Antiplatelet Medicine for Heart Attack and Unstable Angina
Why It Is Used
Prevent a heart attack or stroke. Antiplatelet medicine is used to help lower the risk of a Reference heart attack Opens New Window or Reference stroke Opens New Window.
After a heart attack. Antiplatelet medicines might be used in the hospital after a heart attack to help blood to flow to the heart.
After angioplasty. If you had Reference angioplasty Opens New Window and now have a Reference stent Opens New Window, you will take antiplatelet medicines to help prevent another heart attack or a stroke. You will probably take aspirin plus another antiplatelet medicine. If you get a drug-eluting stent, you will probably take both of these medicines for at least one year. If you get a bare metal stent, you will take both medicines for at least one month but maybe up to one year. Then you will likely take daily aspirin long term. If you have a high risk of bleeding, your doctor may shorten the time you take these medicines.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
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