PLAVIX (clopidogrel bisulfate)
Help fight back with PLAVIX

For U.S. Residents Only

Frequently Asked Questions

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 or your medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is PLAVIX?
What is an antiplatelet medicine?
What is the important risk information I should know?
Are there any side effects that may occur when taking PLAVIX or PLAVIX with aspirin?
What clinical data support the FDA-approved usages for PLAVIX?
Aren't blood pressure and cholesterol medicines enough to protect against heart attack or stroke?
What new information made you change the language in your commercial?
Stent* or no stent, could PLAVIX be right for you?
How may PLAVIX help protect me from a future heart attack or stroke?
How should PLAVIX be taken?
What if I miss a dose?
If I'm feeling better, can I stop taking PLAVIX?
What if my doctor stops prescribing PLAVIX for me?
Can I take PLAVIX if I've had a stroke?
Should I stop taking PLAVIX if I've had a stroke?
Should I take PLAVIX and aspirin together?
Can I take PLAVIX and aspirin if I've had a stroke?
Why can't I take PLAVIX and aspirin if I've had a stroke?
I had a stroke and have been on PLAVIX and aspirin for some time. Why do/should I have to stop my treatment?
How is PLAVIX different from my other heart medicines?
How can I find out more about heart health?

What is PLAVIX?

  • PLAVIX is a prescription antiplatelet medicine that is proven to help keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots. This helps your blood to flow more easily, reducing the risk of a future heart attack or stroke.
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What is an antiplatelet medicine?

  • Antiplatelet medicines help keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots, which helps keep blood flowing. Doctors often prescribe antiplatelet medicines for patients who are at increased risk for a future heart attack or stroke, or who have peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.)—poor circulation in the legs, which may cause pain or heaviness in the legs during exercise, such as walking, that may be relieved by rest.
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What is the important risk information I should know?

  • If you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you should not use PLAVIX. When taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase so tell your doctor before planning surgery. And, always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke. If you develop fever, unexplained weakness or confusion, tell your doctor promptly as these may be signs of a rare but potentially life-threatening condition called TTP, which has been reported rarely, sometimes in less than 2 weeks after starting therapy. Other rare but serious side effects may occur.
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Are there any side effects that may occur when taking PLAVIX or PLAVIX with aspirin?

  • If you have a stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you should not use PLAVIX. When taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase so tell your doctor before planning surgery. And, always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke. If you develop fever, unexplained weakness or confusion, tell your doctor promptly as these may be signs of a rare but potentially life-threatening condition called TTP, which has been reported rarely, sometimes in less than 2 weeks after starting therapy. Other rare but serious side effects may occur.

Click here to read full Prescribing Information.

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What clinical data support the FDA-approved usages for PLAVIX?

  • In one clinical trial consisting of over 19,000 patients, PLAVIX was shown to be more effective than aspirin at reducing the risk of another heart attack or stroke for those who have had:
    • a recent heart attack
    • a recent stroke

In patients with poor circulation in the legs that may cause pain during exercise, such as walking, and may be relieved by rest (peripheral artery disease or P.A.D.), PLAVIX was shown to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

  • In another study involving over 12,000 patients, it was determined that PLAVIX taken with aspirin and other heart medicines provided more protection against a future heart attack or stroke than aspirin and other heart medicines alone for patients who have:
    • had a certain type of heart attack (non–ST-elevation heart attack)
    • been hospitalized with heart-related chest pain

  • In another study involving over 45,000 patients, it was determined that PLAVIX taken with aspirin provided more protection against a future heart attack, stroke, or death than aspirin and other heart medicines alone for patients who have had:
    • a heart attack due to a completely blocked artery

  • In another study involving over 3,000 patients, it was determined that PLAVIX taken with aspirin provided more protection against a future heart attack than aspirin and other heart medicines alone for patients who have had:
    • a heart attack due to a completely blocked artery

Click here to read full Prescribing Information

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Aren't blood pressure and cholesterol medicines enough to protect against heart attack or stroke?

  • Reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol is important, but you also need to help reduce the formation of clots in the blood. When platelets in the blood stick together, they can form artery-clogging clots, which are the direct cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Although blood pressure and cholesterol medicines reduce your overall cardiovascular risk, they do not directly reduce clot formation—the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Prescription PLAVIX does.
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What new information made you change the language in your commercial?

  • We want to be sure you are taking PLAVIX and your other medicines only as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Depending on your condition, aspirin may or may not be recommended for use with PLAVIX.
  • PLAVIX is recommended for patients who have:
    • had a recent stroke
    • had a recent heart attack
    • poor circulation in their legs (P.A.D.)
  • PLAVIX in combination with aspirin is recommended for patients hospitalized with:
    • heart-related chest pain (unstable angina)
    • a certain type of heart attack (non–Q-wave)
  • Doctors may refer to these conditions as ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome).
  • Your doctor is the single best source of information regarding your health. It's important to take PLAVIX exactly as your doctor has directed to help reduce your risk of another stroke or heart attack.
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Stent* or no stent, could PLAVIX be right for you?

  • Some patients who have had heart-related chest pain (unstable angina) or a certain type of heart attack in which your artery was partially blocked (non–ST-elevation heart attack) have medical procedures to insert a stent into an artery that is narrowed due to plaque buildup. Others are managed with medical treatment, or with cardiac surgery. In each of these cases, it's still important to talk to your doctor about PLAVIX.

* Bare metal stent.

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How may PLAVIX help protect me from a future heart attack or stroke?

  • Your doctor may have prescribed PLAVIX because you have had a recent heart attack or recent stroke, or have peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.)—poor circulation in the legs, which may cause pain or heaviness in the legs during exercise, such as walking, that may be relieved by rest. PLAVIX is proven to help keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots—the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Taking PLAVIX once a day can help reduce your risk of a future heart attack or stroke, so ask your doctor about PLAVIX.
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How should PLAVIX be taken?

  • PLAVIX should be taken once daily, with or without food. For patients who have what doctors call Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), PLAVIX should be taken together with aspirin as directed by your physician. It's important you take PLAVIX exactly as your doctor has directed to help reduce your risk of a future heart attack or stroke. Remember, PLAVIX can help to protect you as long as you continue to take it as your doctor recommends.
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What if I miss a dose?

  • PLAVIX has been proven to deliver ongoing protection when taken as prescribed by your doctor. Taking your daily dose ensures that the medicine is in your bloodstream every day—helping protect you from a future heart attack or stroke by inhibiting potentially dangerous clot formation. If you do accidentally miss a day, do not double up on your medicine—just continue your usual dose. If you have any questions about taking your medicines, please consult your doctor.
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If I'm feeling better, can I stop taking PLAVIX?

  • You should always consult with your doctor before stopping any medicine, no matter how good you may feel now or at any time in the future. You should remember that if you have had a stroke, heart attack, or heart-related chest pain (unstable angina), or if you have poor circulation in the legs (known as peripheral artery disease or P.A.D.), you're still at increased risk of having a future heart attack or stroke. As long as you continue to stay on PLAVIX as directed by your doctor, you can help protect yourself against a future heart attack or even a stroke. Please take PLAVIX as prescribed by your doctor.
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What if my doctor stops prescribing PLAVIX for me?

  • Sometime in the future, your physician may not renew your PLAVIX prescription. For example, this may happen when you switch between your hospital physician and your primary doctor, or between your primary doctor and a specialist, or when you switch insurance plans.

  • In any event, remember that you are the co-manager of your health along with your physician, and that you should feel confident asking questions, raising concerns, and seeking information from him or her.

  • Should your PLAVIX prescription end, make sure you ask—and fully understand—the reasons behind your doctor's decision.
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Can I take PLAVIX if I've had a stroke?

  • Yes, once your condition has been stabilized, your doctor may prescribe PLAVIX to help reduce your risk of a future heart attack or stroke. In patients who have had a recent stroke or recent heart attack or have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.)—poor circulation in the legs, PLAVIX has been proven to help protect against a future stroke or heart attack.
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Should I stop taking PLAVIX if I've had a stroke?

  • It's important to take PLAVIX exactly as your doctor has directed to help reduce your risk of another stroke or heart attack. You should always consult with your doctor before stopping any medication. Your doctor or other healthcare professional will know if there are reasons why you should stop taking PLAVIX.
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Should I take PLAVIX and aspirin together?

  • Your doctor may prescribe daily PLAVIX and aspirin if you have been hospitalized with heart-related chest pain (unstable angina) or had a heart attack. PLAVIX, taken with aspirin, plays its own role in keeping platelets from sticking together. This allows blood to flow more easily and provides more protection against a future heart attack or stroke than aspirin alone.
  • Though you may be taking medicines to help reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, your doctor may have prescribed PLAVIX. Although blood pressure and cholesterol medicines reduce your overall cardiovascular risk, they do not directly reduce clot formation—the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Prescription PLAVIX does.
  • Review any medicines you are taking with your doctor, and always check with your doctor before stopping or starting any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, or any herbal or dietary supplements.
  • Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke.
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Can I take PLAVIX and aspirin if I've had a stroke?

  • You should only add aspirin to PLAVIX when instructed to do so by your doctor. Review all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, especially aspirin, with your doctor or any other healthcare provider. When taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase. To minimize this risk, always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke.
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Why can't I take PLAVIX and aspirin if I've had a stroke?

  • Your doctor has designed your therapy based on your medical history. Adding aspirin to PLAVIX is not for everyone. When taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase. To minimize this risk, always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke.
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I had a stroke and have been on PLAVIX and aspirin for some time. Why do/should I have to stop my treatment?

  • It's important to take PLAVIX exactly as your doctor has directed to help reduce your risk of another stroke or heart attack. Only your doctor knows the specifics of your condition and how PLAVIX fits into your overall therapy. That's why it's important to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your doctor concerning your condition and your treatment. When taking PLAVIX alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase. To minimize this risk, always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke.
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How is PLAVIX different from my other heart medicines?

  • Your doctor may prescribe daily PLAVIX and aspirin if you have been hospitalized with heart-related chest pain (unstable angina) or had a heart attack. PLAVIX, taken with aspirin, plays its own role in keeping platelets from sticking together. This allows blood to flow more easily and provides more protection against a future heart attack or stroke than aspirin alone.
  • Though you may be taking medicines to help reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, your doctor may have prescribed PLAVIX. Although blood pressure and cholesterol medicines reduce your overall cardiovascular risk, they do not directly prevent clot formation—the cause of most heart attacks and strokes. Prescription PLAVIX does.
  • Review any medicines you are taking with your doctor, and always check with your doctor before stopping or starting any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, or any herbal or dietary supplements.
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How can I find out more about heart health?

  • 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 or medicine.

  • For additional information, you can also learn more from the following organization:
    The American Heart Association
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Questions for Your Doctor
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