Clopidogrel belongs to the antiplatelet class of medication which inhibits the clotting of blood in diseases such as coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. It works by permanently controlling the receptor P2Y12.
Clopidogrel is marketed under the brand name Plavix, Clopilet, and Ceruvin. It is recommended to patients who have had a history of myocardial infraction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. It can also be used in the prevention of blood clots among people suffering from mitral valve disease, or those with artificial heart valves, and those undergoing heart procedures such as coronary artery replacement.
Clopidogrel is available in tablet form. Adults are recommended to take 75 milligrams of Clopidogrel once daily. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach. Patients are usually recommended to take Clopidogrel at the same time so they won’t forget the dosage.
Clopidogrel can effectively prevent strokes and heart attacks as long as the patient takes the medication. Patients should continue using the medication even if they feel better. Never stop taking the drug without clearance from a physician.
In case of a missed dose, users should immediately take one as soon as they remember it. If it is time for the next dose of Clopidogrel, users should just skip the dose they missed and proceed to taking the next dose. Taking two doses of Clopidogrel is not recommended.
Patients should not take more than what the physician prescribed.
Clopidogrel can cause side effects. Patients should inform their doctors if they experience side effects such as headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, stomach pain, diarrhea, and nose bleed.
Some of the more serious side effects include rashes, hives, itching, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, and swelling of various body parts like the face, lips, hands, ankles, and legs. Users may also experience hoarseness, black stool, bloody vomit, unusual bruising, difficulty in speech, weakness of a leg or arm, blurred vision, fever, and irregular heartbeat.
Since Clopidogrel can cause users to get dizzy, patients are advised to be extra cautious when operating machinery, driving or doing any task that requires mental alertness.
Before agreeing to take Clopidogrel, patients should tell their doctors first if they are allergic to it or any other drugs. They should also divulge to their physicians information on drugs they are they whether prescription or non-prescription as well as herbal products and nutritional supplements as these can interfere with Clopidogrel.
Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fluvastatin, proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole, tamoxifen, tormeside and tolbutamide can also interfere with Clopidogrel. In case the patient takes any of these drugs the doctor may change or monitor the intake of Clopidogrel to lessen the chances of interaction.
Patients should also tell their doctors if they are suffering from bleeding ulcers or bleeding in the brain as these conditions can result to discontinuing of the medication.
Those who have had recent injuries or suffer from liver, kidney or disorders that cause bleeding such as stomach problems like eye conditions and ulcers may also be barred from taking Clopidogrel.
Clopidogrel has the following structural formula:
• Molecular formula of clopidogrel is C16H16ClNO2S
• Chemical IUPAC Name is methyl (2S)-2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(9-thia-4- azabicyclo[4.3.0]nona-7,10-dien-4-yl)acetate
• Molecular weight is 321.822 g/mol
• Clopidogrel available : 75mg tablets
Brand name(s): Plavix
Review published on: 04 July 2009
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