Short answer: After a stent, doctors usually give two blood-thinning medicines together, called dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT): aspirin plus a second medicine such as clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor. Cardiologist Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Sharma said that, as per CSI and ACC guidelines, DAPT is needed for at least 6 months after angioplasty for stable heart disease, and at least 1 year after a stent for an acute heart attack, before stepping down to one medicine. Statins, and BP and sugar medicines where needed, matter too.
“Doctor sahab, how long do I have to take these blood thinners?”
Dr. Sharma said this is the question many patients ask him after a stent. Here is his answer, and why these medicines matter for the stent. This post follows our explainer on life after a stent: flights, MRI and drug-eluting stents.
In our Dil Ke Doubts session on angioplasty and stents, Heart Health India Foundation founder Ram Khandelwal, who had his own heart attack at 33, asked which medicines are needed after a stent, and why, of cardiologist Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Sharma, Professor of Cardiology, LPS Institute of Cardiology, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur; EC Member, CSI.
This article is based on the questions and answers in Dil Ke Doubts Webinar 12 (18 Sep 2026), part of Heart Health India Foundation’s World Heart Month 2026 series with the Cardiological Society of India and the World Heart Federation‘s Don’t Miss a Beat campaign.
The session was in Hindi. Here’s what he told us, in plain words.
Why are blood thinners needed after a stent?
Dr. Sharma explained that a stent is like a metallic jacket, and for the body it is a foreign material. When the stent is expanded with a balloon and presses against the heart’s artery, it also causes a little injury there. Because of this injury, clots can form, mainly made of platelets.
That is why antiplatelet medicines, which we commonly call blood thinners (खून पतला करने वाली दवाइयाँ), are so important. He said they:
- prevent clots and platelet build-up that could cause a sudden blockage of the stent
- also help against the slower blockage that can develop inside a stent one or two years later (neo-atherosclerosis)
What is dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)?
Dual antiplatelet therapy means two blood-thinning medicines given together, usually starting right after the stent. Dr. Sharma said:
- the most important one is aspirin, given at 75 mg to 150 mg
- the second is a P2Y12 inhibitor, which also stops platelets from building up, so the chance of a new clot or a stent blockage becomes much lower
- there are mainly three P2Y12 inhibitors: clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor; he said ticagrelor is the one used most these days
- the combination is aspirin plus one of these three, and aspirin is a must
How long do I need to take dual blood thinners?
As per the guidelines of the Cardiological Society of India and the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Sharma said:
- if you have stable heart disease (stable angina) and had angioplasty, DAPT is necessary for at least 6 months
- if you had an acute (major) heart attack and a stent was placed, DAPT is mandatory for at least 1 year
- after that, doctors usually step down from two blood thinners to one (single antiplatelet therapy)
Your cardiologist decides the exact plan for you, based on your own case. Never stop or skip a blood thinner on your own.
Which other medicines matter after a stent?
Besides blood thinners, he said statins (cholesterol-lowering medicines) are needed in all patients. High cholesterol, especially LDL (bad cholesterol), speeds up the process of new blockages forming in the arteries, including inside the stent. Read more in statin safety: muscle aches, myths and what patients should ask.
Many stent patients also have high BP or diabetes. In that case, he said, BP medicines and sugar medicines, with good sugar control, are very important too. Otherwise, problems can develop in the stent, or a new blockage can form in another artery or near the stent.
What you can do next
- If you have chest pain, breathlessness or sweating after a stent, don’t wait. Call 112 or go to the nearest hospital.
- Don’t stop or skip your blood thinners without talking to your cardiologist, even if you feel well.
- Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are on blood thinners.
- Ask your cardiologist how long your DAPT should last and when you will step down to one medicine. Our guide to understanding your heart medicines can help you prepare.
- Read what most families misunderstand after angioplasty, and explore more sessions on our Dil Ke Doubts World Heart Month 2026 page.
Frequently asked questions
Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Sharma explained that a stent is a foreign material, and expanding it injures the artery wall a little, so platelet clots can form. Antiplatelet medicines prevent sudden stent blockage and help against slower blockage inside the stent later.
It means two blood-thinning medicines together: aspirin (75–150 mg) plus a P2Y12 inhibitor such as clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor. He said aspirin is a must.
As per CSI and ACC guidelines, he said at least 6 months after angioplasty for stable heart disease, and at least 1 year after a stent for an acute heart attack. Then doctors usually step down to one medicine.
In the session, Dr. Sharma said ticagrelor is the one used most these days. Your cardiologist chooses the right one for you.
Yes. He said statins are needed in all patients, and BP and diabetes medicines where those conditions exist. Otherwise problems can develop in the stent, or new blockages can form.
Watch the full session
Want to hear it from Dr. Sharma himself? The full Dil Ke Doubts session is below (in Hindi). His answer on medicines after a stent starts at about 37:50.
▶️ Watch the full session: Angioplasty and Stents · Please also Subscribe on YouTube @hearthealthindia.
In Dr. Sharma’s words (translated from Hindi): “Aspirin plus one of these three medicines: at least two medicines have to be continued, and one of them must be aspirin.”
Authoritative sources (for further reading)
These links support general education about blood thinners after a stent. They do not replace Dr. Sharma’s words in the session above, and they are not personal medical advice.
- MedlinePlus — Taking antiplatelet medicines (P2Y12 inhibitors)
- NHS — Clopidogrel
- MedlinePlus — Blood thinners
- Cardiological Society of India
About this article
Disclaimer: The medical information in this article is based only on the views shared by the session speaker, Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Sharma. It is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your cardiologist for advice personalised to you. In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital immediately. See also our medical disclaimer.
This is not medical advice. In an emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital.
You don’t have to figure this out alone
Heart Health India is a community of patients, families and caregivers learning together, with India’s cardiologists, how to look after our hearts. If you or someone you love is on blood thinners after a stent and has questions, come ask them, share what you’re going through, and hear from people who’ve been there.
