Understanding Response to Antiplatelet Medications
If you are one of 81 million Americans who have cardiovascular disease1, your doctor may have prescribed aspirin, Plavix® or Effient®.
Even if you are taking your aspirin, Plavix or Effient regularly, you may not be getting the full protection from your antiplatelet medications.
- Not all patients respond equally to their antiplatelet medications.2
- Up to 1 in 3 patients may not respond adequately to their antiplatelet medications.2,3
Studies have shown that several factors may reduce the effectiveness of antiplatelet medications. These factors include:
- Genetic differences:
Recently, the makers of Plavix warned that an estimated 2% – 14% of patients may be poor metabolizers of Plavix due to genetic differences.4 - Drug combinations: combining your antiplatelet medications with certain other drugs.
- Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, impaired renal function and obesity.
- Non-compliance – this means you are not taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Patients who have poor response to their antiplatelet medications may be at significantly greater risk of
heart attack, stroke and death.5-9
In minutes, the VerifyNow® Aspirin Test and the VerifyNow P2Y12 Test can help your doctor assess
how YOUR platelets are responding to antiplatelet medications such as aspirin, Plavix or Effient.
Ask your doctor about the importance of antiplatelet therapy and
the benefits of being tested with the VerifyNow Tests.