In this continuing series of drug and therapeutics updates, Charlotte Nicholls and Mojgan Sani explain the mode of action of antiplatelet drugs and consider the side effects that can be particularly detrimental to older people

Antiplatelet drugs are of use in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and have been shown to reduce the incidence of vascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke (Antiplatelet Triallists Collaboration 1994), of which older people are at greater risk. The antiplatelets, which include aspirin, clopidogrel and dipyridamole, are currently under-prescribed and should be prescribed to all individuals, regardless of age, who have or are at risk of vascular disease.