Plavix vs. Effient

• Are Effient and Plavix the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Plavix?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Effient?
• What is Plavix?
• What is Effient?
• What Drugs Interact with Plavix?
• What Drugs Interact with Effient?
• How Should Plavix Be Taken?
• How Should Effient Be Taken?

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) and Effient (prasugrel) are anticoagulants (blood thinners) that inhibit aspects of blood clotting and are used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, heart attack (myocardial infarction), peripheral vascular disease, and ischemic strokes.

Common side effects of Plavix include:

• increased bleeding,
• nosebleeds,
• headaches,
• itching, and
• bruising.

• bleeding that will not stop;
• bloody or tarry stools, blood in your urine;
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• pale skin, weakness, fever, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), or
• purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin.

Common side effects of Effient include:

• an increased tendency for bleeding,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• back pain,
• minor chest pain,
• tired feeling,
• fatigue,
• nausea,
• cough,
• high or low blood pressure (hypertension or hypotension),
• shortness of breath,
• slow heart rate,
• rash,
• fever,
• swelling or pain in the extremities, and
• diarrhea.

Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a thienopyridine class of drug that inhibits platelet aggregation and thus inhibits aspects of blood clotting used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral vascular disease and some stroke (ischemic type) patients. Plavix is available in generic form.

Effient (prasugrel) is an antiplatelet drug that prevents the platelets in the bloodstream from aggregating and forming blood clots, used to prevent blood clots in people with acute coronary syndrome who are undergoing a procedure after a recent heart attack or stroke, and in people with certain disorders of the heart or blood vessels.

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

Plavix may also interact with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), armodafinil, modafinil, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, gemfibrozil, isoniazid, cancer medications, or stomach acid reducers.

Effient may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other medicines to prevent blood clots.

Plavix is supplied as 75 and 300 mg tablets. For acute coronary syndrome with a non-ST elevation MI, the initial recommended dose is 300 mg, followed by a 75 mg dose per day; for ST elevation MIs, the initial and continuing dose is 75 mg per day. The recommended dose is 75 mg per day for patient with a history of MI, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. Many doctors may choose to add an aspirin per day along with the Plavix dose in both non-ST elevation and ST elevation MIs as well as to stroke and peripheral vascular disease patients.

Effient treatment is started as a single 60-mg oral loading dose and then continued at 10 mg orally once daily. Patients taking Effient should also take aspirin (75 mg to 325 mg) daily.