Clopidogrel is temporarily prescribed post off-pump CABG (beating-heart surgery) and post coronary artery stenting. The FDA has not approved clopidogrel for the treatment of AF. Compared with aspirin therapy, clopidogrel is very expensive. Warfarin is reserved for mechanical-valve prosthesis, long-term AF therapy, prophylaxis and treatment of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and thromboembolic events.
http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/advisor-forum/clopidogrel-vs-aspirin/article/117008/
Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a thienopyridine class of drug that inhibits platelet aggregation and thus inhibits aspects of blood clotting. Plavix is available in the generic form termed clopidogrel bisulfate. Plavix is used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral vascular disease and some stroke (ischemic type) patients. The most common side effects of Plavix include increased bleeding, nosebleeds, headaches, and bruising.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-side-effects-drug-center.htm
Since 2002, the urine test of choice is a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), which is a spot urine test.
http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/advisor-forum/clopidogrel-vs-aspirin/article/117008/
CAPRIE (Plavix vs. Aspirin). In CAPRIE, gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred at a rate of 2.0% in those taking Plavix vs. 2.7% in those taking aspirin; bleeding requiring hospitalization occurred in 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 0.4% for Plavix compared to 0.5% for aspirin.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-drug/side-effects-interactions.htm
In CURE, Plavix use with aspirin was associated with an increase in major bleeding (primarily gastrointestinal and at puncture sites) compared to placebo with aspirin (see Table 1). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (0.1%) and fatal bleeding (0.2%) were the same in both groups.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-drug/side-effects-interactions.htm
Plavix is supplied as 75 and 300 mg tablets. For acute coronary syndrome with a non-ST elevation MI, the initial recommended dose is 300 mg, followed by a 75 mg dose per day; for ST elevation MIs, the initial and continuing dose is 75 mg per day.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-side-effects-drug-center.htm
Patients with a history of MI, stroke, prosthetic valve (nonmechanical), CAD, atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary-artery stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or peripheral artery disease should be on a daily dose of 81 or 325 mg of aspirin (enteric-coated preferred).
http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/advisor-forum/clopidogrel-vs-aspirin/article/117008/
In CURE and CHARISMA, which compared Plavix plus aspirin to aspirin alone, there was no difference in the rate of adverse events (other than bleeding) between Plavix and placebo.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-drug/side-effects-interactions.htm
In CURE, Plavix use with aspirin was associated with an increase in major bleeding (primarily gastrointestinal and at puncture sites) compared to placebo with aspirin (see Table 1). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage (0.1%) and fatal bleeding (0.2%) were the same in both groups.
http://www.rxlist.com/plavix-side-effects-drug-center.htm
The recommended treatment for DES implants is dual therapy of aspirin and plavix up to a year. Combining plavix and aspirin increases the risk of bleeding vs. aspirin alone in patients treated for more than a brief period of time. That is the regimen followed for my DES implant.
http://healthquestions.medhelp.org/plavix-vs-clopidogrel
difference between plavix and aspirin
The difference between plavix and aspirin in CAPRIE is gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred at a rate of 2.0 percent in those taking plavix vs. 2.7 percent in those taking aspirin; bleeding requiring hospitalization occurred in 0.7 percent  and 1.1 percent respectively and the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 0.4 percent for plavix compared to 0.5 percent for aspirin. In CAPRIE, gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred at a rate of 2.0% in those taking plavix compared to  2.7% in those taking aspirin,bleeding requiring hospitalization occurred in 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage was 0.4% for plavix compared to 0.5% for aspirin.