Is a friend or relative complaining about leg pain or heaviness while walking that goes away with rest? Is he or she over 50 with risk for heart disease—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then they may have an increased likelihood of having Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.). P.A.D. is a condition that more than doubles their risk of heart attack or stroke.

As the caregiver for this person, you are helping to make decisions about how to manage the disease. His or her doctor may recommend a variety of important treatments if P.A.D. is diagnosed. Some medicines are prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms of leg pain associated with P.A.D. Other medications, such as Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate), are prescribed to reduce the risk for heart attack or stroke if P.A.D. is diagnosed. In fact, PLAVIX is the only antiplatelet therapy FDA-approved to help reduce the risk of future heart attack or stroke in patients with established P.A.D.

Blood clots cause over 90% of heart attacks and 85% of strokes. PLAVIX helps keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots, which helps keep blood flowing. This can help protect your loved one with P.A.D. from a heart attack or stroke.

That's why it's important to help your loved one learn about their risk for P.A.D. and encourage them to talk to their doctor about testing and, if they're diagnosed, about treatment options to help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke associated with P.A.D.

Learn more about P.A.D.

PLAVIX is prescribed to lower the risk of future heart attack or stroke in patients with established Peripheral Artery Disease.

Important Safety Information: If you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding you should not use PLAVIX. Taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin may increase bleeding risk. Tell your doctor before planning surgery or taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke. Some medicines that are used to treat heartburn or stomach ulcers, like Prilosec, may affect how PLAVIX works, so tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines. If fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. These may be signs of TTP, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than 2 weeks after starting PLAVIX. Other rare but serious side effects may occur.

Please see full prescribing information for more details.

The health information contained herein is provided for general educational
purposes only. Your health-care professional is the single best source of
information regarding your health. Please consult your health-care professional if
you have any questions about your health or treatment.