Connect
Medications that delay blood clotting are known as blood thinners (anticoagulants). These drugs make it hard for clots to form and prevent existing clots from growing. Anticoagulants are used to prevent strokes in people with heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation or in people with an artificial (prosthetic) heart valve or valvular heart disease.
Anticoagulants are also used to prevent and treat blood clots in the deep veins inside your body (deep vein thrombosis), as well as preventing these clots from traveling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Be watchful for any warning signs of complications while taking any anticoagulants. These include:
- Urine that’s red or dark brown
- Stool that’s red, dark brown or black
- Bleeding gums
- A severe headache or stomach pain that doesn’t go away
- Feeling weak, faint or dizzy
- Frequent bruising or blood blisters
It’s important to stick to your medication as prescribed. Abruptly stopping an anticoagulant can increase your risk of a stroke. In addition, wear a medical alert bracelet or keep an anticoagulant alert card with you at all times in case of an emergency.
If you're interested in more discussions like this one, check out the Heart & Blood Health group.
More essential health information awaits with a monthly subscription to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Like
Helpful
Hug
Connect
I had a stroke about 3 years ago. A blood clot in the cerebrum area, it passed on its own. My primary physician put me on Clopidogrel Bisulfate, generic for Plavix. I have no physical or mental disabilities from the stroke. My question, is it necessary for me to continue taking this medication? There is nothing that indicates I need to continue. My concern is recently my doctor informed me that my white blood cell count is low. Nothing to worry about now just to continue watching labs. Is it possible that my medication is the cause for this low white blood cell count?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsWelcome, @512ec. That is a good question to ask your doctor and/or your pharmacist.
How fortunate that you did not have physical or cognitive effects after the stroke and that the clot resolved on its own. Have you been on clopidogrel since the stroke 3 years ago?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThanks and yes I have been taking it for 3 years now. Yesterday I felt dizzy and lightheaded. Kind of reminded me of the feeling I had before I had the stroke. Last night I did not take the medication and today I feel really good. I believe the medication is causing the low white cell count.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@512ec
Hello and welcome!
I too have been on Plavix for, I think about 12 years following “a tiny occlusion to the back side of your heart” This was a warning sign.
Have you seen a specialist following this event? I hope you have had all the testing and bloodwork.
It was the screening of blood that found my “anti phospholipid enzyme” which predisposes one to strokes, thus the Plavix. So far so good.
Also my cholesterol was a bit high so started Ezetimibe(side effects to statins). And have my annual check ups.
My family history has several of the past folks with strokes and all attendant disabling results.
We are so fortunate to live in this era of cardiac advances.
You will find many comments from others who also ‘soldier on’ in this fight. (Search under ‘stroke’, Plavix, etc.)
All the best to you!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@512ec. you may wish to follow the discussions in these related forums:
- Aging Well Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aging-well/
- Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cerebrovascular-diseases/
See all: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/groups/
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction