Medication Guide
PLAVIX® (PLAV-iks) (clopidogrel bisulfate) tablets
Read this Medication Guide before you start taking PLAVIX and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about PLAVIX?
- PLAVIX may not work as well in people who:
- have certain genetic factors that affect how the body breaks down PLAVIX.
Your doctor may do genetic tests to make sure PLAVIX is right for you.
- take certain medicines, especially omeprazole (Prilosec®). Your doctor may change the medicine you take for stomach acid problems while you take PLAVIX.
- PLAVIX can cause bleeding which can be serious and can sometimes lead to death. PLAVIX is a blood thinner medicine that lowers the chance of blood clots forming in your body. While you take PLAVIX:
- you may bruise and bleed more easily
- you are more likely to have nose bleeds
- it will take longer for any bleeding to stop
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding:
- unexpected bleeding or bleeding that lasts a long time
- blood in your urine (pink, red or brown urine)
- red or black stools (looks like tar)
- bruises that happen without a known cause or get larger
- cough up blood or blood clots
- vomit blood or your vomit looks like coffee grounds
Do not stop taking PLAVIX without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. People who are treated with a stent, and stop taking PLAVIX too soon, have a higher risk of getting a blood clot on the stent, having a heart attack, or dying. If you must stop PLAVIX because of bleeding, your risk of a heart attack may be higher.
What is PLAVIX?
PLAVIX is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have any of the following:
- chest pain due to heart problems
- poor circulation in their legs (peripheral arterial disease)
- a heart attack
- a stroke
PLAVIX is used alone or with aspirin to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels such as heart attack, stroke, or blood clot that can lead to death.
Platelets are blood cells that help your blood clot normally. PLAVIX helps to prevent platelets from sticking together and forming a clot that can block an artery.
It is not known if PLAVIX is safe and effective in children.
Who should not take PLAVIX?
Do not take PLAVIX if you:
- currently have a condition that causes bleeding, such as a stomach ulcer
- are allergic to clopidogrel or other ingredients in PLAVIX. See the end of this page for a complete list of ingredients in PLAVIX.
What should I tell my doctor before taking PLAVIX?
Before you take PLAVIX, tell your doctor if you:
- have a history of bowel (gastrointestinal) or stomach ulcers
- have a history of bleeding problems
- plan to have surgery or a dental procedure. See “How should I take PLAVIX?”
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if PLAVIX will harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if PLAVIX passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take PLAVIX or breastfeed. You should not do both without talking to your doctor
Tell all of your doctors and your dentist that you are taking PLAVIX. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed PLAVIX for you before you have any surgery or invasive procedure.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription, non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
PLAVIX may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how PLAVIX works. See “What is the most important information I should know about PLAVIX?”
Taking PLAVIX with certain other medicines may increase your risk of bleeding.
Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- aspirin, especially if you have had a stroke. Always talk to your doctor about whether you should take aspirin along with PLAVIX to treat your condition.
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of NSAID medicines if you are not sure.
- warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®)
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take PLAVIX?
- Take PLAVIX exactly as your doctor tells you.
- Do not change your dose or stop taking PLAVIX without talking to your doctor first. Stopping PLAVIX may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Take PLAVIX with aspirin as instructed by your doctor.
- You can take PLAVIX with or without food.
- If you miss a dose, take PLAVIX as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of PLAVIX at the same time unless your doctor tells you to.
- If you take too much PLAVIX, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
- Talk with your doctor about stopping your PLAVIX before you have surgery. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking PLAVIX at least 5 days before you have surgery to avoid excessive bleeding during surgery.
What are the possible side effects of PLAVIX?
PLAVIX can cause serious side effects including:
- See “What is the most important information I should know about PLAVIX?”
- A blood clotting problem called Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). TTP can happen with PLAVIX, sometimes after a short time (less than 2 weeks). TTP is a blood clotting problem where blood clots form in blood vessels; and can happen anywhere in the body. TTP needs to be treated in a hospital right away, because it may cause death. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms and they cannot be explained by another medical condition:
- Purplish spots (called purpura) on the skin or in the mouth (mucous membranes) due to bleeding under the skin
- your skin or the whites of your eyes are yellow (jaundice)
- you feel tired or weak
- your skin looks very pale
- fever
- fast heart rate or feeling short of breath
- headache
- speech changes
- confusion
- coma
- stroke
- seizure
- low amount of urine, or urine that is pink or has blood in it
- stomach area (abdominal) pain
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- vision changes
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of PLAVIX. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I store PLAVIX?
- Store PLAVIX at 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
Keep PLAVIX and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about PLAVIX
Medicines are sometimes used for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not take PLAVIX for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PLAVIX to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about PLAVIX. If you would like more information, talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about PLAVIX that was written for healthcare professionals.
For more information, go to www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.bms.com or call 1-800-321-1335.
What are the ingredients in PLAVIX?
Active ingredient: clopidogrel bisulfate
Inactive ingredients:
Tablet: hydrogenated castor oil, hydroxypropylcellulose, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol 6000
Film coating: ferric oxide, hypromellose 2910, lactose monohydrate, titanium dioxide, triacetin, Carnauba wax
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Issued February 2011
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Certain genetic factors and some medicines such as Prilosec 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.
Tell your doctor if you have any bleeding or other problems while you are taking PLAVIX.
Click here for US Full Prescribing Information Including BOXED WARNING
and Medication Guide
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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