam ashamed being a American!! All the taxes I have paid for 45 years and nothing. Only in this rotten country. I will try to change my name to a foreign name maybe I will get it all free. ??????????? know a good attorney?? | I quit taking the zocor and started feeling better. and i bleed real bad and if the doctors who are mostly jerks cant tell me why i show take plavix I will stop. | M | 59 | 5 months | 11/15/2009 | 2 | TIA | POSTED HERE RECENTLY ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS....STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEMS... | JUST WONDERING....DOC. RECENTLY SAID I MUST STAY ON THIS DRUG TO PREVENT FURTHER STROKE. NOTICED IN LAST POST HERE..."GOING OFF PLAVIX TODAY".....WITH DOCS. OK ?????OR ON YOUR OWN??? SCARED TO STOP...SCARED TO STAY ON....WHAT A DELEMA!!!!! | M | 73 | 3 months | 11/2/2009 | 1 | Stent | Had blockage and a stent was put in. I was put on Plavix after that. I have been on it for 9 months and have been in the hospital five times for severe bleeding and had a stroke six weeks ago. I continue to have loss of memory and getting worse everyday. Stay tired all the time as well. Going off Plavix today. | M | 83 | 9 months | 10/29/2009 | 5 | Cardiac Stent | None noticed. | I have been taking 75mg daily for about 2 years along with four other medications, I feel great. | M | 47 | 2 years | 10/27/2009 | 1 | ophthalmic migraines | Extreme Vivid Nightmares | I've only been on Plavix for five days. The last three days I have had violent nightmares. These nightmares you wake up remembering everything. I've never had this before using Plavix. I also noticed bleeding problems. | F | 36 | 5 days | 10/24/2009 | 4 | I had 5 stents put in | M | 61 | 1 years | 10/14/2009 | 1 | 1 Promus™ stent | Increasing mental confusion; stumbling for words; garbled thoughts; no concentration; no motivation; anxiety/nervousness; anxiety attacks at night & vivid dreams; beginning to limit social activities as it is embarrassing to try to speak intelligently. Bruising and trouble stopping bleeding from even a small cut. | I was going to call my primary care doctor and ask for tests for Alzheimers and/or a brain tumor because I am having increasing problems with mental acuity. I embarrass myself when I attempt a discussion with friends, family and peers. I'd much rather take the chance of losing my life than to lose my mind. | F | 60 | 14 months | 10/11/2009 | 1 | TIA | Depression fatigue...just plain out of it...no energy or desire to do ANYTHING!!!..Not myself at all...Memory problems seem to have wosened over the last few weeks. Anyone else have these symptoms???? Thinking of stoppinmg meds today just for a trial..I feel like I want my life back... | Dr. seems to think this is a miracle drug..think drug rep's who peddle this stuff along with a big lunh for the office staff may have some bearing on the use of Plavix..just a thought | M | 73 | 6 weeks | 10/9/2009 | 4 | Clogged smaller arteries | Bruising. Waking up early. | Doc wanted me to get off it aftr 9 months, but was unable too because of side effects when I stopped taking it. A bright white spot on my right arm appeared when ending Plavix, grizzly blemished on right arm appeared. After the nine months of Plavix chest pain and pressure points on chest started. After 1 1/2 years on Plavix was able to get off it with few prolems after a pretty nurse convinced me it could be done. Now thinking of going back on it for the rare once in a blue moon night shift, but for only a few days worth. | M | 1.5 years | 9/19/2009 | 3 | heart attack | i been brusing, weak, muscle aches, but so far that is it, i also take crestor,zestril, asprin, metoprolol. so it could be all those togeather. | plavix is very expencive, i wonder has anyone ever bought plavix in the internet in canada pharmacies, it is cheap, but i do not know if it is real or not,i spend alot on medicacion, thank God i have a family that helps or else i would not be able to buys all this med. | M | 53 | 4 months | 9/17/2009 | 5 | Hard to stop cuts from bleeding. Other than that, nothing obvious. | M | 47 | 2 years | 9/9/2009 | 5 | Tia 3x bypass 5 stents later | loss of memory, bruising and it's very hard to stop bleeding from any size cut even a scratch. | I have been on Plavix for about 15 years, it's been so long I've forgotten the exact year I started taking it. I had a TIA in 1992 followed by 3x bypass in 1993 followed by 2 stent implants followed by 2 more stent implants followed by a sandwich procedure in 2006. 1 stent was 99.9% blocked while I was on plavix. I was ok with the plavix and my doctor said I could go off of it but I said no and stayed on it and he later said in 2006 after the blockage "The plavix is what saved your life" but failed to mention he suggested I go off plavix. These Doctors are something! Until reading your comments I thought my fogged memories were due to age but now I'm thinking differently. | F | 56 | 15 years | 8/28/2009 | 2 | Stroke | Extreme dizziness, listlessness, bruising | Forget the doctor! I am taking myself off the med. | F | 62 | 2 months | 8/28/2009 | 1 | blood flow | cost About $20.00 for a 90 days. | F | 77 | 2 years | 8/25/2009 | 2 | I had a TIA (mini-stroke) | I've been taking Plavix for about 4 months, and for the last 3 of those have experienced daily headaches. Also, G.P. has reduced them to one every other day because of continued bleeds in thighs. Just hope the rotten things are working! | F | 58 | 4 months | 8/19/2009 | 4 | As a Blood thinner | None | taking 75 ng Plavix,since it came on market--years & years | M | 68 | 5 days | 8/18/2009 | 5 | Heart attack, by-pass,stents,angio. | I have not experienced any side effects that I know of. | taking for 2 yrs., | F | 40 | 730 days | 8/7/2009 | 4 | 2 carotid aneurysms behind my eyes | Bruising, constipation, gas, itching developed after a few months, | Not sure about the itching, have to contact doctor. I would seriously consider not going off this drug by yourself. I have had many of the minor side effects related to this drug but many of the side effects I see on this listing can easily be caused by the initial trauma that caused doctors to prescribe in the first place. Do not let these online blogs scare you into making an irrational decision. Talk to your doctor! If you don't like the advice you are getting, get a new doctor. I can't imagine how a caregiver