YOUR MEDICATION CLOPIDOGREL

Why is this medicationprescribed?

Clopidogrel (also known as Plavix) isan antiplatelet. It is used to reduce therisk of stroke or heart attack. It worksby preventing excessive blood clotting,by helping to keep your blood plateletsfrom sticking together.

This medication is sometimesprescribed for other uses; ask yourdoctor or pharmacist for moreinformation.

How should this medicine beused?Clopidogrel comes as a tablet to takeby mouth. It is usually taken once a day.Follow the directions on yourprescription label carefully, and askyour doctor or pharmacist to explainany part you do not understand.Takeclopidogrel exactly as directed. Do nottake more or less of it or take it moreoften than prescribed by your doctor.Continue to take Clopidogrel even ifyou feel well. Do not stop takingclopidogrel without talking to yourdoctor.

What special precautions should I follow?Before taking Clopidogrel:

n Tell your doctor and pharmacist ifyou are allergic to clopidogrel orany other drugs.

n Tell your doctor and pharmacistwhat prescription and non-prescription medications you aretaking, especially anticoagulants(‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin(Coumadin); aspirin; fluvastatin(Lescol); ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin);medications for arthritis, pain, orheadaches; naproxen (Naprosyn);phenytoin (Dilantin); tamoxifen(Nolvadex); ticlopidine (Ticlid);tolbutamide (Orinase); torsemide(Demadex); and vitamins.

n Tell your doctor if you have, or haveever had, liver or kidney disease; anystomach problems; ulcers; any othergastrointestinal disease; any bleedingor blood disorders.

n Tell your doctor if you are pregnant,plan to become pregnant, or arebreast-feeding. If you becomepregnant while taking clopidogrel, callyour doctor.

n If you are having surgery, includingdental surgery, tell the doctor ordentist that you are takingClopidogrel.

What should I do if I forget adose?

Take the missed dose as soon as youremember it. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the misseddose and continue your regular dosingschedule. Do not take a double dose tomake up for a missed one.

What side effects can thismedication cause?

Although side effects from Clopidogrelare not common, they can occur. Tellyour doctor if any of these symptomsare severe or do not go away:

n Upset stomach

n Fatigue, muscle aches (flu-likesymptoms)

n Stomach pain

n Headache

n Diarrhoea

n Constipation

n Rash or purple areas on skin

If you experience any of the followingsymptoms, call your doctorimmediately:

n Chest pain

n Unusual bleeding or bruising

n Bloody vomit

n Dark urine

n Bloody diarrhoea or black, tarrystools

n Fever

n Confusion or coma

n Yellowness of the skin or eyes

n Blood in the urine

What storage conditions areneeded for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container itcame in, tightly closed, and out of reachof children. Store it at roomtemperature and away from excessheat and moisture (not in thebathroom cabinet).Take any medicationthat is outdated or no longer neededback to your pharmacist .and talk tothem about the proper disposal of yourmedication.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with yourdoctor. Your doctor may order certainlaboratory tests to check yourresponse to Clopidogrel, and will talkto you about the results.

Clopidogrel helps to prevents bloodfrom clotting so it may take longer thanusual for you to stop bleeding if youare cut or injured. Avoid activities thathave a high risk of causing injury. andtake sensible precautions whenhandling knives or using gardeningimplements.Call your doctor if bleedingis unusual or very prolonged.

Do not let anyone else take yourmedication. Ask your pharmacist anyquestions you have about refilling yourprescription. Do not hesitate to askyour doctor any questions that youmay have about your condition or themeidcation you are taking.

AntiCoagulation Europe 2010

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