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Cardiovascular side effects
Some Plavix (clopidogrel) users have reported experiencing cardiovascular problems. Of these, chest pain, edema and hypertension were reported with the most frequency during a trial of about 17,500 people. Of this group, about 8 percent complained of chest pain. Edema and hypertension affected about 4 percent each. In a comparative trial, more people were said to be affected by those ailments when they were given aspirin. Not everyone believes aspirin's effects are worse.
More serious side effects include palpitations and heart failure. Those two ailments affected between 1 and 2 1/2 percent of trial patients.
Several recent studies indicate the mixture of heart drugs such as Nexium and Prilosec are interfering with Plavix, increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Gastrointestinal side effects
More than 27 percent of the almost 17,500 people mentioned above experienced some form of gastrointestinal side effect. Of these, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia and nausea were most common. Other, more serious, side effects have included ulcers. A study found that patients taking Plavix developed 12 times more ulcers than those who combine aspirin and a heartburn pill.
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