Plavix, generically known as clopidrogel, is a brand-name prescription drug that thins the blood. Garlic, which has been used for centuries as a natural herbal remedy, also possesses blood-thinning qualities, according to MedlinePlus. Both have been used to prevent strokes and heart attacks caused by the formation of blood clots. The two are not interchangeable, however, for a number of reasons.
How Plavix Works
Plavix is an anti-platelet medication, that is, it blocks receptors in blood cells called platelets that can lead to blood clots. It is not effective for everyone, however, and a blood test can tell doctors if the medication is working. It is prescribed to prevent heart attack and widely used for patients who have stents in the coronary arteries to improve blood flow and prevent heart blockages. Its effectiveness has been well-studied and documented.
Garlic's Blood Thinning Properties
Garlic also has anti-platelet activities that are being explored for therapeutic application. Currently, researchers don't know exactly how garlic works as a blood thinner, according to the Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research at the University of Chicago. Until more research is done, medical recommendations for use and effectiveness in clot prevention remain questionable.
Warnings and Precautions
Heart patients should weigh the risk and benefits of herbal versus pharmacological treatment of heart disease. Garlic preparations can be unstable, especially those marketed as odorless. The amount of allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, can vary between preparations. Taking garlic with Plavix can raise the risk of uncontrolled bleeding and is not recommended. If you do take garlic, use supplements that are standardized. Tell your health care provider that you are taking garlic.
Garlic Studies Promising
According to a 2009 study review from Kuwait University, studies are promising that garlic might someday be used as a less expensive, accessible therapy than than current drugs for preventing blood clots. Until well-controlled studies are done using standardized garlic extracts, there is no evidence to suggest garlic has the same effect as the prescription drug Plavix. Garlic, however, may have other health benefits that include halting the progression of heart disease, lowering blood pressure, fighting colds and flu and preventing cancer.
References
- MedlinePlus: Garlic
- PubMed Health; Clopidrogel; Nov. 2010
- "Platelets"; Clopidogrel: A Review of its Mechanism of Action; 1998
- University of Chicago; Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research: Garlic
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- "Journal of Chinese Clinical Medicine"; Garlic as an Antithombotic and Antiplatelet Aggregation Agent; Farouk El-Sabban; 2009
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