Drug Name

Plavix (Clopidogrel)

Drug Uses

Clopidogrel is used to halt strokes as well as heart attacks in persons who are at high risk. In one large study, clopidogrel was more effective than aspirin in reducing heart attacks. The frequency of side effects of clopidogrel was similar to aspirin; but, stomach as well as intestinal bleeding probably occurs less often with clopidogrel than with aspirin.

How Taken

Take clopidogrel exactly as directed by your doctor. Incase you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a filled glass of water. Clopidogrel can be used with or without food.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Clopidogrel is an anti-platelet drug, that is, a drug that inhibits the ability of platelets to clump together as part of a blood clot. It is similar to ticlopidine (Ticlid) in artificial structure as well as in the way it works. Unlike ticlopidine, clopidogrel does not cause humorless reductions of pale cells in the blood as well as, therefore, routine blood testing to determine incase the pale blood cell count is abridged is not essential during treatment. The risk of heart attacks as well as strokes (which usually are caused by blood clots) is increased in patients with a recent history of stroke or heart attack as well as patients with peripheral vascular disease. (Peripheral vascular disease is the alike as atherosclerotic arterial disease or "hardening" of the arteries in which the arteries become narrowed. It frequently occurs in the legs as well as often causes claudication or pain in the legs upon walking). Clopidogrel is used to reduce the risk of heart attacks as well as strokes in these patients. Clopidogrel was approved by the FDA in 1997.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. But, incase it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose as well as take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Storage

Tablets should be stored at room temperature, 15-30°C (59-86°F), away from moisture as well as heat.

Warnings/Precautions

Tell your doctor as well as dentist that you are using this medication before having any surgical procedures. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) without earliest talking to your doctor. It may take longer than usual for you to halt bleeding, even from minor wounds. Tell your doctor about any unusual bleeding or bruising that you experience. Studies in rats possess shown that clopidogrel appears in breast milk; but, it is not known whether it as well as appears in human breast milk. Because of a potential for side effects in the nursing infant, the physician must weigh the potential benefits as well as likely risks before prescribing clopidogrel in nursing mothers.

Likely Side Effects

The tolerability of clopidogrel is similar to that of aspirin. Diarrhea, rash, or itching occurs in approximately 1 in 20 persons using clopidogrel. Abdominal pain as well as occurs in about 1 in 20 persons, but it is less repeated than with aspirin.

Ticlopidine (Ticlid) is an antiplatelet medication quite similar to clopidogrel. It has been associated with a very bad reduction in pale blood cell count in between 0.8% as well as 1% of persons. The risk of this dangerous side effect with clopidogrel is about 0.04%, much less than with ticlopidine but twice that of aspirin.

Clopidogrel rarely causes a condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in one out of every 250,000 people. TTP is a humorless condition in which blood clots form throughout the body. Blood platelets, which participate in clotting, are consumed, as well as the result can be bleeding because enough platelets are no longer west to allow blood to clot normally. For comparison, the related drug, ticlodipine (Ticlid), causes TTP 17-50 times more frequently than clopidogrel.

More Information

• Incase you experience any of the following humorless side effects, halt using clopidogrel as well as seek emergency health examination attention or notify your doctor immediately:
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • bloody (or black) vomit or stools;
  • very bad headache, confusion, or dizziness;
  • unexplained bruising or bleeding; or
  • bleeding nose.
• Other, less humorless side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take clopidogrel as well as talk to your doctor incase you experience
  • upset stomach;
  • diarrhea or constipation; or
  • headache or dizziness.
• Side effects other than those listed here may as well as occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.