Suggest Treatment For Side Effects Caused By Clopidogrel

Posted on Wed, 20 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 Answered on

Fri, 12 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband had his second stent placed in the main artery of heart in XXXXXXX after a piece of plaque broke off and blocked it. He was prescribed Clopidogrel to keep his blood thin. He is having a reaction to it that involves a lot of gas, belching, feels like he is going to throw up, throat is tightening up. The discomfort is all in his throat making him feel that he is going to suffocate. Any suggestions? It feels like someone is choking him most of the time. He also takes a baby aspirin, Toprol, and Lipitor daily.

Answered by Dr. Vaddadi Suresh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
antacids?

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Welcome to HCM.
Clopidogrel is known to produce gastritis, symptoms match exactly the same described by you; and so is asprin.
If you are sure clopidogrel is causing these symptoms, he may need an antacid like omeprazole or pantoprazole, which will help in many cases. In case he is not on these antacids, you can start them as they are available OTC.
If he is already using antacids and still have this chocking feeling, it could be because of
1.severe gastric ulcers caused by the drug, which requires change over to some other antiplatelet drug, which will be done by your cardiologist.
2. Ongoing heart disease can also resemble gastritis and hence needs to be ruled out by your cardiologist.
Please post if you have further queries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar