Drug Combo May Harm the Heart

Doctors often prescribe two drugs after a heart attack: a blood thinner and a drug to prevent stomach bleeding caused by the blood thinner. But a new study finds that adding the second drug increases the risk to the heart. The study used data on 8,205 patients discharged from U.S. veterans’ hospitals. They had been admitted for a heart attack or severe chest pain. All were prescribed clopidogrel (Plavix), a blood thinner. Most also received a drug called a proton pump inhibitor to reduce the risk of stomach bleeding. But those who got the second drug were more likely to be admitted to the hospital again for heart problems. The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. HealthDay News wrote about it March 3.