He was told that he would have to take Plavix for the rest of his life.Would he have a problem with this in the UK.We are in Spain at the moment and have no problem, although it has to be signed for every month by a Specialist.We plan to return to to either Wales or Shropshire.

They may not give him ''Plavix'' but l am sure they would be able to provide something very similar.

It should not be a problem.

l would calm down abit!!!

Get a letter from the cardiologist doctor

I'd stop in Spain there health service is a lot better than the NHS

The Plavix recall in the UK that u may have heard about was aimed at only 2 lots of the product. The reason for this recall was that both of these lots were believed to be counterfeit.

Plavix is safe, & readily available in the the UK.

Caution: Do not stop taking Plavix without an order from ur cardiologist, as there is danger of restenosis (clogging). Many doctors believe a year is long enough, but others prefer longer periods or indefinitely.

Low dose aspirin is a must to reduce the possibility of more cardiac events. The aspirin is taken in addition to Plavix (clopidogrel), according to recent findings.
http://pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1994022

There is also a ''rebound effect'' after stopping Plavix after a 12 month period. During this 90 day period, a person is at double the risk of having a cardiovascular event. Since ur husband has had 8 stents, & these might have been the more problematic drug coated type, ur cardiologist may wish to keep ur husband on Plavix indefinitely, if he has not had any serious side effects.

There is a lot of debate about how long patients should stay on Plavix, l am sorry to say this is due to a mix of medical uncertainty, there r only a small number of studies so far looking at long term use, & cost, which if the drug were used long term in all patients would currently be considerable nationally.

l assume he was already on aspirin, or if he was not he is on it together with Plavix. Aspirin has a much longer & august record of reducing clot than Plavix, & unless there is a contraindications most cardiologists would use both.

Good news is that there r a number of UK Cardiologists who also think, like ur Spanish doctor, that in patients with significant interventions, & 8 stents is way above average, the drug should be used lifelong. Assuming u have a written medical summary from Spain, it is also a brave or foolhardy GP or administrator who would take the risk of removing a drug that a consultant has seen to recommend is used in this way. IF by any chance someone does suggest that u should stop it after a period l would fight tooth & nail to convince them that u should not do so. Certainly if l wa ur GP it would be no problem.