Antiplatelets
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
CardiacHematologic / ImmuneNeuroneeds review
Antiplatelets
Examples: aspirin, clopidogrel
Mechanism
Makes platelets less sticky so arterial clots are less likely to form.
Used for
- MI prevention
- Stroke/TIA prevention
- Stent support
Side effects
- Bleeding
- GI irritation
- Tinnitus with salicylate toxicity
Nursing actions
- Assess bleeding risk and allergy history.
- Teach to report black stools, unusual bruising, or bleeding.
- Check procedure instructions before stopping therapy.
Hold / question cues
- Active bleeding
- Aspirin allergy
- Suspected hemorrhagic stroke
Antidote / reversal
- No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.
NCLEX pearl
- Platelets plug; antiplatelets prevent the plug.
Individual drug cards
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Drugmedication class
Aspirin
Tinnitus can be a salicylate toxicity clue.
Drugmedication class
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Bleeding risk rises when combined with aspirin or anticoagulants.
Conditionmedication safety
Coronary artery disease
Crushing chest pressure, diaphoresis, nausea, shortness of breath.
Conditionmedication safety
MI / acute coronary syndrome
Crushing chest pressure, diaphoresis, nausea, radiating pain.
Conditionmedication safety
Stroke / TIA
Facial droop, arm drift, speech change.
Conditionmedication safety
Thrombocytosis
High platelet count does not always mean better clotting.
Proceduremedication safety
Valve repair or replacement care
Procedure or surgery to repair or replace a damaged heart valve.
Termmedication cue
CAD
Narrowed coronary arteries reduce oxygen supply to the heart muscle.