Clopidogrel Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term

Some blood clots can form in your arms or legs and then travel to your lungs. Once inside your lungs, the clot can block the flow of blood to your lung tissue. Symptoms of PE can include shortness of breath and chest pain.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For more information about the possible side effects of clopidogrel, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hypersensitivity (eg, anaphylaxis) to clopidogrel or any component of the formulation; active pathological bleeding (eg, peptic ulcer, intracranial hemorrhage). Platelet aggregation and bleeding time gradually return to baseline after ~5 days after discontinuation. You should not use this medicine if you have any active bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain.

  1. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication.
  2. In fact, many drugs are known to cause headaches as a side effect.
  3. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns, or for more information about this medicine.
  4. They can tell you whether Plavix comes in forms and strengths that can be used for your condition.
  5. Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor, even if you have signs of bleeding.

But it’s good to remember that the medicines that protect you also make you bleed more easily. You may want to switch to an electric razor and find safer food prep methods to prevent cuts. Avoid direct blows to the head, as you might be at increased risk for intracranial bleeding with head trauma. Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking clopidogrel and ask questions if you need to clarify anything.

When you get Plavix from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. Plavix only works if your body is able to properly metabolize (process) the drug. In order to metabolize Plavix, your body uses an enzyme (type of protein) called CYP2C19 that’s found in your liver. If you’re missing this enzyme, you may not be able to metabolize Plavix. If you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the benefits and potential risks of using Plavix during pregnancy.

This drug helps to reduce the risk of a blood clot forming inside the stent. However, Plavix is also sometimes prescribed for a while after a stent is placed. The length of Plavix treatment depends on if the stent placed is a drug-eluting stent (a stent that gives off a drug) or a bare metal stent. A clinical study looked at the use of Plavix in people who had established PAD or who’d had a heart attack or stroke in the recent past.

Clopidogrel – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company. Lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count) may be done while you are taking this medication. Clopidogrel can slow down the removal of other drugs from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include repaglinide, among others. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information about how to dispose of your medication.

What Is the Difference Between a Thrombus and a Blood Clot?

People who are poor metabolizers at CYP2C19 may not respond very well to clopidogrel. Stopping clopidogrel shouldn’t cause withdrawal symptoms, which are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. However, stopping clopidogrel may increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Sometimes, Plavix is prescribed to help prevent blood clots from forming in people who have both atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome. Clopidogrel will help prevent serious problems with your heart and blood vessels only as long as you take the medication.

Interactions

If necessary, the drug may be kept at temperatures of 59° to 86° F (15° to 30° C) for short periods, such as while traveling with the drug. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. How long a medication remains good to take can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

What Happens After a Stroke? Signs, Symptoms, Types

Serious side effects from Plavix aren’t common, but they can occur. This is because stopping Plavix beforehand might put you at risk of forming a blood clot in your stent. If you have itchy skin, it may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If it is more severe or doesn’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s not known whether clopidogrel is safe to take during pregnancy. If you or your sexual partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking this medication. It’s not known for sure whether clopidogrel is safe to take while breastfeeding.

These can be signs that your condition has gotten worse. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. However, taking clopidogrel within 1 week before childbirth can cause bleeding in the mother.

When a drug passes into animal breast milk, it will likely also pass into human breast milk. One exception to this is that your doctor may recommend that ketamine detox symptoms timeline medications and treatment you avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you’re taking Plavix. For more information, see the “Plavix interactions” section above.

People with PAD often have reduced blood flow to their legs, feet, arms, and abdomen. Your heart muscle needs a steady blood flow to supply the oxygen and nutrients the heart sober living homes comparison needs to function. Without adequate blood flow, the heart can’t function correctly. If you’re interested in taking Plavix instead of clopidogrel, talk with your doctor.

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