I went to a family gathering this past weekend and talked awhile with a cousin I don’t often see. She told me about a male friend of hers, 47, who just was put on Plavix by his doctor. The doctor said he was healthy with no signs of problems, but wanted to put him on Plavix to prevent heart issues that might come up 20 years from now. My jaw dropped!
For those of you unaware, here is the description of Plavix:
How To Use PlavixPlavix PrecautionsPlavix MisdPlavix Interactions
Plavix Side Effects
Plavix Storage
Before taking Plavix (clopidogrel), tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
Plavix (clopidogrel) should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: blood disorders (e.g., hemophilia), bleeding conditions (e.g., active peptic ulcers).
Before using Plavix (clopidogrel), tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: recent surgery, serious injury (physical trauma), severe liver disease, severe kidney disease, history of abnormal bleeding, other conditions that may put you at high risk for bleeding (e.g., certain stomach/abdominal problems, certain eye diseases).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Plavix (clopidogrel). Your doctor may instruct you to stop Plavix (clopidogrel) prior to surgery.
Plavix (clopidogrel) may make you dizzy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.
Limit alcoholic beverages. Daily use of alcohol, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding.
Plavix (clopidogrel) should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether Plavix (clopidogrel) passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using Plavix (clopidogrel). Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Store the US product at room temperature (77 degrees F or 25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted.
Store the Canadian product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Plavix (clopidogrel) is used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in persons with heart disease (recent heart attack, unstable angina), recent stroke, or blood circulation disease (peripheral vascular disease).
Based on review of the initial clinical trials, Plavix lowers the risk of heart attacks or stroke a little better than aspirin alone (about a three percentage point improvement on average). Keep in mind that Plavix is recommended for people with a heart problem—not for people that might have one in 20 years.
In my opinion what this doctor did and what his patient accepted is what’s wrong with medicine and the source of the nation’s health care spending crisis. Consider this: Plavix can be bought on-line for $90 for a month’s supply (28 tablets). Compare this with 100 aspirins for about $4. Maybe in a race between Plavix and aspirin Plavix wins, but it is only by a hair (or maybe two hairs). The $90 Plavix fee works out to $1,080 dollars per year per person. A similar regimen of aspirin would be under $20 per person per year. If doctors did what this doctor did to just 0.5% of U.S adults (1.1 million adults), the annual costs are just shy of $1.1 billion per year, and $22.7 billion over the 20 years.
The thing about Plavix is that heart patients who were taking it still had heart attacks, just not quite as many—about 3% fewer; so that means 20 years from now most of the patients who were on Plavix for twenty years generating $22.7 billion dollars of costs will still be getting heart attacks, and more medical spending will have to take place to deal with it.
I don’t know if the doctor who chose to prescribe Plavix to a healthy guy for “possible” problems 20 years in the future is misinformed about the actual impact of Plavix or just getting drug company kick backs.
from your own site.
I went to a family gathering this past weekend and talked awhile with a cousin I don’t often see. She told me about a male friend of hers, 47, who just was put on Plavix by his doctor. The doctor said he was healthy with no signs of problems, but wanted to put him on Plavix to prevent heart issues that might come up 20 years from now. My jaw dropped!