could stop medication without consultation and then say they stopped the medication too late.. Whaaat? Stopping the medication could have killed your loved one.. insanity! | M | 38 | 6 months | 8/7/2009 | 1 | TIA | Fatigue, severe burning in my upper body and chest, tingling of the skin. | The side effects did not start immediately. After two to three months I was experiencing increasing fatigue. Then the burning in my torso started. The burning got really bad in my chest. This was accompanied by tingling of the skin thoughout my body. The suffering from the burning became so severe that I could barely work. I was becoming debilitated. I was about ready to go on disability when I finally figured out that it was the plavix. I spent over $30,000 going from specialist to specialist trying to find an answer to why my health was degrading. They would all take my list of meds, put it aside and then go about their specialty. I finally asked an allergist if I could be allergic to the plavix. He said it was possible. So I stopped taking it. It took almost two years to recover my health. Fortunately the reason for which I was taking it was fixed and I don't need it any more. Now I am having similar symptoms from other drugs. Could the plavix have caused some permanent change in my body? I don't know. Has this happened to anyone else? How are you doing? Send me an e-mail. | M | 61 | 1 years | 8/6/2009 | 1 | dr. recommendation ahead of stents | taking drug for only 2 weeks and have become so dizzy I have trouble walking--am bumping into walls at home and losing my balance when out. Vertigo increasingly worse, so am taking myself off this suspicious drug---will let dr. know tomorrow. Also experience fingertip numbness, and some incipient difficulty thinking clearly. | have high level of distrust of Big Pharma, believing industry is primarily interested in making huge short term profits, and don't believe FDA represents us well. Way too much dishonesty abounding here. | M | 75 | 15 days | 7/20/2009 | 1 | Stent | I,of late, have been having problems with thinking, feeling tied, sleeplessness and body aches. This happened after I have been on Plavix, but after about 6 months of use. | I used to teach premed organic chemistry and labs. They know naught and may be bought! Thanks a lot for your info. I am taking myself off of Plavix ($200/month) and going to $10 baby asprin. By the way I am very serious about what physicians know. Trust me it, in 90% of the cases, they don't know and many don't care. They simply push what the drug companies want to sell in a large fraction of the cases. Think they go to and verify at the level of the scientific journal? Hell no! I predict great lawsuits on this drug. Thank God, I didn't get a coated stent. Thank you for this info. | M | 59 | 7 months | 6/27/2009 | 3 | 2 stints in brain, anneurysm burst | Brain surgery 6/08, 1 yr ago - stints placed. short-term memory loss, confusion, sleeplessness, brain fog, difficulty concentrating. | Can anyone post a note if know if I can ever get off of Plavix? It's so expensive. | F | 53 | 11 months | 6/17/2009 | 2 | high risk with mech. valve and bypa | major gastrointestinal problems. Major stomahe pressure and bloatibg with nausea. finally had to stop becaue I felt too sick. | M | 37 | 2 months | 6/12/2009 | 5 | 2 stents | itching | I feel sure that so many are blaming Plavix when it could be other drugs they are taking or their deterioating general health. What else are they doing that they shouldn't? eating the wrong stuff, no proper exercise? Overweight? | M | 76 | 3 years | 5/31/2009 | 1 | 1 stent (medicated) | Severe memory problems; struggle for words when talking; difficult to start tasks; extreme trouble with decision making; became antisocial when I used to enjoy going out; fatigue; can't get enough sleep; no motivation; bruise easily; don't enjoy hobbies I previously loved; do only what I must when I must. I am just not myself. | I thought I was going crazy, maybe getting Alzheimer's & feared I would lose my job. Went to family doc & was treated for ADD which made matters worse. Finally prescribed antidepressant and has increased dosage. Can someone tell me how I can discontinue taking this drug SAFELY??? Been on it since 9/07. Please??? | F | 48 | 2 years | 5/27/2009 | 1 | med st | had no symptoms for first 6 months....then have had confussion, extreme fatigue, slurred speech, stomach upset, can't think straight....stopping Plavix.....already stopped Zocor and Lopressor on my own and with the knowlege in these books I take Omega 3 and QCO10 each day....I have been able to lower my blood pressure to normal with my diet and the Omega and CO10...... | please read the following books: Lipitor thief of memory by Duane Graveline/Statin drugs side effects by Duane Graveline/What you must know about statin drugs by Jay Cohen/The Doctor's Heart Cure by Al Sears | M | 46 | 2 years | 5/27/2009 | 2 | 3 DES stints | Severe pain in feet can't wear shoes at times, rash and massive itching on lower outside of legs, Even though I had the stents and all tests are very good with no heart damage I have never "felt" any better. I would have expected that after the arteries were opened up I would have felt much better. I am going to taper off the Plavix and go to a low dose aspirin even though my Dr. say to stay on it for the rest of my life.....great advise cause his feet and legs feel great, no sweat off his brow. This whole medical establishment is a pile of crap...try this or try that lets give him this and see what it does oh look a rash has appeared, oh boy lets try another drug and see what we get.... | I feel that this drug does what it say it will...it also does what it doesn't say it will and the side effects compared to just aspirin are huge. it is totally effective at removing money from your bank account which I think was the real intention. | M | 51 | 3 years | 5/26/2009 | 1 | to prevent another DVT | Longer bleed time. Migraine without pain (memory function, pain in various part of body, numbness, scintilating scotoma, blind spots, vertigo, nausea, euphoria), flatulance. | On it for 6.5 years. Now I find I have monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, low thyroid, and low platelets (probably an auto immune disease). No telling if it's from the Plavix or not but I have my suspicions. Don't take any drug if