Clopidogrel (Plavix)

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Clopidogrel is an oral, thienopyridine class antiplatelet agent used to inhibit blood clots in coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. It is marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis under the trade name Plavix. The drug works by irreversibly inhibiting a receptor called P2Y12, an adenosine diphosphate ADP chemoreceptor. Adverse effects include hemorrhage, severe neutropenia, and Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Clopidogrel interacts with the following drugs: proton pump inhibitors (except pantoprazole), phenytoin (Dilantin); tamoxifen (Nolvadex); tolbutamide (Orinase); torsemide (Demadex); fluvastatin (Lescol); a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, ardeparin (Normiflo), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), enoxaparin (Lovenox), or tinzaparin (Innohep); (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Plavix, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

In November 2009, the FDA announced that clopidogrel should not be taken with PPIs such as Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole).

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Science & Technology

Tags:

• Clopidogrel
• Plavix
• generic
• antiplatelet
• medication
• coronary
• artery
• disease
• peripheral
• vascular
• cerebrovascular