For a patient with an allergy to aspirin, which alternative medication is commonly recommended?

Clopidogrel is commonly recommended as an alternative medication for patients with an allergy to aspirin, particularly in the context of antiplatelet therapy. Aspirin is often used to prevent thrombotic events in various cardiovascular conditions, and for patients who cannot tolerate aspirin due to an allergy, clopidogrel serves as a suitable substitute. Clopidogrel functions as a platelet aggregation inhibitor, similar to aspirin, but it does not share the same chemical structure, thereby reducing the risk of cross-reactivity in patients with aspirin allergies.

The other options do not serve the same purpose as antiplatelet therapy. Atorvastatin is a statin used primarily to manage cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular risk. Warfarin is an anticoagulant that is used for preventing blood clots but operates differently than antiplatelet medications and is not a direct substitute for aspirin. Metoprolol is a beta-blocker used for managing heart rate and blood pressure, and it also does not provide the antiplatelet effect that clopidogrel and aspirin do. Therefore, clopidogrel is the ideal choice for patients unable to take aspirin due to allergy.