it's not an absolute necessity | F | 53 | 6.5 years | 5/26/2009 | 1 | stent | abdominal pain, chest pain, blood pressue is higher, cholesterol is higher, tired, legs get heavy feeling | Would like to get off, but don't know how to do it safely. I can't ask my doctor, because he says, I can never get off it. Don't understand that. | F | 71 | 9 months | 5/18/2009 | 1 | Stroke | Severe depression, fatigue, terrible brain fog, memory loss, concentration problems. Blood in urine, hives, RLS symptoms, felt cold all the time. Suicidal feelings. | Only drug I was on. Horrible medicine. Nearly ruined my life. Never felt so bad in my life. Doctors said wasn't indicative of drug. Thought I was going to have to go on disability, couldn't do my job anymore. Thought I was going crazy. Thankful to those writing on this site. Went off drug and switched to asprin and all symptoms disappeared. | M | 47 | 6 months | 5/17/2009 | 1 | med stent | extreme memory loss,always confused,fatigue,fall asleep everywhere/anytime,itching I feel horrible at 45!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doctor says not the Plavix.....didn't have ANY problems at all before Plavix... | am going to stop taking Plavix on my own and just take asprin...I am 45 and need quality of life! I have read several books and take CoQ10,Omega 3,Garlic daily and asprin. Any feedback would be helpful to me...I tried to email others on this site but can't get the email to go out...so please email me.... | M | 45 | 2 years | 5/15/2009 | 3 | 1 stent nov 2008, 2 more Mar 2009 | fatigue, constantly sleepy no matter how much sleep I get, huge bruised areas even though I don't bump into anything, weakness. Did have joint pain. | I don't know if my problems are plavix, crestor, toprol xl, or trandolapril. What I did want to share is something that may help those having pain. I was in a car accident 25 years ago. 5 years ago after continually worsening ankle problems I finally scheduled ankle fusion. At the urging of my wife, I started taking a glucosamin chondroitin supplement called "Move Free". The pain was gone in several days so I canceled the surgery and this is 5 years later. I mention this because after my first stent I stopped taking it and the pain came back after a week. I got back on the supplement even though my Cardiologist thought it was "silly" and have had no problems since. Maybe it will help you too. Hoping to get off prescripts in 5 months. Wish someone would post or email me if they had problems after getting off plavix or any of the other prescripts I am on. Anyone on suppliments other than fish oil that their physician has recommended? I have started taking Omega Q Plus. | M | 46 | 7 months | 5/12/2009 | 1 | DES placement in Mar 09 | Dizzy, light headed, "spaced out", memory loss, fuzzy feeling, MAJOR gastro/intestinal issues, MAJOR fatigue, ALWAYS tired, no energy, no ambition. Feel like CRAP 24/7. Very low quality of life. | HORRIBLE side effects, hate is not strong enough word to describe how I feel about this medication ! Cure worse than disease, not being over dramatic, really feel this strongly. Doc was not forthcoming about Plavix and DES stent, he withheld from me the inconclusive data that suggests that it should possibly be continued for longer than 1 year, maybe even indef. I am very angry that I am stuck on this medication for the next 4 months to a year as it is. I will not stay on it past that point and would rather have a clot and another MI ,than continue Plavix. I will opt for having my chest cut open, take out the stent and having a bypass, than stay on this for the rest of my life.(Are you reading this Bristol-Myers Squibb?). | M | 44 | 60 days | 5/5/2009 | 4 | DES in 99% blocked LAD | easy bruising but no pain, so just cosmetic really, and no bruising problems where it counts: buttocks, or feet, or rectum | not sure how i could rate it a 5 (how do i know that it is really working?); also on 325mg/day aspirin, and taking krill oil and CoQ10. also on 50mg toprol/day, 10mg/day lipitor, enalapril | M | 45 | 110 days | 4/29/2009 | 2 | stent placement | easy bruising, joint pain, depression, unable to sleep and hair loss | F | 55 | 8 months | 4/19/2009 | 1 | BLOOD THINNER | BLOOD.....ALMOST TOTAL BLOOD IN URINE !! | TIRED, ANTI SOCIAL, JOINT PAIN, DEPRESSION AND JUST A VERY UNWELL FEELING !! | M | 77 | 10 months | 4/15/2009 | 1 | 2 bare metal stents\extensive DVT | severe joint pain, right side arm and shoulder numness,vivid dreams-nitemares-chest tightness,severe charley horses,extreme shortness of breath,insomnia,depression, bleed easy,skin has gotten very fragile, | I've been told I have no options but plavix (75)daily or I would take it. I also am on coumadin (4 years) at a 2.9-3 INR level and still clotting.I've had some of these symptoms since i started coumadin but plavix seems to have magnified everything tremendously. | M | 54 | 30 days | 4/5/2009 | 2 | two stents | black and blue marks bad nose bleeds hard to stop bleeding | I HAD A STENT PUT IN 3 YEARS AGO AND WENT ON PLAVIX AND ASPRIN AND IT WORKED FOR ME. THIS TIME I FEEL IT IS NOT AND AM GOING TO DISCUSS IT WITH MY DR. TO JUST STAY ON ASPRIN. I ALSO HAVE RA AND AND ON EMBREL | F | 63 | 4 months | 4/3/2009 | 5 | 1 stint & angioplasty in 2005 | No obvious side effects other than "easy brusing and bleeding with the lightest impact or smallest scratch" | My Cardiologist says "it with 81mg asprin is what is keeping me vertical" | M | 71 | 4 years | 3/28/2009 | 2 | 100% blockage RCA, DE Stent | joint pain, memory loss, lack of energy, nightmares and sleep disturbance, frequent angina symptoms, shortness of breath, serious nosebleeds, depression | Also taking 100mg aspirin, Cosaar plus (BP med). Substantial decrease in quality of life/work capabilities. Reproducible increase in extreme nightmares with (infrequent) low doses of Ambien (to help with jet lag) or Fluoxetine (for sleeping problems). Most symptoms worse around time of menstration (with severe bleeding after exercise). Extremely healthy diet and 3x week aerobic exercise help some. Cardiologist just said I had no choice but to continue. After own research decreased dose to 1/2 pill daily at 1 year after stent, helped some. Stopped Plavix after 15 mo. and have slowly recovered over 1 month, especially mental issues, angina symptoms, and joint pain. I would never choose to go on Plavix again (aspirin is statistically nearly as effective). | F | 51 | 15 months | 3/28/2009 | 4 | 2 DES stents in LAD 75% blocked | itching, vivid dreams, some minor rectal bleeding, but no other real problems. Works well, just don't suddenly stop it. | Watch out for NSAIDS, had a back problem and had to limit ibuprofen and Aleve. Other than that, the Plavix worked like it was suppose to. Will check out the rectal bleeding, though. | M | 60 | 9 months | 3/15/2009 | 2 | Stent 12-5-08 | Dizziness-Loss of taste.Could be worse but it really sucks to lose your taste buds.I guess I'm suppose to take this med for at least a year...If anyone knows what could help to regain taste..plz put up a post or e-mail me...Do pharmacologists help...also this page has heightened my awareness of getting off the med..will I keel over and die if I quit.....Lucky I guess... | I wish there was another safe alternative...Mike-44 | M | 44 | 3 months | 3/12/2009 | 3 | MI Stent RCA | When I first started taking Plavix I felt dizzy, a little spacey, and had a headache. I still have some days where it effects me more than others. I do bruise easily, and bleed from my nose and cuts tend to bleed more. I also take Ecotrin 81mg. and Lipitor 20mg all once a day. I do have vivid dreams. I feel fatigued, and tired all of the time. I don't feel like I really want to participate in all of the activities I used to before. My doctor told me I had to stay on it for one year. I have a non-coated stent. I am concerned as to what will happen when I quit the medication; will my platlets begin to stick and I'll have another heart attack? I don't want to stay on this forever, but I don't want to have another heart attack either. | Have been taking Plavix since November 1, 2008 | F | 57 | 5 months | 3/9/2009 | 2 | bypass surgery | bruising, bleeding easily | I have been on plavix for 12 days now and have been researching the "rebound effect" I am worried about getting off of it, my cardiac surgeon wants me on for 30 days, but why bother with it if an aspirin is the same? I see many posts involving Toprol XL, this causes high cholesterol and triglycerides, diabetes 2, and blocks nitric oxide in the arteries ( it makes them healthy!) | F | 50 | 12 days | 3/8/2009 | 1 | prescribed by ER neurologist | when one doctor says not to take aspirin because of tendency to bleed, another prescribes PLAVIX because of ER physician error in records of high platelets when platelets were actually declining because of other medications - and the hematologist only commented to my husband "expensive aspirin". All other doctors failed to speakup. | As a caregiver - I eventually on my own researched and discontinued Plavix but it was too late. Other medications and foods also thin the blood. http://www.pdsa.org/itp-information/itp-warnings.html www.foodmatters.tv should be seen by everyone. Also "Cautious Care" A Guide for Patients by Carolyn Oliver MD has just been published and is available on amazon.com | M | 66 | 1 years | 2/20/2009 | 3 | stent | acid reflux | M | 2 years | 2/13/2009 | 1 | Acute MI | Tiredness, vision, speech, and concentration problems | 2 metal stents RCA (90%) & LAD (80%). Took Plavix for 2 weeks until it affected an ulcer. Then given Prevacid & Plavix until I was told of adverse affects of the two. I was then aken off Plavix. Recently was told to reduce 325 mg aspirin to 81mg and start taking Plavix again. It has been in the past week that I have been back on Plavix that I have felt miserable. I know that it is not statins because they have been replaced by niacin and omega 3. I have been researching Plavix on the internet and have decided to discontinue its use. I will take the 'wonder drug' aspirin - and trust in God. | F | 54 | 1 weeks | 2/12/2009 | 2 | angioplasty (1 coated stent) 2-09 | Nausea, acid reflux, chest tightness, constipation, dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, lack of energy | Side effects started day after starting Plavix. Called my doctor and he said none of what I was experiencing were Plavix side effects. Then I found 2 studies of 17,500 patients on Drugs.com (Plavix Side Effects) & this site. My Doctor told me if I stop taking Plavix I'll be back in the hospital in 3 months with another blockage. I figure I'll be back in the hospital anyway for Gastrointestinal problems. I'll pray for all of us. | M | 62 | 10 days | 2/1/2009 | 4 | MI, 2 angioplasty, 1 coated stent | After the MI in 1/2008 I began several meds - Plavix, Metropolol, Diovan, Simvastat, aspirin. Hard to say what side effects are due to Plavix. They include brain fog, lack of energy, lots of gas, bruising, inability to loss weight even with dramatic diet change. | Despite the side effects I am happy with the interventions and do not regret taking meds as prescribed for the past year. At this point I am interested in going off the Plavix and am concerned about the "rebound" discussions. I recommend googling omega 3, 6 and 9, Co-Q10 enzyme and Tumeric/Cucumerin as I will continue these supplements. | M | 49 | 12 months | 1/29/2009 | 3 | 1/21/2009 | 3 | MI, 2 stents (1 coated) | I've rarely taken prescriptions; but now, after an acute MI November 2008, am on 6 daily pills including Plavix. I awaken each morning fatigued and never seem to have energy. I'm easily out of breath walking across a room, feel lightheaded and sometimes tingly in my arms, hands and fingers. I'm much more easily confused, distracted and have a notably diminished recall (short-term and long-term memory) post MI. | My new symptoms could be unrelated to Plavix and may have more to do with surviving a traumatic medical event. It has been suggested that I do more exercise and I'm looking forward to improvements if they occur. | M | 53 | 2 months | 1/16/2009 | 2 | pfo closure | nose bleeds bleeding excessively with minor cuts heavy bruising. chest pains insomnia constipation | F | 61 | 4 months | 1/13/2009 | 5 | MI, 3 stents | None really, except now I have to have bandaids on call, whenever I cut or scratch myself it is harder to stop | M | 45 | 100 days | 1/9/2009 | 1 | 1 DES stent placed rca 02/08 | given plavix, aspirin, zocor, benicarHCT, sotlol - terrible terrible side effects. stopped aspirin,zocor and sotolol. Drs' have no concept what these drugs can do (negatively). | stayed on plavix 75mgs. Can you believe the docs have no idea or way on how to quit this toxic drug, seems it has a 'rebound' effect within 90 days - (like another heart attack) when you stop the drug. Does anyone care? | M | 68 | 11 months | 1/4/2009 | 2 | 3 medicated Stents | Chest Pain, weakness, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, joint pain, | I really wish i could take something else but i hear tyclid is worse, i am so frustrated i am only 38 and have 4 kids Im also a diabetic but i feel worse since taking this med. I feel like im going to die every day the pain is constant. | M | 38 | 2 days | 12/28/2008 | 1 | 2-08-08 1 Medicated Stent | Joint Pain and swelling Muscle pain and weakness confussion loss of balance and tired. | Symtoms worsened as time went on when I missed a day felt a strong sense of mental clarity return. Doctor said I needed plavix more then food. Symtoms had gotten so bad that I told the Doctor I was stoping 5-11-08. With the help of omega 3 6 and 9 oil natto red yeast rice L-canitine l-citrulline l-argine co q 10 bilberry and Puritan Pride ultra vit-min VM-33. 12-26-08 finaly feel better than before heart attack. I found this in Bottom Lines Ultimate Healing. | M | 55 | 90 days | 12/26/2008 | 2 | 2 + silent heart attacks +stent | weakness,shortness of breath,always tierd ,depression severe at times, mutiple other bruising,bleeding issues | started May 2004 30% heart function quit smoking,changed diet,lost weight did every thing to improve heart function only got side effects never got back to work . 6 months after stopping plavix and every thing else started smoking ate any thing I wanted and felt better untill Nov 2008 another heart attack another stent 25% heart function Different doctor back on Plavix and 5 different drugs Same side effects show up quicker and more intense this time . Quality of life sucks on theese drugs right or wrong I will stop taking them sooner or later | M | 47 | 18 months | 12/23/2008 | 2 | 1 drug eluting stent | started medications on 11/28/2008 atenolol 25mg,ectotrin (aspirn) 325mg and plavix 75mg 1 per day. I started to have vivid dreams,very anxious sometimes then latter on a tired feeling, developed a rash (hive like) on various parts of my body, plus just an overall bad feeling. I think i feel worse now then i did before. | I should have investigated further before having the stent put in. i might have requested a bare mental one instead of the drug eluting type and take my chances of the stent closing again. I can not be 100% sure that my symptons are from the plavix they could be from a combination of all the drugs or the drug on the stent. I can't wait to stop all this medication or possibly reduce it. I am researching the possiblity of doing iv chelation to reduce the plaque build up in the arteries and to see if this could also work as a possible blood thining agent and anti coagulant. If anyone has any info please post | M | 55 | 23 days | 12/21/2008 | 1 | 2 stents in 2-08 | Headaches, nausea, no energy, muscle aches, bad dreams and not sleeping well. Not to mention the damage this drug can do to your liver and kidneys. | Never have taken drugs of any sort other than asprin, then the docs loaded me up with this and the other usual group after a heart attack. I stopped Plavix and the others after a couple of weeks and have not been back on any of them since. The Doc inisisted that I at least stay on the Plavix for a year but I could not. She still thinks I am but I have been taking all natural suppliments. By taking all natural, exercise and diet my blood tests have shown that it can be done without drugs. I feel so much better being off the drugs, have plenty of energy to do the things I want. | M | 67 | 2 weeks | 12/16/2008 | 4 | ! Stent | A few mild side effects as mentioned except I started getting blocked ears about 3 months after taking Plavix but apparently it can't be from Plavix as no one else has had this side effect | M | 62 | 2 years | 12/14/2008 | 3 | To thin blood after stent implant | bruising, excessive bleeding from small cuts. Cannot trace any other problems to PLAVIX. | March 2007 had a stent implanted after experiencing heart pain. A week later a study showed stents are no better than medication. It was publicized on the national news. But now must take a blood thinner to prevent the plaque to build up on the stent. Kind of counterproductive, but too late for me. Plavix is expensive, and the company making it sued the generic equivalent and won. It is all about money. I now take a PLAVIX only every third day. When I run out of pills I may go to Aspirin 81. The Adult Aspirin maybe too strong. But everybody is different. | M | 83 | 20 months | 12/9/2008 | 2 | 3 stents | lack of energy,body aches (back pain)gastritis . Eye problems. Now i am having head pain,sinus problems also. fluid retention | 3 stents 2005, took plavix for 9 months stopped. changed cardiologists develop clogging in neck 60-70% was put back onplavix. been taking for a year. I am tired all the time. Need another opinion. stopped plavix for 4 days felt fine, ankles were normal. I am scared to go the dentist. My cardiologist said i dont need to stop plavix for simple dental procedures. I disagree. When I do go to the dentist I will stop plavix for 5 days. | F | 62 | 1 years | 12/6/2008 | 1 | had two stents put in Sept. of 08 | severe headaches behind my eyes, joint pains, vivid dreams, couldn't sleep most of the time, heartburn,felt terrible all the time. And I only took this med for 2 weeks. They also put me on asprin, losinopril, two cholesteral meds, prilosec and chantix. | After not taking any meds (otc or otherwise) for 15 yrs. (including asprin)I was not happy about taking plavix or any meds. So when I came home I started doing research on alternative meds to cover what the drugs were for.....and found them. But then my kids started hammering me about the plavix and saying to at least stay on it for awhile, so went back on it for 2 days and the headaches returned along with the joint pain so went off it again and it all went away. Haven't taken it (or any drugs)since and feel just fine. My thought on this is: if you can find an alternative herb for the drugs you are told you have to take, DO IT. Once you take a drug for any length of time it is like a snowball rolling down hill......you gather more drugs for symptoms the first ones are causing. Your body is made to heal itself if you give it the right stuff. That's