Clopidogrel
Also sold as: Plavix
Usual adult dose
Usual adult dose: 75 mg once a day. After a heart attack or stent, a first dose of 300 to 600 mg may be given in hospital. Do not stop without asking your heart doctor.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- bruising
- nosebleeds
- stomach upset
- diarrhoea
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- black stools or vomiting blood
- blood in urine
- bleeding that does not stop
- sudden weakness or severe headache (bleeding in the brain)
- purple spots with fever
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Active bleeding (bleeding stomach ulcer, bleeding in the brain)
- Severe liver disease
- Before surgery or tooth extraction (tell your doctor or dentist)
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious3 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Esomeprazole
Esomeprazole reduces the activation of clopidogrel and may weaken its effect.
- Rivaroxaban
Together they greatly raise the risk of serious bleeding.
- Warfarin
Together they greatly raise the risk of serious bleeding.
Moderate6 medicinesTake together only with care. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Apixaban
Together they raise the risk of bleeding.
- Aspirin
Often used together on purpose after a stent, but bleeding risk is higher.
- Enoxaparin
Together they raise the risk of bleeding.
- Ibuprofen
NSAIDs with clopidogrel raise the risk of stomach bleeding.
- Lansoprazole
Lansoprazole may reduce the activation of clopidogrel.
- Omeprazole
Omeprazole reduces the activation of clopidogrel; pantoprazole is usually preferred.