Medicines
Medicines can help prevent or treat heart conditions, like high blood pressure, angina, heart attack and heart failure. They’re also used to keep symptoms under control.
About antiplatelets
What are antiplatelets?
Antiplatelets are medicines that help stop your blood from clotting. This lowers your risk of blood clots, heart attack and a stroke.
You may be given antiplatelets if you have a condition that increases your risk of blood clots, such as:
- a heart attack
- a mini stroke (transient ischaemic attack or TIA)
- a stroke
- atrial fibrillation
- peripheral arterial disease
- angina
- heart surgery.
You may be given an anticoagulant as well as an antiplatelet. Antiplatelets work differently to anticoagulants, like warfarin.
Antiplatelets may not be suitable for everyone. Your doctor will talk to you about what medicines you can take and other potential options.
How do antiplatelets work?
Antiplatelets help stop your blood from clotting.
Blood clots happen when platelets (special cells in your blood) stick together to form a clot. Antiplatelets stop platelets from sticking together normally.
Clots can be helpful as they stop cuts from bleeding too much. However, if you have a higher risk of blood clots then they can happen in your blood vessels (arteries and veins) and cause a heart attack or stroke.
You may hear people calling antiplatelets “blood thinners”. However, antiplatelets do not thin your blood.
There are different types of antiplatelet medicines, and they work in slightly different ways. Speak to a pharmacist if you'd like to know more about the medicines you’ve been prescribed.
Watch our short video explaining blood clots
Antiplatelet medicines
What are the different types of antiplatelet drugs?
There are lots of different types of antiplatelet drugs. The most common ones are:
You may also hear about:
- ticagrelor
- prasugrel.
Aspirin is a type of antiplatelet medicine, but it can also be prescribed for pain relief. Speak to your doctor if you're living with cardiovascular disease about whether you should be taking aspirin.
Find out more about these medicines on the NHS website.
Side effects
What are the side effects of antiplatelets?
Side effects from this medicine may include:
- shortness of breath
- bruising more easily
- increased risk of bleeding, such as nosebleeds
- tummy (stomach) pain.
All medicines have potential side effects, but most people will not experience side effects.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist If you're having side effects. They can help you manage them or look at other options with you.
If you’ve started taking antiplatelets recently it’s worth bearing in mind that side effects with any new medicine often improve over time or even disappear.
It’s important not to stop taking your medicine without speaking to a healthcare professional first.
When should I get help?
You should get urgent medical help, by calling NHS 111 or 999 if it’s a life-threatening emergency, if you have:
- blood in your pee or poo
- a bruise that keeps getting bigger
- nose bleeds that do not stop
- been sick (vomit) and it looks dark like coffee or has blood in it.
How and when to take them
How do I take this medicine?
Most people will take antiplatelets as a tablet.
Your doctor will give you more information about the type of medicine they’re giving you and how often you should take it.
What happens if I forget to take my medicine?
If you forget to take your medicine and:
- It's only a short time after your usual dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time.
- It’s nearly time for your next dose, do not take the one you missed. Wait and take your next dose at the usual time.
How long do I take it for?
Most people will need to take antiplatelets long-term. This is because it helps lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke throughout your life. If you stop taking the medicine your risk may go back up.
Your doctor may temporarily stop your antiplatelet medicine sometimes, such as before surgery or a procedure at the dentist.
It’s important not to stop taking your medicine without speaking to a healthcare professional first.
Things to avoid if you’re taking antiplatelets
Are there foods or medicines I cannot take with antiplatelets?
Because antiplatelets increase your risk of bleeding, you may need to avoid:
- drinking too much alcohol
- taking NSAID medicines, like ibuprofen or naproxen.
People taking clopidogrel will need to avoid certain proton pump inhibitor medicines (PPIs), including esomeprazole and omeprazole. As they can stop your medicine from working properly.
It’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicine or supplements while you’re taking antiplatelets.
If you’re currently taking antiplatelets and you’re planning to get pregnant or you become pregnant, speak to your doctor.
Get support
- Our cardiac nurses can help answer your questions on antiplatelets, Call, email or live chat with them on our Heart Helpline.
- Check if you can get free prescriptions or help paying for your prescriptions.
- Talk to other people with high blood pressure and get support in our online community.
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Warfarin
Warfarin is an anticoagulant medicine that helps stop your blood from clotting. This lowers your risk of blood clots and a stroke.
Speak to our cardiac nurses
Our experienced nurses are here to help answer your questions or concerns about cardiovascular disease.