why God put herbs on this earth. They assist your body not cover up the cause of the illness or treat a symptom. | F | 56 | 2 weeks | 12/6/2008 | 2 | 4 cardiac coated stents 11/26/08 | nausea, tingling all over, chest pressure, dizziness, general negative mental issues, symptoms last for a 30 seconds to over 3 hours last night, symptoms caused another trip to the er room on 11/28 two days later and another angiogram | I understand the absolute need to take this medicine for one year, and will try and take it for as long as I can, the other medicine Ticlid may be even worse. Not sure what I will do if symptoms aren't manageable. Take 325 mg aspirin and Crestor | M | 56 | 7 days | 12/3/2008 | 3 | stroke | F | 77 | 7 months | 12/2/2008 | 5 | angioplasty 2 stents | No side effects at all apart from a little itching | Most impressed but then one usually only hears from moaners | M | 75 | 3 years | 11/30/2008 | 1 | pfo closure | horrible joint pain, headaches, dizziness, depression, anxiety, I hate it!!!! been on it 3 weeks now. I am so happy I found this site, I thought I was crazy. I called my dr, going to see him monday to see what else I can take. | F | 36 | 3 weeks | 11/22/2008 | 1 | TIA | Confusion, anxity, inability to speak, horrible sense of doom, trouble urinating, felt like i was having to pass out, dizziness and the worst - suicidal | I think that automatically prescribing Plavix is wrong, when baby aspirin. I was treated as if I was a nut case. The doctors said it couldn't possibly be the Plavix, but the ER nurse (yes I had to go back to Hospital)looked up some info and told me that my symptoms DID occur in about 1-2% of the population. I am now on baby aspirin and am feeling normal again. | F | 67 | 14 days | 11/21/2008 | 5 | Heart Attack & blood clot in heart. | Blead easily for the first 6 months on Plavix. Some light bruising. Some slight difficulty starting urination. | Grrrreat drug. Saved my life. Doc prescribed Plavix for 9 months with 81mg aspirin, with 40 mg Zocor, and Toprol XL. After 6 months on Zocor had to change to a lower dose of Lovastatin because of muscle pain. Stopped taking Plavix after 9 months as prescribed. After being off Plavix for 12 days noticed slight tingling in right arm and sleepiness in afternoon and evening, after 15 days off Plavix Brain Fog set in and I resumed Plavix ASAP! Have been back on Plavix now for 4 days and am waiting for it to kick in again. Still have slight tingling in right arm but the Brain Fog stopped after two days on Plavix. May have to stay on Plavix for several more months or years. It's a life saver. | M | 62 | 9 months | 11/10/2008 | 2 | 2 coated stents in LAD | Extreme fatigue, memory problems, depression, dizziness, swelling in hands, feet, face and abdomen, chest pain, vision problems, feel very blah and out of it, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, get cold easily, burning in stomach, feel need to eat all the time to make stomach feel better, weight gain, shortness of breath, sever pain in right hip, antisocial, brusing on arms, rectal bleeding, my uterus and bladder have dropped, lower abdominal pain. Can't imagine what else is going to happen. | I have never taken medication in my life. I really regret getting these stents (LAD 70% blockage) esp. since the doctor wasn't completely sure he should do it while I was on the table! Plavix, Metoprolol, Lipitor, Aspirin. I do energy healing and am able to make myself feel better for a short while but all these symptoms return plus more. I meditate and walk but have no energy to to anything. I take supplements but I don't see anything counteracting the side effects of Plavix. | F | 56 | 2 months | 11/5/2008 | 2 | Heart Attack | Loss of taste and weight | It might be good for some but not for me | M | 56 | 9 weeks | 11/1/2008 | 3 | Onyx surgery on head aneurysm | The only side effect from surgery and taking Plavix is hair loss and occasional bruising. | M | 51 | 3 weeks | 10/31/2008 | 1 | 2 stents put in in 2005 | Fatigue and takes about 3 or 4 days to recover. | Quit taking August 25th and quality of life is so much better | M | 65 | 3 years | 10/30/2008 | 1 | angioplasty w/ stent in LAD | Inside 2 weeks I began experiencing severe joint pains, which migrated from knees to wrists to elbows, shoulders, ankles. The joint pain was accompanied by swelling and inflammation, fever. The pain in my knees felt like I had been beaten with a baseball bat and my wrists felt like they had been slammed in a door. The puzzling part of these side effects is that the pains may begin in one knee during the night, resolve in that knee but begin in the other knee by the early a.m., then add in an elbow or wrist. The pain was steadily moving until I was taken off the Plavix. The pains continued for another 11 days after coming off Plavix and starting on Ticlid. | My reactions were the "speckled zebra" type of reactions -- rare (according to my doctors). I have now been on Ticlid for 4 weeks and still hoping for no volatile side effects. | F | 56 | 13 days | 10/26/2008 | 1 | 2 medicted stents in March, 2008 | weird, frequent dreams, itching everywhere, excessive short-term memory problems,(confusion and forgetful)depression,dizziness, swelling in feet and face, extreme chest pain, headaches once in a while, frequent cough,feverish feelings,joint pain, vision problems,(elevated ocular pressure), overall BLAH feeling, cuts bleed excessively,insomnia, extreme fatigue, hiccups, get cold easily, lack of desire to do anything, left arm and hand go numb | The itching is about to drive me crazy. I have no medical credentials, but from a patient standpoint, discuss this with your doctor, and avoid it, if at all possible. SEND YOUR DOCTOR TO THIS SITE. There are many plavix lawsuits out there. You need to check them out. | M | 58 | 210 days | 10/20/2008 | 3 | One stent placement | Fatigue and lack of energy; bizarre, recurrent nighttime dreams; blood in urine; occasional short-term memory difficulties. | I don't know if any of these symptoms/side effects are caused by the Plavix, but I do know that I never suffered from any of them prior to taking Plavix. So far, I'm willing to give the drug the benefit of the doubt, but I'm nearing my one-year anniversary on Plavix, and I'll want to have a conversation soon with the cardiologist about whether I need to stay on it. I'm also on 325 