Antiplatelet Medication Advice Card

Stopping antiplatelet medication, Aspirin and Clopidogrel (eg Plavix© and Iscover©), in patients who have undergone a coronary stenting procedure carries a risk of blood clots developing within their stents.

In certain cases, patients scheduled for certain medical or surgical procedures may be advised to briefly stop either the Aspirin or the Clopidogrel prior to the procedure. It is seldom necessary to stop both.

To minimise the risk, it is essential that the patient’s cardiologist is consulted when any changes to the antiplatelet medication are proposed. This is to ensure appropriate decisions are made to reduce the risk of a heart attack associated with clot formation within the stent.

The Cardiovascular Health Network has developed a Medication Advice Card to remind consumers and health professionals to contact the cardiologist and to provide easy access to the cardiologists contact details.

These factsheets target consumers, health professionals and cardiologists, and cardiac catheterisation laboratories and provide answers to the most frequently asked questions.

• Consumer factsheet [PDF 293KB]
• Cardiology factsheet [PDF 133KB]
• General health professional factsheet [PDF 170KB]

Medication Advice Cards may be ordered through HealthInfo on 1300 135 030 (Ref: HP10768).