Question: I'm currently on Plavix and Zocor due to a stent I received in May. How long would you recommend for me to take these meds? Do you recommend any substitutes? I know it's like taking rat poison, and I want to purify my system ASAP.
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Having a stent placed in a coronary artery disturbs the endothelium ... the lining of inner blood vessels. This lining has to re-grow over the stent frame and this "endothelium" lining usually takes six to eight months to achieve a native smooth lining, so the recommendation is to stay on Plavix for 12 months after stenting. I know Plavix is expensive, but recurrent blockages were seen in some who interrupted therapy earlier than recommended. This is not rat poison!

Drugs such as Zocor are very important to reduce and regress plaque. If plaque is permitted to return, you will need more stents, and there may be a possible premature blockage of vessels already stented. Aim for an LDL under 80 and HDL as high as possible, ideally over 50 or 60.

Your statin therapy (Zocor or one of its relatives) will likely be needed for the rest of your life, or as long as your health permits, to reduce and regress arterial plaque formation. Statin drugs are usually used in combination with long-term aspirin therapy after Plavix has been weaned away.