What is Clopidogrel?
The oral tablet of Clopidogrel is a prescription medication that is available as the Plavix brand name drug. It's available as a generic drug also. In certain cases, they may not be available as a brand-name drug in all strengths or forms. Clopidogrel comes only as a tablet that you take orally.
Clopidogrel Uses
Clopidogrel is used for preventing blood clots when you have chest pain, peripheral artery disease (poor circulation in your legs), heart attack, or stroke. As part of combination therapy, this drug can be used. That means you may need to take other medications with it. Your doctor will determine if this medication should be used with other medications, such as aspirin.
How to use
Read your pharmacist's Medication Guide before you start taking clopidogrel and every time you get a refill. Take this medicine orally with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Take this medicine regularly to make the most advantage of it. To help you remember, take it every day at the same time.
The dosage and duration of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If you are taking this medicine to prevent clots after a stent implant or other procedure, take this medicine with aspirin for several months or years after the procedure as directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor for more details and the risks of early cessation. Keep consuming this medicine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking the dosage of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
If your doctor or pharmacist says that you can do so safely, stop consuming grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while you are taking this drug. With this drug, grapefruit will increase the risk of side effects.
If you have some signs that this drug does not function, such as symptoms of a new heart attack or stroke (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty breathing, unexpected changes in vision, confusion), get medical attention right away.
How it works
Clopidogrel belongs to a family of medicines called platelet inhibitors or P2Y12 ADP platelet receptor inhibitors of the thienopyridine class. Classification of medicines that function in a similar way. For the treatment of the relevant conditions, these medications are also used.
Platelets are blood cells that usually help the blood coagulate. Clopidogrel helps avoid the sticking of platelets together. This prevents them from forming clots of blood.
Clopidogrel Side effects
- Unexplained bleeding
- Bleeding that lasts a long time
- Blood in your urine
- Pink, red, or brown-colored urine
- Red or black stools
- Unexplained bruises or bruises that get larger
- Coughing up blood
- Blood clots
- Vomiting blood
- Purplish spots (purpura) on your skin
- Mouth (mucous membrane)
- Yellowing of your skin
- Whitening of your eyes (jaundice)
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Bleeding
- Itchy skin
- Pale-looking skin
- Fever
- Fast heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Trouble speaking
- Difficulty understanding language (aphasia
- Confusion
- Coma
- Stroke
- Seizure
- Low amount of urine
- Urine that’s pink
- Blood in urine
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Vision loss
Precautions
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history before using this medicine, in particular: bleeding disorders (such as stomach ulcers, brain/eye-bleeding), recent surgery, serious injury/trauma, liver disease, bleeding disorders (such as hemophilia).
- Use care with sharp objects such as razors and nail cutters to lower the risk of being cut, bruised, or hurt, and avoid behaviors such as contact sports.
- Inform your doctor of all kinds of medications you might need before having surgery. You will be advised by your doctor to avoid using clopidogrel for at least 5 days before your surgery. Do not stop taking clopidogrel without first talking to your cardiologist (heart doctor).
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any allergic problems to clopidogrel or similar antiplatelet drugs (thienopyridines such as prasugrel) or if you have any other allergies before taking clopidogrel. This product might have some inactive ingredients that may cause allergic reactions or other problems.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history before using this medicine, in particular: bleeding disorders (such as stomach ulcers, brain/eye-bleeding), recent surgery, serious injury/trauma, liver disease, bleeding disorders (such as hemophilia).
Interactions
- Drug interactions can sometimes change the way your drugs work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Should never start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine without your doctor's approval.
- The product that can interact with this drug is tipranavir. Consult your doctor immediately if you are already taking aspirin and ask whether to proceed or stop using this drug for your particular condition (aspirin and clopidogrel may be used in combination after a coronary stent procedure, or for some heart conditions). Consult your doctor before beginning your treatment for any medical problem if you are not already taking aspirin.
- Clopidogrel may slow down the removal of other drugs from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of drugs affected include dasabuvir, repaglinide, among others.
- Check all prescription and nonprescription labels carefully, as many medicines contain pain relievers/fever reducers (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin). These drugs may increase the risk of bleeding/antiplatelet effects when used with clopidogrel. Ask your pharmacist for the safe use of these products.
Clopidogrel Vs Aspirin
| Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication | Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid |
| Brand name Plavix | It is sold under the brand names Ecosprin, Sprin, Aspro, Eprin, and Delisprin. |
| Formula - C16H16ClNO2S·HCl | Formula: C₉H₈O₄ |
| Clopidogrel is used for preventing blood clots when you have chest pain, peripheral artery disease, poor circulation in your legs, heart attack, or stroke. | It is a medication used for reducing pain, fever, or inflammation. |
