Withdrawal Symptoms From Plavix Clopidogrel

I have been on Clopidogrel 75mg after having a slight heart attack thought to have been caused by a blood clot in a small junction, my cholesterol was ok, pumping action ok, nothing needed to be done. I have been told to stop Clopidogrel and cardiologist said ok to stop it suddenly. I am 57 but also hypothyroid on 25mcg levothyroxine. Also on aspirin 75mg day. I tried coming off 4 weeks ago by taking only 3/4 of a tablet after reading its best to do it slowly but after a few days had an anxiety attack, I ended up going back on the full tablet. I have been taking 3/4 tablet a day again but getting tense and anxiety back again and indigestion. Feeling a bit yucky but worried its withdrawal from Clopidogrel. Or is it just anxiety due to hypothyroid, its driving me nuts. I keep belching and constipated.

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Hello, Lou! How are you?

Stopping the Clopidogrel would be more prone to causing symptomless withdrawal effects, as listed by the FDA, such as temporarily elevated heart rate, blood pressure and blood thickening, which the Aspirin should help mitigate.

Thus, I'm more prone to think it's due to the thyroid condition, because it is well known to cause such symptoms, as listed by the NIH.

Only you doctor can give you a definitive answer, though.

Are you under treatment for your hypothyroid?

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Hi Verwon, I am great now thanks. You said that it causes elevated heart rate and blood pressure with blood thickening. That makes sense for how I was feeling, I kept getting like anxiety, my heart rate would quicken for no obvious reason other than I thought it might have been gluten. Which then made me feel breathless and anxious. I took myself off to the doctors nearby and they did tests but the cardiologist put me back on Clopidogrel so the cycle started again. This happened every time I tried to come off it. I had to come off slowly and reduced by a quarter every few days. The doctor never mentioned these withdrawal symptoms, I would have not worried about it. An integrative chiropractor said I should be tested for Hashimotos hypothyroid and after insisting at the doctors they finally did the tests and confirmed I have Hashimotos. I do not trust doctors now, only natural doctors. They know a lot more and are interested in furthering their knowledge and up to date research.
But I am taking a lot of supplements and if I miss one out I dont feel so well. It makes me wonder whether I am not absorbing nutrients properly. If I don't have at least a banana a day I start to get the odd palpitation, I take magnesium, ashwagandha, rhodiola, high B vits, selenium, kelp, 3 additional glandular thyroid as well as levothyroxine, K2, resveratrol, serrapeptase and nattokinase plus multi vits and vit c with probiotics. I am feeling great, not stressed out, got good stamina, and at the moment no palpitations. I am not on aspirin or any other drugs apart from levothyroxine. I do have tinnitus. I hope this helps people coming off Clopidogrel, if we are made aware of these symptoms then we can mentally overcome these side effects.

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You mentioned the palpitations if you miss a banana, that leads me to believe that your body may not store potassium.

I have a similar problem and my cardiologist deliberately combined medications with me that can cause elevated potassium to help keep it up, it's the only solution we found that has actually worked.

Both high and low potassium can be dangerous, as listed by the NIH and palpitations is one of the symptoms of it being low, along with leg cramps.

Do you get night time cramps?

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Yes I get night time cramps, but remembered what you said regarding potassium and I make sure I have a couple of bananas a day and have one by my bed for the night. I make sure I get good vitamins and minerals, vit D and magnesium along with high DHA oil etc. I take 2 walks a day and all seems to be well. I also avoid gluten and sugar having stevia instead. Its not difficult when you think of the alternative. If I had been warned about withdrawing I wouldn't have worried about the symptoms and just got on with it. Thank you for your help, its definately not known about in the UK.

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Look into suppliments that may help. Chloraphyll is very beneficial and really works. There are natural blood thinners but ask your doctor. Look up benefits of chloraphyll.

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I had right leg angioplasty 6 years ago and have been on plavix/aspirin ever since. I had ear surgery three weeks ago and went off plavix 1 week before. My cardiologist told me to stop taking the Plavix and just the aspirin. Lately I've been having panic attacks and kills my heart flutters and I think I'm shaky. Is it from going off the Plavix and how long will it last?

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