December 31, 2008
FDA Considers Updating Plavix Label
Three new studies in the New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet demonstrate several dilemmas in Plavix medication use:
1. What is the percentage of people taking Plavix (a medication that reduces the ability of platelets to aggregate, initiating the clotting process) who are still at risk of heart attacks or stroke? Anywhere between 5 and 30% are apparently unresponsive to this medication, based on genetic make-up that determines on how they metabolize the drug.
2. Side effects to Plavix include internal bleeding and ulcers.
3. Heartburn medications like Prilosec interfere with the effectiveness of Plavix.
4. There is no laboratory test that accurately assesses if the medication is working correctly.
My comments: Nattokinase is the enzyme that we use that helps with blood clotting concerns. Like Plavix, Nattokinase also interferes with platelet aggregation. However, it has no known side effects, so antacid medications are not needed. Although I am not aware of any head-to-head studies of Nattokinase versus Plavix (if there are no laboratory tests to assess it, it becomes very difficult to study), there are no side-effects.
Vascular disease is an inflammatory process. Just as important or more important in the treatment regimen is to stop pro-inflammatory substance intake, like sugar, trans-fatty acids, aspartame, caffeine. Antioxidants will also retard vascular damage that is caused by any inflammatory process. Free radicals (oxidation) are what cause damage in the vascular system. If you have had a heart attack or stroke from vascular disease, you may need IV chelation therapy with EDTA.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
4 responses so far ↓
1 Martha // Jan 6, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I have been reading your notes for some time now and believe in alternative medicine. I am presently concerned about my husband’s high blood pressure. His doctor has prescribed different meds- one caused a very annoying cough and another has caused his pressure to be higher. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Martha
2 Dr. Stan Gardner // Jan 7, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Martha, Concern about high blood pressure is over-rated. The Framingham study, from which the data is extracted to show that higher blood pressure causes increased risk of cardiac events in a linear fashion is not correct. Increased risk of cardiac events does not take place until around 160-180/ 95-100, which is blasphemous in medical circles. Joel Kauffman’s book Malignant Medical Myths presents the science behind the many studies on blood pressure and their medications–get it and read it. For those people who need to be treated for high blood pressure, CoQ10 at 200-400 mg per day, magnesium 800-1000 mg per day and hawthorne berry have proved to be very effective to control blood pressure. Of course, this presupposes your husband is on a good diet and taking at least a multivitamin and essential fatty acids as supplements.
3 Margie Nelsen // Sep 7, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I have 5 stents in my heart and take plaxix, metoporol, was taking nexium, previcid, protonics and all the rest for a long time. I used to take exedrin everyday before the heart business started so my stomache was already damaged. I had migraines since I was a little kid but after the first stent they stopped. I would like to get off all these meds so my stomache can heal. Would trying the nattokinase be wise. I hate blood thinners but they use the you’ll die if you don’t take plavix or asprin. sick of all of it. Thank You
4 Dr. Stan Gardner // Sep 22, 2009 at 6:13 am
Margie, We use Nattokinase in place of coumadin, plavix and aspirin in our office. Avoid pro-inflammatories like the plague–sugar, aspartame, caffeine, trans fatty acids. Take good supplements. Try to find an alternative doctor who does IV chelation, which is the best thing for vascular disease.
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