When you have had a stroke, you are at greater risk for having another stroke or even a heart attack. With that in mind, you’ll want to do everything you can help reduce the risk of a future stroke or heart attack.
Did You Know?
Compared to the general population, people who have had a stroke may have:
- up to a 6 times greater risk of having another stroke
- up to a 2 times greater risk of having a heart attack.
Knowing how a stroke develops is an important part of helping you reduce your risk of a future stroke or heart attack. Platelets in the blood sticking together and forming clots are what typically causes a stroke. A stroke happens when a clot reduces or blocks the flow of blood through an artery supplying blood to the brain.
In patients who had a stroke, Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) may help reduce the risk of future stroke or even a heart attack
High cholesterol and high blood pressure are risk factors that need to be managed. But they’re not the direct cause of most strokes.The direct cause is platelets sticking together and forming blood clots.
The good news is that Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is proven to help keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming dangerous blood clots. In fact, PLAVIX helps reduce the formation of blood clots that can cause strokes and heart attacks.
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) was FDA approved in 1997. Doctors have written
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) prescriptions to over 115 million people.*
The research behind Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate)
Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) has been the focus of extensive research, studies, and scientific findings. The effectiveness of Plavix® (clopidogrel bisulfate) has been proven and the safety profile supported by 3 large clinical studies involving 77,000 patients.
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:
Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with PLAVIX, especially if you've had a stroke. Create a customized list of stroke questions for your next doctor’s appointment.
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.
What to do next: Learn about P.A.D.