mg aspirin daily, and what I don't understand is why it's necessary to take both Plavix and aspirin. Don't they do the same thing? Is one by itself ineffective? | M | 61 | 9 months | 10/18/2008 | 3 | MI non q wave 1 stent 90% blockage | I have severe bruising.and.bleeding with my menstral cycle.. head aches..pain across shoulders and back..fatigue..sores on my legs.. I stopped taking Plavix for 5 days for dental procedure and I felt great | I have a medicated stent and take plavix with baby asprin.. Dr says I have to continue to take plavix even though it has been 1 year since my surgery | F | 46 | 365 days | 10/15/2008 | 2 | stented artery | I ran out of pills and didn't pick up the refill for a week. No "angina" (intermittent pain and pressure mostly felt across my shoulder blades) until I resumed my Rx! A feeling of fullness in chest is back too. I must note however that my major dx is V-Tach and the artery was stented at 50% so maybe a dubious dx distorts my experience. I do have horrible bruising. Dental work gave giant purple bruises like a beard across my chin. I have to explain all these many bruises to my students lest they wonder about domestic violence. It's that bad. Was worse when compounded by whole aspirin therapy stopped @ 6 months post stent. | I believe the main reason I'm on Plavix is to support the coated stent and secondarily, cardiovascular problems, which I do not have. I will be taken off it at the anniversary of its placement, March 2009. | F | 59 | 7 months | 10/10/2008 | 1 | 100% blocked | Diffecuilty breathing, swelling of my face, or throat. chest pain, nausea, sweating, general illl feeling, sudden numbness or weakness, fever, stomach pain, dizziness,and extream fatique. | it's not right for me. been a nightmare. Do not take this medicine. To me this medicine is troubel maker. | M | 37 | 2 months | 9/26/2008 | 1 | mild heart attack | Extreme tiredness, weakness, poor sleeping, pain in extremeties and feeling "spaced out". | I don't tolerate drugs well. Looked up alternatives and found natural means for blood thining :flaxseed and fish oil (Omega3), grapeseed extract, Vit. C, B. E, cayenne and hawthorne for heart and heart arthythmia as well as CoQ10(also for mitra valve prolapse). Vegetables, fruits and fiber to avoid clogging of arteries. Have just started this due to side effects. Stay tuned! | F | 65 | 90 days | 8/29/2008 | 3 | MI in July | easy bruising, pale skin, chest pain | Being 20, I can say that I haven't experienced above symptoms before. I am also noticing my veins along my chest and side have become more apparent. I do not know if this has happened because of the plavix but I would like to rule this out before I become concerned. | F | 20 | 2 months | 8/26/2008 | 5 | stenosis of superior mesenteric art | Increased bruising and prolonged bleeding time. | Taking plavix with 81mg. aspirin. Quite a bit of bruising noted but prefer that to dying from peripheral vascular disease. Had 2 stents placed in the superior mesenteric artery. | F | 51 | 30 days | 8/25/2008 | 2 | Preparation for angioplasty | itching in various aprts of my body but the worst was very severe joint pain that affected various parts of my body rotating from legs to wrists to ankles to fingers to elbows to groin to kness etc. I went on steroids and stppped plavix and the pain went away. I had over 40 blood test done to detemine the cause and none came up positive. My cardiaologist does not believe it was the plavix but I cannot determine waht else it could have been. I need to have an agioplasty and perhaps a stent so I am now taking Plavix again startng yesterday. we will see what happens. | M | 61 | 16 days | 8/22/2008 | 2 | Heart attack 3 DES in RCA | Spitting out blood, extremely tired, no energy, bleed and bruise easily. | M | 48 | 6 months | 8/12/2008 | 4 | stent in collapsed femeral artery b | bruising used to this as been on warfarin for 18month when i do bang myself its feeling more like a ripping or tearing pain rather than a bang though' | before making decisions about plavix when reading other patients stories look at their ages sex and medical history quite a lot seem to be blaming plavix when they show symptons that could be related to any number of things ie age deteriotion other illness the change etc. | F | 46 | 160 days | 7/30/2008 | 1 | yes | I had a heart attack april 7th,2008..after having 3 drug eluting stents placed in early april 2008, I was experiencing acute anxiety and irritability which turned into suicidal depression after 2 months on the drug...i cut out the plavix and felt immediate relief..went back to it and started to feel anxious and depresssed again. gradually weaned myself off of it and feel normal again..now i'm.just taking two regular aspirin a day,1 statin and 1carvedilol. thrombosis be damned..DV | M | 64 | 69 days | 7/30/2008 | 5 | Heart attack - 1 bare-metal stent | prescribed five different meds including plavix after acute heart attack followed by angioplasty and insertion of bare-metal stent on LAD, not sure if it is the plavix that causes bad gas, bleeding difficult to stop, bruise easily, low energy level, some sleep disturbance, heavy chest when stressed and more.... | have to stay on plavix for 12 months and hopefully everything will be ok then, can only presume that the meds are doing what they are supposed too. Maybe I would not be here only for the plavix and will just have to wait and see. | M | 44 | 256 days | 7/14/2008 | 1 | stent & cardiologist recommended it | Several, worse one was I became severely anemic very soon after starting on it. I also felt a very strong abdominal discomfort. | Doctors at first didn't believe Plavix was the culprit, but after many tests and blood transfussions, the anemia would return. One specialist asked me to stop taking it and I didn't have anemia for almost two years. Then, I was placed again and ended up in the hospital over and over again. I am not taking it anymore and feel much better. | F | 77 | 2 months | 7/11/2008 | 1 | Possible TIA? | Experienced burning in my stomach which goes up to my chest and throat. Also bouts of depression and feeling like I've lost touch with "myself". | Not happy being on this drug as I hate taking medications. I didn't want to be on this pill because I have a history of ITP, but my neurologist said, "what would you rather have, a stroke and end up in a nursing