Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Clopidogrel as follows:
- If you are being scheduled for any surgical procedure, Clopidogrel must be discontinued, a few days before the scheduled date for surgery. Clopidogrel can be started back again after the surgical procedure, upon your doctor’s recommendation. Discuss with your doctors and other health care team members regarding your schedule on discontinuing Clopidogrel and starting back on it.
- Watch out closely for any signs of clot formation and DVT, such as pain in the calf muscle, episode of sudden cough and shortness of breath, and any chest pain. Report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered.
- Patients taking Clopidogrel can occasionally present with episodes of internal bleeding, resulting in coughing up of blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, red colored urine, bleeding per rectum, and increased formation of ecchymosis and bleeding into the skin. Watch out closely for any such signs of bleeding and report to your doctor immediately, so that, a change in plan could be considered. Be aware of any symptoms of sudden weakness, faintness, or dizziness that can signify internal bleeds.
- Wear gloves while doing household projects. Exercise caution while using sharp instruments, such as knives, needles, and forks.
