title: Ask the doctors.  I recently had a drug-eluting stent placed in one of my coronary arteries after an episode of severe chest pain.  My doctor told me I had to take Plavix every day.  Now I feel perfectly fine-except for my right hip.  I need a hip replacement, but my orthopedist wants to wait until I'm off Plavix before operating.  How long is long enough to be on this drug?
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015607:Stents; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine