Facts About Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate)
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a prescription medicine that helps keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots. This enables blood to flow more easily, helping to reduce the risk of a future heart attack or stroke.
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) was FDA approved in 1997. Doctors have written
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) prescriptions to over 115 million people.*
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) has been the focus of extensive research, studies, and scientific studies. The effectiveness of Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) has been proven and the safety profile supported by 3 large clinical studies involving 77,000 patients. Below is a summary of the key clinical trials:
- In one clinical trial consisting of about 19,000 patients, Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) was shown to be more effective than aspirin at reducing the risk of another heart attack or stroke for those who had a recent heart attack, had a recent stroke or were diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D., also known as poor circulation in the legs).
In people with ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome)
- In a study that involved approximately 45,000 patients who had a suspected heart attack caused by a completely blocked artery, it was determined that Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) taken with aspirin lowers your risk of a heart attack, stroke, and even death. Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) helped save lives in patients who survived a heart attack due to a completely blocked artery.
- In another study involving about 12,000 patients, it was determined that PLAVIX taken with aspirin provided more protection against a future heart attack or stroke than aspirin and other heart medicines alone for patients who had a certain type of heart attack (non–ST-segment elevation heart attack) or were hospitalized with heart-related chest pain.
How Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) works
Many people take cholesterol and blood pressure medicines to help reduce their risk of a heart attack or stroke. All blood pressure medicines work to lower blood pressure, but they do so in different ways. Some lower blood volume, whereas others expand blood vessels or loosen the "grip" or stress on a blood vessel. Many cholesterol-lowering drugs work by helping to reduce the buildup of plaque and limit the production of new cholesterol. Although blood pressure and cholesterol medications reduce overall cardiovascular risk, they do not keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots. Artery-clogging clots are the direct cause of most heart attacks and strokes.
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) helps reduce your risk of a future heart attack or stroke by keeping blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots.
See how platelets can stick together, forming clots
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It's important to follow your doctor's recommendations. Once you have had a heart attack or stroke, or been diagnosed with P.A.D., your risk of a future heart attack or stroke never goes away, even if you feel better. So ask your doctor about the importance of an antiplatelet medication like PLAVIX as part of an ongoing plan to reduce your risk. PLAVIX starts working soon after you take it and will continue to help protect you as long as you take it as your doctor prescribes. Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you’ve had a stroke. To learn more about taking antiplatelet medications like PLAVIX, review our Frequently Asked Questions.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Certain genetic factors and some medicines such as Prilosec or Nexium reduce the effect of PLAVIX leaving you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke. Your doctor may use genetic tests to determine treatment. Don’t stop taking PLAVIX without talking to your doctor as your risk of heart attack or stroke may increase. People with stomach ulcers or conditions that cause bleeding should not use PLAVIX. Taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines, including aspirin, may increase bleeding risk which can potentially be life-threatening. So tell your doctor when planning surgery. Tell your doctor all medicines you take, including aspirin, especially if you’ve had a stroke. If fever, unexplained weakness or confusion develops, tell your doctor promptly. These may be signs of TTP, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, reported sometimes less than 2 weeks after starting PLAVIX.
INDICATIONS
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a prescription only medicine that helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots.
PLAVIX is for patients who have:
• had a recent heart attack
• had a recent stroke
• poor circulation in the legs (Peripheral Artery Disease)
PLAVIX in combination with aspirin is for patients hospitalized with:
• heart-related chest pain
• heart attack
Doctors may refer to these conditions as ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome).
Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke.
Click here for US Full Prescribing Information Including BOXED WARNING
and Medication Guide for PLAVIX
Remember, your doctor is the single best source of information regarding your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your medicine, or experience any side effects of PLAVIX.
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