A medication that impedes the aggregation of platelets, preventing their formation into a plug. Such drugs are employed to thwart clotting and modify the inherent progression of atherosclerosis.
Medications that possess the ability to diminish the tendency of platelets to adhere together and form blood clots during instances of disrupted blood flow within the arteries are referred to as antiplatelet drugs. These medications effectively lower the risk of thromboembolism, a condition characterized by the detachment of a clot that travels through the bloodstream and lodges in various parts of the body. Such events, if left untreated, may lead to severe and potentially life-threatening conditions, including myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack) or stroke.
Aspirin and dipyridamole are widely utilized as antiplatelet drugs in common medical practice. Additional medications, such as ticlopidine, are specifically employed to provide protection against strokes or the development of blood clots in the coronary arteries, particularly in individuals who have experienced a stroke, heart attack, or suffer from angina.