Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: What It Is, Who Needs It, and What You Should Know

When your heart or arteries are at risk of a clot, dual antiplatelet therapy, a treatment combining two antiplatelet drugs to stop blood clots from forming. Also known as DAPT, it's not just a routine prescription—it's often life-saving after a heart attack, stent placement, or major stroke. This isn't about taking two pills for good measure. It's a precise, time-sensitive strategy used when one drug alone isn't enough to keep your blood from clotting in the wrong places.

Dual antiplatelet therapy usually means aspirin, a common over-the-counter drug that blocks platelets from sticking together paired with clopidogrel, a stronger prescription antiplatelet that works differently to prevent clotting. These two work like a one-two punch: aspirin slows platelets down, clopidogrel stops them from activating completely. Together, they cut the chance of another heart attack or stent failure by up to 50% in the first year after a major event. But it’s not for everyone. If you’re at low risk, the bleeding danger might outweigh the benefit. Doctors weigh your age, history of ulcers, kidney function, and whether you’ve had bleeding before.

It’s also not forever. Most people take DAPT for 6 to 12 months after a stent, sometimes longer if they’ve had a heart attack. After that, they usually switch to just aspirin—or sometimes another drug like ticagrelor or prasugrel, depending on how their body responds. The timing matters. Stopping too early? Risk of clotting spikes. Staying on too long? Risk of serious bleeding goes up. That’s why you need regular check-ins with your doctor. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it treatment.

What you won’t find in most patient brochures? How this therapy connects to other meds you might be taking. If you’re on acid reflux drugs like omeprazole, they can mess with clopidogrel’s effect. Herbal supplements like garlic or ginkgo? They can increase bleeding risk. Even over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen can interfere if taken at the wrong time. That’s why so many of the posts here focus on drug interactions, side effects, and real-world safety—because DAPT doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a bigger picture that includes your liver enzymes, kidney health, and other conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

And here’s the thing: even if you’re not the one taking it, someone you know probably is. Heart disease is still the top killer. Stents are placed in hundreds of thousands of people every year. DAPT is one of the most common, most studied, and most misunderstood treatments in modern cardiology. The posts below cover exactly what you need to know—how to spot dangerous side effects, what to do if you miss a dose, why some people don’t respond to clopidogrel, and how newer alternatives are changing the game. You’ll find real-world advice from people who’ve been through it, and expert breakdowns of what the science actually says—not just what the drug company claims.