What is a common side effect associated with antiplatelet therapy?

Antiplatelet therapy is widely used to prevent thrombotic cardiovascular events by inhibiting platelet aggregation. A common and significant side effect of this therapy is the increased risk of bleeding. This occurs because antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin or clopidogrel, reduce the ability of platelets to clump together, which is essential for blood clotting. Consequently, patients on these medications may experience increased bruising, gastrointestinal bleeding, or more severe hemorrhagic events, particularly if they have underlying conditions or are taking other anticoagulative therapies. Understanding this risk is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers to manage therapy safely and to monitor for any signs of bleeding.