| Drug and Dosage | Use | Action | Assessment: Side Effects |
|---|
| Clopidogrel (Plavix)—PO 75 mg daily | Reduce risk of atherosclerotic event (MI, stroke) | Inhibits platelet aggregation | Bleeding; neutropenia; reactions similar to aspirin |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Give once daily without regard to food; avoid aspirin, NSAIDs; observe for symptoms of: stroke, peripheral vascular disease, MI |
| Dipyridamole (Persantine)—PO 70–100 mg 4 times/day; IV 570 mcg/kg | Prevent thromboembolism; surgical graft patency; diagnostic agent in myocardial perfusion studies | Decreases platelet aggregation; coronary vasodilator | Headache, dizziness, hypotension; nausea; MI, arrhythmias with IV |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Take at evenly spaced intervals; avoid use of alcohol; if no GI irritation, take 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals |
| Eptifibatide (Integrilin)—IV 180-mcg/kg bolus; 2 mcg/kg/min until discharge or up to 72 hr | Severe chest pain; small heart attacks; unstable angina; before balloon angioplasty | Binds to glycoprotein receptor sites of platelets | Bleeding |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Minimize any vascular trauma during treatment. Monitor laboratory tests for indications of bleeding or clotting disorders; stop drug immediately if bleeding occurs |
| Ticlopidine (Ticlid)—PO 250 mg twice daily | Stroke prevention; prevent early restenosis of coronary stents | Inhibits platelet aggregation; prolongs bleeding time | Diarrhea, rashes, bleeding, intracerebral bleeding |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Give with food or immediately after eating |