This is a Brand Medication.
This Product Requires a Prescription.

How does Plavix work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient clopidogrel hydrogen sulphate, which is a type of medicine called an antiplatelet (sometimes referred to as a blood-thinning medicine). It stops blood cells called platelets from clumping together and forming blood clots.

Clopidogrel works by preventing a natural substance called ADP from binding to its receptors on platelets. ADP is one of the chemicals in the body that cause platelets to clump together and start the process of blood clotting. As clopidogrel stops ADP from binding to platelets, it reduces the likelihood of clots forming in the blood.

A blood clot that forms inside the blood vessels is known as a thrombosis and can be dangerous, as it can cause a blockage that cuts off the blood supply to an organ. A blockage in the arteries supplying blood to the heart or brain can cause a heart attack or stroke. A blockage in the blood vessels in the extremities, eg legs, may result in gangrene.

Blood clots and blockages mainly result from a build up of atherosclerosis on the inside of blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is a build up of cholesterol and fat cells that narrows the blood vessels and makes their interiors rough and bumpy. This makes it more difficult for blood to flow through the vessels, and increases the likelihood of clots forming in the vessels.

People who have already suffered a heart attack or stroke are at risk of having another because of the atherosclerosis in their arteries. People with unstable angina are also at risk of a heart attack because of the atherosclerosis in their arteries. Similarly, people who have narrowed arteries in their extremities, eg legs, (peripheral arterial disease) are also at risk of blood clots. These events are known as atherothrombotic events. Clopidogrel is used to prevent blood clots forming within blood vessels, and therefore reduce the risk of further atherothrombotic events in these groups of people.

What is it used for?

- Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg further heart attacks) in people who have had a heart attack

- Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg further strokes) in people who have had an ischaemic stroke

- Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg heart attack) in people with unstable angina

- Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events in peripheral arterial disease

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

There may be an increased risk of bleeding if clopidogrel is taken with the following medicines, which also affect blood clotting:

- aspirin

- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), eg naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac

- heparin

- glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, eg abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban

- medicines that break down blood clots (thrombolytics), eg alteplase

- warfarin (not recommended for use in combination with clopidogrel).

You should be carefully monitored for any signs of bleeding during the first weeks of treatment with clopidogrel, and following any surgery, if you are also taking any of these medicines.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any other medicines with this medicine, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, to make sure they are safe to take in combination.