Drug Name

Plavix (Clopidogrel)

Drug Uses

Clopidogrel is second-hand to prevent strokes and basic nature attacks in persons who are at on a trip risk. In one large examination, clopidogrel was more productive than aspirin in reducing focus attacks. The frequency of side effects of clopidogrel was almost identical to aspirin; however, suffer and intestinal bleeding all things considered occurs less repeatedly with clopidogrel than with aspirin.

How to use

Hold clopidogrel exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not be told these instructions, ask your pharmacologist, nurse, or doctor to define them to you. Take each prescribe with a full opera-glasses of water. Clopidogrel can be bewitched with or without sustenance.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Clopidogrel is an anti-platelet cure, that is, a drug that inhibits the wit of platelets to clump together as share of a blood clot. It is be like to ticlopidine (Ticlid) in chemical arrange and in the way it works. Unlike ticlopidine, clopidogrel does not promote serious reductions of chalk-white cells in the blood and, consequence, routine blood testing to settle if the white blood chamber count is low is not necessary during treatment. The jeopardy of heart attacks and strokes (which predominantly are caused by blood clots) is increased in patients with a brand-new history of stroke or middle attack and patients with inessential vascular disease. (Tangential vascular disease is the exact same as atherosclerotic arterial murrain or \\"hardening\\" of the arteries in which the arteries mature narrowed. It frequently occurs in the legs and many times causes claudication or irritation in the legs upon walking). Clopidogrel is tempered to to reduce the risk of tenderness attacks and strokes in these patients. Clopidogrel was approved by

Missed Dose

Raise ' the missed dose as when all is said as you remember. However, if it is scarcely time for the next prescribe, skip the missed prescribe and take only the next regularly scheduled amount. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Storage

Tablets should be stored at office temperature, 15-30 degrees C (59-86 degrees F), away from moisture and fever.

Warnings/Precautions

Charge your doctor and dentist that you are intriguing this medication first having any surgical procedures. Do not apply oneself to aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), or other non-steroidal anti-fomenting medications (NSAIDs) without initial talking to your doctor. It may effect longer than typical for you to stop bleeding, despite that smooth from minor wounds. Let the cat out of the bag your doctor around any unusual bleeding or bruising that you encounter. Studies in rats fool shown that clopidogrel appears in tit milk; however, it is not known whether it also appears in gentle breast milk. Because of a possible for side effects in the nursing infant, the physician obligation weigh the potential benefits and realizable risks before prescribing clopidogrel in nursing mothers.

Possible Side Effects

The tolerability of clopidogrel is be like to that of aspirin. Diarrhea, epidemic, or itching occurs in approaching 1 in 20 persons entrancing clopidogrel. Abdominal grief also occurs in not far from 1 in 20 persons, but it is less iterative than with aspirin. Ticlopidine (Ticlid) is an antiplatelet medication thoroughly similar to clopidogrel. It has been associated with a cold reduction in white blood room count in between 0.8% and 1% of persons. The chance of this dangerous side import with clopidogrel is prevalent 0.04%, much less than with ticlopidine but twice that of aspirin. Clopidogrel seldom causes a condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in one out of every 250,000 people. TTP is a urgent condition in which blood clots genre throughout the body. Blood platelets, which participate in clotting, are consumed, and the terminate can be bleeding because reasonably platelets are no longer Nautical port to allow blood to clot normally. For comparability, the related drug, ticlodipine (Ticlid), cau

More Information

• If you contact any of the following serious side effects, sojourn taking clopidogrel and ask for emergency medical prominence or notify your doctor forthwith: an allergic response (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; enlargement of the lips, tongue, or repute; or hives); bloody (or angry) vomit or stools; primitive headache, confusion, or dizziness; unexplained bruising or bleeding; or bleeding nose. Other, less severe side effects may be more probable to occur. Continue to take hold clopidogrel and talk to your doctor if you practice upset stomach; diarrhea or constipation; or nuisance or dizziness. Side effects other than those listed here may also be brought to someone's attention. Talk to your doctor prevalent any side effect that seems queer or that is especially bothersome.