Is it safe to stop aspirin a year after a stent?
Ask the doctor
Since getting a stent last year, I have been taking aspirin and clopidogrel. Lately I've started getting minor bruises on my limbs. At my one-year follow-up, my cardiologist said I can stop the aspirin. Is that safe?When people receive stents (tiny metal mesh tubes that help open narrowed arteries), doctors routinely prescribe aspirin along with another medication that prevents clots. These drugs include clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), and ticagrelor (Brilinta). Like aspirin, they prevent blood components called platelets from sticking together and forming clots. The formation of clots inside the stent — known as stent thrombosis — can lead to a heart attack.
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About the Author
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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