Brilinta and Back Pain: What Users Say

• Sur...
• May 12, 2019

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "I received Brilinta during procedure when I had 1 stent placed during an angiogram. I had acute coronary syndrome. In recovery, I had extreme shortness of breath, chest tightness, breast tissue ache, and extreme upper back pain. I told a nurse. Was this a heart attack? Three cardiologists arrived. They agreed these were known side effects, told me why Brilinta was chosen, but agreed Plavix worked just as well and much better for me. Brilinta was stopped, and my side effect symptoms resolved within hours. I'm lucky I have three responsive doctors. It's a cruel joke when a drug given to treat CV issues has side effects that mirror a CV event. Regardless of how good the drug is, in my opinion this can damage health and mental state of patients taking this drug to avoid CV problems. Shaken confidence can contribute to less optimal recovery. Doctors should pay attention to experiences and discuss side effects if they choose this drug. Then Brilinta can be used with confidence, or replaced quickly for those who have adverse reactions."

• JD ...
• December 2, 2022

For Heart Attack "I had a massive HA back on June 1st, 2022. Doc said, 5 more minutes and I would have been gone. He added 2 more stents to my already three and started me on Brilinta. I started gasping for breath after a couple of days, losing sleep at night, falling asleep at red lights, unable to walk very far or fast, and severe vertigo (dizziness), muscle cramps, leg pain, swollen knees, and back and neck pain. After the first bottle of Brilinta was gone, I stopped taking it. 2 months later, at my next visit, my Doc went through the roof!! He immediately made me take two 90 mg Brilinta pills and another that night. Well...3 months later, I'm stopping the med again. I simply can't handle the side effects anymore. Thinking about changing doctors. Btw, all my symptoms went away, and I feel bionic!!"

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2022

For Heart Attack "I was on Brilinta a month after a heart attack and stent. The cost of these horrific pills is criminal. There should be a buyback program. I feel docs prescribe it only because they listen to drug reps. Reps are only interested in $$$$. I had shortness of breath to the point of having to stop walking every 20 feet. How can you exercise when you are short of breath, the heart races and is overtaxed? The back pain rivaled spinal fractures, and the newly acquired sleep apnea with resulting gasping and headache makes one afraid to sleep. These problems shake one's confidence in any type of recovery. They switched me to Plavix...this should have been prescribed first, not making $$$ for AstraZeneca. I'm sick of this already! Shame on these drug companies!"

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2019

For Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events "After having a stent placed, I was put on 90 mg of Brilinta twice daily. On the second day of taking, my headaches started along with the shortness of breath, also nausea and back pain on the third day. This continued, and on the fifth day, I had to be admitted back into the hospital with what I thought to be a heart attack. While in the hospital, I experienced quite a bit of blood in my urine. It was decided to take me off of Brilinta and start me on Plavix. I'm on my second day of Plavix and already doing much better!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2023

For Heart Attack "I had 4 stents placed at the start of September and took Brilinta for 4 months. I experienced bruising all over, had various lower back pains, and noticed a froth in my urine. This, on top of the cost, led me to ask my cardiologist to switch my medication, and I am now on Plavix. All the issues I had have improved or gone away, and I have saved close to $400/month as Plavix is cheaper."