Author: Alex Thompson

Clopidogrel Wikipedia

what is the drug plavix

It belongs to a group of medications called antiplatelets. These drugs may increase the risk of bleeding/antiplatelet effect when used with clopidogrel. Ask your pharmacist about using these products safely. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Plavix to treat certain conditions. Plavix is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with certain cardiovascular conditions. Clopidogrel (Plavix®) is an antiplatelet drug you can take to prevent blood clots.

Alcohol can increase your risk of bleeding while you’re taking this drug. Before having any procedures done, you should tell your doctors or dentists that you’re taking clopidogrel. You may need to stop taking this drug for a short time before a procedure to prevent bleeding. Your doctor will let you know when to stop taking this medication and when it’s OK to take it again. Warfarin and clopidogrel work to thin the blood in different ways.

However, it’s given by having you take more than one tablet of Effient one time at the start of treatment. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Plavix, with Brilinta, or with both drugs (when taken individually). Brilinta comes as tablets that are taken by mouth twice each day. However, it’s given by having you take more than one tablet of Brilinta one time at the start of treatment.

Plavix and pregnancy

Plavix is also approved to prevent heart attack and stroke in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Clopidogrel will help prevent serious problems with your heart and blood vessels only as long as you take the medication. Do not stop taking clopidogrel without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking clopidogrel, there is a higher risk that you may have a heart attack or stroke. If you have a stent, there is also a higher risk that you could develop a blood clot in the stent if you stop taking clopidogrel too soon.

Your doctor may check your CYP2C19 function before prescribing Plavix to check whether your body is able to metabolize the drug. If a bruise is painful, you can apply an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time. In clinical trials, bruising was a common side effect reported with Plavix. If you have fatigue, hallucinations, or constipation while taking Plavix, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing these symptoms. However, after the drug was available on the market, some people reported having hallucinations while taking Plavix.

Clopidogrel can slow down the removal of other drugs from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include repaglinide, among others. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s also approved to prevent blood clots in people with ACS who’ve had a stent (mesh tube) placed in one or more of their blood vessels. This syndrome is caused by a lack of blood flow to your heart due to a blockage. Plavix isn’t approved to prevent heart attack or stroke in people who’ve had a stent placed.

what is the drug plavix

Plavix works to prevent these conditions by helping prevent blood clots from forming. Plavix isn’t approved to prevent heart attack or stroke in people who’ve had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). However, sometimes it’s used off-label for this purpose.

Clopidogrel, Oral Tablet

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company. Lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count) may be done while you are taking this medication. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

If you’d like to know more about using Plavix after having a stent placed, talk with your doctor. If you’d like to know more about using Plavix after having CABG surgery, talk with your doctor. Shortness of breath is not a common side effect of Plavix, but it may be symptom of a serious side effect of the drug. If you have diarrhea while you’re taking this drug, make sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated.

  1. It doesn’t matter what time of day you take the drug, but you should try to be consistent each day.
  2. If your nose continues to bleed for more than 15 minutes, or if the bleeding gets worse before 15 minutes have passed, call your doctor right away.
  3. Both Plavix and Effient are often prescribed for use in combination with aspirin.
  4. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
  5. With TTP, blood clots are formed throughout your body, including in your small blood vessels.

But it’s good to remember that the medicines that protect you also make you bleed more easily. You may want to switch to an electric razor and find safer food prep methods to prevent cuts. Avoid direct blows to the head, as you might be at increased risk for intracranial bleeding with head trauma. Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking clopidogrel and ask questions if you need to clarify anything. CLOPIDOGREL (kloh PID oh grel) lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. It prevents blood cells (platelets) from clumping together to form a clot.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

In animal studies, there was also no harm seen in fetuses when pregnant animals were given the drug. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans. You should take Plavix according to your doctor’s or another healthcare professional’s instructions. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to drink while you’re taking Plavix. If you need to take these drugs together, your doctor may adjust your dosage of repaglinide. They’ll also monitor you closely for side effects of the drug.

Medical Professionals

They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Yes, clopidogrel (Plavix®) can make you feel very tired. Contact your healthcare provider if this side effect is severe. Don’t stop taking clopidogrel unless your provider tells you to stop.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Plavix

The boxed warning for Plavix states the drug only works if your body is able to properly metabolize (process) Plavix. If you’re missing the enzyme (type of protein) needed to do this, you may not be able to metabolize Plavix. Because of this, you may not benefit from taking the drug.