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18663 Ventura Blvd, Suite 202, Tarzana CA 91356
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Take your meds, please

One last important word on how to be a good patient: If you can't afford the medications precribed for you, please tell your doctor before you are discharged from the hospital. Especially if one of those medications is Plavix. And ESPECIALLY if you just had a coronary stent placed.

6 comments:

urban vegan said...

So sad that many people do not realize the implications on non-adherence (To use a dr word!) ;)

Hope the patients you're speaking of are OK.

Cate said...

any tips on how to remember to take them when you should?

VeganHeartDoc said...

Good question. I think the best thing is to set a routine. For example, know that when you brush your teeth in the morning, that's the time you take your morning pills. Or set an alarm.

Sheree' said...

I do hope that your patients listen to you. By the way was thinking about you and wishing the best on your upcoming exams.

PiscesCafe said...

My husband had a stent implanted on Dec 4 (saved his life!). At follow-up with another cardiologist, was told he could discontinue Plavix in about a year(?????). Makes me so upset to think that this advice is being given to him....

VeganHeartDoc said...

Ana, It is common practice that Plavix is discontinued one year after placement of a drug-coated stent. After a year, stent thrombosis (clot formation within the stent) is exceedingly unlikely.