Does Plavix treatment carry risks?
A chief risk is bleeding, says American Heart Association spokesman Jonathan Halperin, MD, director of clinical cardiology services at the Cardiovascular Institute at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Bleeding is often occult, or hidden, he says. Signs of bleeding that should immediately be reported to your doctor include dark or bloody urine; black, tarry stools; and easy, unusual bruising. Bleeding can also lead to anemia, with symptoms of weakness and fatigue. Your doctor can perform occult blood stool tests and blood tests to find out if you suffer from occult bleeding and/or anemia. Other side effects of Plavix include diarrhea and allergic reactions that can cause rash or hives.
