Plavix

Generic Name: Clopidogrel

US Brand Name: Plavix

Uses

Clopidogrel is used to prevent blood clots after a recent heart attack or stroke, and in people with certain disorders of the heart or blood vessels.

Active Ingredients: Clopidogrel bisulfate
Inactive Ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropylcellulose, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose and polyethylene glycol. The pink film coating contains ferric oxide, hypromellose 2910, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide and triacetin

Advantages of Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel, unlike blood pressure and cholesterol medicines, works to help keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots.

Dosage and Forms

Clopidogrel comes in round, pink tablets (75mg). Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water. It has no importance whether you take the tablet with food or without it. The recommended daily dose of Clopidogrel is 75 mg once daily. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a Clopidogrel overdose may include vomiting, feeling exhausted or short of breath, and blood in your stools or vomit.

Contraindications and Precautions

Do not use Clopidogrel if you are allergic to Clopidogrel bisulfate, or if you have any active bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain (such as from a head injury). Before taking Clopidogrel, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia;
• a history of stroke, including TIA (mini-stroke);
• a stomach ulcer or ulcerative colitis;
• liver disease; or
• kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Clopidogrel, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Side Effects

Clopidogrel like many other medicines may cause side effects. More common side effects include: Stomach upset/pain, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness, rash, flu-like symptoms, or back/joint pain may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Interactions

Before taking Clopidogrel, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
• phenytoin (Dilantin);
• tamoxifen (Nolvadex);
• tolbutamide (Orinase);
• torsemide (Demadex);
• fluvastatin (Lescol);
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, ardeparin (Normiflo), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), enoxaparin (Lovenox), or tinzaparin (Innohep); or
• medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase).