Details

Clopidogrel helps to prevent platelets in your blood from sticking together and forming a blood clot. Unwanted blood clots can occur with certain heart or blood vessel conditions. 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. To make sure clopidogrel is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as TTP (thrombocytopenic purpura) or haemophilia a history of stroke, including TIA ("mini-stroke") a stomach ulcer or ulcerative colitis kidney disease or if you are allergic to medicines like clopidogrel, such as prasugrel, ticagrelor, or ticlopidine.

Typical Uses

Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in persons with heart disease (recent heart attack), recent stroke, or blood circulation disease (peripheral vascular disease). It is also used with aspirin to treat new/worsening chest pain (new heart attack, unstable angina) and to keep blood vessels open and prevent blood clots after certain procedures (such as cardiac stent). Clopidogrel may also help in preventing heart attacks and strokes in persons with irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation).

Side Effects

Stop using clopidogrel and get immediate medical assistance if you have any of these serious side effects such as nosebleed or other bleeding that will not stop bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds pale skin, weakness, fever, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin heart attack symptoms-chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating or signs of a stroke-sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance.

Drug Interactions

• Clopidogrel+abciximab- Ask your doctor before using abciximab together with clopidogrel. This can cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment in addition to special testing of your blood. Contact your doctor swiftly if you have any unusual bleeding or bruising, vomiting, blood in your urine or stools, headache, dizziness, or weakness.

• Clopidogrel+bortezomib- Talk to your doctor before using clopidogrel together with bortezomib. Combining these medications may reduce the effects of clopidogrel in helping to prevent heart attacks or strokes. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications.

• Clopidogrel+cabozantinib- Using cabozantinib together with clopidogrel may increase the risk of bleeding. In clinical studies, treatment with cabozantinib alone has been associated with severe and sometimes fatal haemorrhage. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

• Clopidogrel+deferasirox- Using deferasirox together with clopidogrel may increase the risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Mechanism of action

Clopidogrel belongs to a class of medicines called antiplatelet. It’s a “blood thinner”. It works by blocking certain blood cells called platelets and prevents them from forming harmful blood clots. This "anti-platelet" effect helps keep blood flowing smoothly in your body.

Pregnancy Category : B