What should I talk to my doctor about if I have a DES and am taking antiplatelet medicine?
You should tell all of your caregivers (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists) that you are taking antiplatelet medicine. You should talk to your heart doctor if you: • want to stop taking your antiplatelet medicine; NEVER stop taking your medicine without talking to your heart doctor first, • need or want to have a medical procedure that could cause you to bleed (e.g., surgery of your gut, dental procedures, plastic surgery, biopsy), • are taking blood-thinning medicine like warfarin (also called Coumadin) while on antiplatelet therapy, or • are told by one of your doctors or caregivers to stop taking your antiplatelet medicine; ask them to call your heart doctor or call your heart doctor yourself.
