Brilinta vs. Plavix

• Are Brilinta and Plavix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Brilinta? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Plavix? (Side effects)
• What is Brilinta? (Uses)
• What is Plavix? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Brilinta? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Plavix? (Interactions)
• How Should Brilinta Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Plavix Be Taken? (Dosage)

Brilinta (ticagrelor) and Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) are both blood-thinners used to reduce cardiovascular death and heart attack in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic strokes.

These drugs work by preventing the formation of new blood clots, thus maintaining blood flow in the body to help reduce the risk of another cardiovascular event.

Common side effects of Brilinta are related to bleeding and include increased bleeding, nosebleeds, and bruising.

Other side effects of Brilinta include:

• dizziness,
• cough,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• irregular heartbeat,
• high or low blood pressure,
• back pain,
• fatigue, and
• chest pain

Common side effects of Plavix are related to bleeding and include increased bleeding, nosebleeds, and bruising.

Other side effects of Plavix include:

• headaches and
• itching

Brilinta is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain that happened because their heart was not getting enough oxygen.

Brilinta is used to lower your chance of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack or stroke but Brilinta (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and sometimes lead to death.

Plavix is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have any of the following:

• chest pain due to heart problems
• poor circulation in their legs (peripheral arterial disease)
• a heart attack
• a stroke

Plavix is used alone or with aspirin to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels such as heart attack, stroke, or blood clot that can lead to death.

Brilinta may interact with other blood thinners, HIV or AIDS medications, seizure medications, and antifungals. Brilinta may also interact with dexamethasone, digoxin, nefazodone, antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications, and heart or blood pressure medications.

Brilinta may also interact with dexamethasone (Decadron), digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek, Digibind), nefazodone (Serzone), certain antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), and heart or blood pressure medications.

Plavix may interact with other blood thinners, HIV or AIDS medications, seizure medications, and antifungals.

Taking Plavix with certain other medicines may increase your risk of bleeding. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• aspirin, especially if you have had a stroke. Always talk to your doctor about whether you should take aspirin along with Plavix to treat your condition
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of NSAID medicines if you are not sure.
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

Plavix may also interact with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), armodafinil (Nuvigil), modafinil (Provigil), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox, Luvox CR), gemfibrozil (Lopid), isoniazid, some cancer medications, and stomach acid reducers.

Brilinta can be taken with or without food.

Brilinta is taken with aspirin. Talk to your doctor about the dose of aspirin that you should take with Brilinta. You should not take a dose of aspirin higher than 100 mg daily because it can affect how well Brilinta works. Do not take doses of aspirin higher than what your doctor tells you to take. Tell your doctor if you take other medicines that contain aspirin, and do not take new over-the-counter medicines with aspirin in them.

• Take Plavix exactly as your doctor tells you.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking Plavix without talking to your doctor first. Stopping Plavix may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
• Take Plavix with aspirin as instructed by your doctor.
• If you miss a dose, take Plavix as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of Plavix at the same time unless your doctor tells you to.
• If you take too much Plavix, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
• Talk with your doctor about stopping your Plavix before you have surgery. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking Plavix at least 5 days before you have surgery to avoid excessive bleeding during surgery.