Clopidogrel

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine prevents heart attacks and strokes. It is useful in patients who have had a recent heart attack or stroke.
• It is also used after heart procedures to keep the artery open.

How does it work?

• Clopidogrel prevents stickiness of blood parts.

How is it best taken?

• Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach.
• Take at a similar time every day.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are 65 or older, you may have more side effects.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can cause stomach irritation.
• If you have had a stomach ulcer or bleeding tell healthcare provider.
• You will bleed easily. Be careful. Avoid injury.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this medicine.
• Avoid other aspirin-containing products, such as, ibuprofen or like products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamin E.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Diarrhea.
• Belly pain, heartburn.
• Stomach bleeding or ulceration. Watch stools for dark, tarry black color. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Rash.

What should I monitor?

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe headache.
• Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
• Any rash.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).

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