Clopidogrel is a drug commonly prescribed to patients with high risks for strokes or heart attacks because it prevents blood from clotting (If Clopidogrel doesn't ring a bell, maybe its brand name, Plavix, does?). It is also often prescribed to patients who get coronary stents, a kind of metal tube inserted in the coronary artery to prevent it from collapsing. However, about 2 % of patients with stents are allergic to clopidogrel. Allergic symptoms amy range from rashes, itching, swelling of the tongue and airways, and in severe cases, even anaphylactic shock.

Luckily researchers have been able to overcome this problem by exposing such patients to a desensitization protocol.

The desensitization protocol was used on eight patients. While being monitored in the cardiac ICU, the patients were first given a small dose of clopidogrel mixed into a drinkable solution. Every 15 minutes over the next few hours, the patients received an additional, higher dose of the drug. This continued until they were able to tolerate the target dose of 75 milligrams of clopidogrel. In total, the patients received nine doses totaling 150 milligrams of the drug.

By the end of the desensitization procedure, the patients were able to safely take a daily 75 milligram dose of clopidogrel at home without suffering allergic reactions.

Read more from Reuters via Medscape: Protocol Desensitizes Patients With Allergy to Clopidogrel and EurekAlert.