Is there any aspirin substitute for stroke and heart attack patients?

Is there any aspirin substitute for stroke and heart attack patients?

Aspirin substitute is a drug known as clopidogrel. It acts by a different mechanism and can be given to those intolerant to aspirin. It can also be combined with aspirin as dual antiplatelet therapy. These medications are called antiplatelet agents because they inhibit the function of platelets and thus reducing clotting tendency in blood vessels. A newer antiplatelet agent is ticagrelor which more effective, but costlier.

In some countries, cilostazol is also used for its antiplatelet action. The combination of aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol has been called triple antiplatelet therapy. Dipyridamole is another drug given instead of aspirin in stroke patients, but not recommended for heart attack patients.