NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

For ACS patients undergoing medical therapy, how long should ticagrelor or clopidogrel be paired with aspirin?

1. At least 6 months

2. At least 12 months

3. For 3 years

4. Indefinitely

The correct answer is: At least 12 months

For ACS patients undergoing medical therapy, ticagrelor or clopidogrel should be paired with aspirin for at least 12 months. This is because dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor is recommended for 12 months for these patients to reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. After the initial 12-month period, the need for continuing dual antiplatelet therapy should be reassessed based on the individual patient's risk of bleeding and ischemic events. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Options A and C are incorrect because they do not align with the recommended duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. Option D is incorrect because continuing dual antiplatelet therapy indefinitely is not recommended due to the increased risk of bleeding over time without a proportional reduction in ischemic events beyond the initial 12-month period.