About this guidance

NICE technology appraisal guidance is about the use of new and existing medicines and treatments in the NHS in England and Wales.

This guidance was developed using the NICE multiple technology appraisal process.

It replaces NICE technology appraisal guidance 90 (published May 2005).

The review and re-appraisal of clopidogrel and modified-release dipyridamole for the prevention of occlusive vascular events has resulted in a change in the guidance. Specifically:

  • Treatment with modified-release dipyridamole in combination with aspirin for people who have had an ischaemic stroke is now recommended only if clopidogrel is contraindicated or not tolerated.

  • Treatment with modified-release dipyridamole in combination with aspirin for people who have had an ischaemic stroke or a transient ischaemic attack is no longer limited to 2 years' duration from the most recent event.

  • Clopidogrel is no longer recommended only for people who are intolerant of aspirin and have had an occlusive vascular event or have peripheral arterial disease (see section 1 for new guidance).

  • Modified-release dipyridamole alone is now recommended as an option to prevent occlusive vascular events (see sections 1.2 and 1.3).

The recommendations from this guideline have been incorporated into a NICE Pathway. We have produced a summary of this guidance for patients and carers. Tools to help you put the guidance into practice and information about the evidence it is based on are also available.

Your responsibility

This guidance represents the views of NICE and was arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. Healthcare professionals are expected to take it fully into account when exercising their clinical judgement. However, the guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.

Implementation of this guidance is the responsibility of local commissioners and/or providers. Commissioners and providers are reminded that it is their responsibility to implement the guidance, in their local context, in light of their duties to avoid unlawful discrimination and to have regard to promoting equality of opportunity. Nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way which would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Copyright

© National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2010. All rights reserved. NICE copyright material can be downloaded for private research and study, and may be reproduced for educational and not-for-profit purposes. No reproduction by or for commercial organisations, or for commercial purposes, is allowed without the written permission of NICE.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)