Brilinta and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Too...
• December 31, 2019

For Heart Attack "HA with one stent in LAD and was prescribed Metoprolol and Brilinta. A week later, the side effects all kicked in: shooting chest pains, racing heart, chest/arms/legs tingling, jitteriness, and anxiety. I felt like I was having another HA, so I spent the weekend in the ER, where they didn't find anything wrong. My GP prescribed anxiety meds, which helped a bit. After a month of complaining to my cardiologist, they finally took me off of Metoprolol, and the anxiety, jitters, and racing heart rate went away. I was still getting chest pains, shortness of breath, and was feeling nauseous. Another month, and I convinced my Dr. to switch from Brilinta to Effient, and the remaining side effects went away. I'm finally starting to feel normal. Not all Drs. are open to modifying patients' meds, which can be a real issue if you are experiencing negative side effects, so please advocate for yourself."

• Too...
• December 31, 2019

For Heart Attack "HA with one stent in LAD and was prescribed Metoprolol and Brilinta. A week later, the side effects all kicked in: shooting chest pains, racing heart, chest/arms/legs tingling, jitteriness, and anxiety. I felt like I was having another HA, so I spent the weekend in the ER, where they didn't find anything wrong. My GP prescribed anxiety meds, which helped a bit. After a month of complaining to my cardiologist, they finally took me off of Metoprolol, and the anxiety, jitters, and racing heart rate went away. I was still getting chest pains, shortness of breath, and was feeling nauseous. Another month, and I convinced my Dr. to switch from Brilinta to Effient, and the remaining side effects went away. I'm finally starting to feel normal. Not all Drs. are open to modifying patients' meds, which can be a real issue if you are experiencing negative side effects, so please advocate for yourself."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2020

For Coronary Artery Disease "I had a stent placed in my artery that was 90% blocked. They put me on Brilinta, and 2 days into it, I developed shortness of breath and a terrible feeling of claustrophobia, but not of small spaces, but of feeling it with myself. I felt I needed to get out myself somehow, it was a very strange feeling. I have asthma as well, so I took a puff of Ventolin, and 5 minutes later, my heart was racing, and I continued to have shortness of breath. Had to go to the hospital. They took me off Brilinta and put me on Clopidogrel. No problems thus far apart from the anxiety I feel, I feel like I'm going out of my mind. Hopefully, anxiety is just the lingering effects of Brilinta."

• Bum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2020

For Heart Attack "I had a mild heart attack with stents fitted. I took Brilinta for 7 months and reported shortness of breath on various occasions. Eventually, I insisted I was taken off. 3 months on, I have now been suffering really bad anxiety attacks, which of course includes shortness of breath. I am fully convinced this is as a direct result of being on this medication."

• Lay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2020

For Heart Attack "Had a heart attack 3 weeks ago and feel like I am going crazy! I am constantly short of breath, and my anxiety levels are off the charts. I can barely sleep, and if I do doze off, I jerk awake feeling like I am being choked. My doctor said he will switch me to Plavix next month. This medication should be reviewed again, too dangerous!"

• Fel...
• March 19, 2017

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "Started Brilinta on Nov 6, 2016, after a heart attack and stent. Three days later, I had a major anxiety attack because I could not breathe. The shortness of breath got better after one month. I am constantly tired and frequently napping. The worst side effect has been four months of constant gout. I am now at the maximum dose of allopurinol to control my gout. I cannot wait to change over to Plavix, even though it will mean frequent blood testing."

• BWa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2020

For Myocardial Infarction, Prophylaxis "I had a stent inserted in the right artery. I was on Plavix (clopidogrel) for 4 months but wanted to try something else because the Plavix was giving me tension and pressure in my head. So I tried Brilinta, and I only lasted 20 days. From day one, I was getting muscle twitches and pains in odd areas that came and went. I also felt jittery all 20 days on Brilinta. The final days on Brilinta gave me minor chest pains, a cough and were giving me mild anxiety attacks. So I called my doctor, and I will be going back to clopidogrel until I get brave enough to try something different. Don't let anyone try to convince you that these drugs do not give you or exacerbate anxiety, they do. I have never had anxiety attacks in my 57 years of life until I started taking some of these medicines like Brilinta, losartan, and olmesartan. I presently take 25 mg of metoprolol, and it is working and controls my pulse to prevent an anxiety attack from getting worse."

• BWa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2020

For Myocardial Infarction, Prophylaxis "I had a stent inserted in the right artery. I was on Plavix (clopidogrel) for 4 months but wanted to try something else because the Plavix was giving me tension and pressure in my head. So I tried Brilinta, and I only lasted 20 days. From day one, I was getting muscle twitches and pains in odd areas that came and went. I also felt jittery all 20 days on Brilinta. The final days on Brilinta gave me minor chest pains, a cough and were giving me mild anxiety attacks. So I called my doctor, and I will be going back to clopidogrel until I get brave enough to try something different. Don't let anyone try to convince you that these drugs do not give you or exacerbate anxiety, they do. I have never had anxiety attacks in my 57 years of life until I started taking some of these medicines like Brilinta, losartan, and olmesartan. I presently take 25 mg of metoprolol, and it is working and controls my pulse to prevent an anxiety attack from getting worse."

• Jma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2020

For Coronary Artery Disease "My experience with this Brilinta drug is much like the others that are negative. This drug made me so irritable and anxious. It kept me up most of the night after my second dose of 90 mg. I felt totally separated from myself and confused. The side effect list is as long as your arm. I called my doctor the next day after a miserable night, and he switched me to Plavix. No apparent problems as of yet. I will never take this particular medicine again. Besides, it's expensive if you can even afford it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2021

For Coronary Artery Disease "Severe anxiety to the point I didn’t want to leave the house. Loss of weight, could not eat, really bad nausea."

• Cah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have a stent for an unruptured aneurysm, so I was put on Brilinta and now have shortness of breath, palpitations, anxiety, and feel very depressed."