home or bleed? We can fix the bleeding." So, did he scare me into taking this pill? Yes, but I am stopping it today. Isn't there a natural blood thinner? | F | 62 | 18 days | 7/5/2008 | 4 | history of 5 strokeas | none that I know of. | none | F | 60 | 6 years | 6/21/2008 | 4 | Post triple by-pass surgery | I cannot attribute any side effects from taking Plavix | After nearly one year since the surgery, my doctor is recommending that I discontinue using Plavix. Now my concern becomes how to get off the medication and avoid having any re-bounding effects from coming off of the medication.. | M | 51 | 11 months | 6/11/2008 | 1 | 2 unmedicated stents | At age 96 I had chest discomfort with shortness of breath after receiving 2 stents. The doctor put me on Plavix 75mg with 1 adult aspirin daily. For 6 weeks I suffered with nausea, vomiting, listlessness, nightmares, no social interaction due to depression, lethargy, no desire to get out of bed, persistent cough and fluid retention. | Due to my age it was taken for granted that I was "just old", "had the flu", had "congestive heart failure". I ended up in the hospital with pulmonary edema after 2 weeks of taking Plavix. In the ER I did not receive Plavix for 24 hours. I started to feel better. The edema disappeared with IV Lasix. Once home I started on Plavix again and all the symptoms reappeared. For 4 weeks I lost weight, threw up, could not stand the smell of food and had extremely vivid nightmares. I was exhausted. I suspected Plavix caused all these side effects. Off Plavix now for 3 days and I have no signs of these side effects. I am still weak but eat well and have no stomach discomfort. The cough is gone. Now I am on 1 adult aspirin daily. My cardiologist is not happy, but I am happy. He said he has never had any patients with all these side effects. He was adamant that I should continue taking Plavix, but I will take my chances. Better off alive on a single aspirin a day than | M | 96 | 6 weeks | 5/25/2008 | 3 | 2 coated stents | none that I can directly tie to Plavix | I am concerned about stopping the drug after reading all the comments. I am thinking about reducing the use from daily to every other day to see if any reactions. If none I would than try to cut back more and finally get off Plavix. Any body with any similar concerns? | M | 67 | 2 years | 5/8/2008 | 5 | blood clots, stroke | severe bruising, difficult to stop bleeding. | I have been taking Plavix for over 2 years. At first the bruising was difficult to accept, but now Im used to the fact that there are always black and blue spots on my arms and legs. I stopped taking it after 8 months and had some more severe blood clots so the doc put me back on it. The bruising came back of course, but bruises and bleeding is a small price to pay if it keeps the blood clots away. Since going back on Plavix I have not had any further strokes or blood clots. Overall the benefits from Plavix has far outweighted the few side effects I have experienced. | F | 28 | 2 years | 4/29/2008 | 3 | Post Bypass - Replacing Aspirin | tingling, headaches; chest incision pain increased and tightness in the ribs when stressed; constantly tired ;sleep problems and mild depression. one or two episodes of nausea. Not 100% clear if these are Plavix related. | I have a mild asthmatic to large continued doses of Aspirin so my new cardiologist put me on Plavix. As a blood thinner, I don't suppose I can tell if it is "working" or not, except through side effects, such as easier bleeding. While I realize it is very difficult to get a solid scientific assessment by reading anecdotal stories, the Plavix stories do alarm me. Especially those surrounding the post-Plavix treatment period. Since I do have some side effects, and am unclear if they are absolutely Plavix related or not, I will be seeing my cardiologist tomorrow to explore this issue. The only other "serious" drug I take is Lisinipril, and I seem to tolerate that fairly well. | M | 56 | 2 months | 4/20/2008 | 1 | stroke, tia's | severe headaches,easy to bruise, blurred vision, fatigue, nosebleeds, elevated blood pressure, terrible itching and hives on neck. | I told my new neurologist I did not want to take plavix anymore as it made me feel lousy. she took me off of it and put me on 1 aspirin every 3 days as she said that is when the platelets would start to go together- we'll see how that works. | F | 52 | 14 months | 4/16/2008 | 1 | coated stent 12/12/07 | bruise%bleed very easy.since taking plavix back pain between shoulder blades%up thru neck. had a ct scan to the aorta valve for the pain it was negative. | the only good report on any drug is done by doc's on there payroll | M | 67 | 4 months | 4/13/2008 | 1 | Cypher Sirolimus-eluting Stent | Depression,nausea on continuing basis, "all over" shakey feeling, insomnia, vivid dreams when able to sleep, no social interaction because of feeling so bad | My Dad at 85 years, had two stents implanted in Jan.'08. Cardiologist told him not to miss a day of Plavix for one year. I'm sure he would not have lasted one year his side effects were so bad. He continually said it was the Plavix.I contacted Bristol Meyers Squibb & they faxed me the information on the drug including tests conducted. The bottom line is the Plavix is no more effective than 325mg of Aspirin, so tell me why some doctors don't convey this to patients. I would like someone to explain to me why this drug was ever approved by the FDA. I hope this helps someone or their parent in the same situation! | M | 85 | 3 months | 4/9/2008 | 3 | 3 stents/medicated | bruise easily; dizziness; nausea, bleed easily; after nine months - rectal bleeding & epitaxis, both bright red; significant shortness of breath | stopped plavix & reacquired stability in 5 days. Reinitiated Plavix once per week & increased Nattokinase from p.m. to twice a day. Chest discomfort continued following stent procedure & improved by warmth - tested adrenals via saliva at nine month following procedure-->significant deficiency | M | 65 | 9 months | 4/6/2008 | 2 | 2 stents | RLS symptoms within 2 months of starting Plavix. Fatigue and joint aches. | Little nicks and cuts bleed freely for longer than normal. Very vivid dreams. Not exactly dizziness but more of an unsteadyness when first standing up. | M | 59 | 120 days | 4/5/2008 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
