Brilinta and Bruising: What Users Say

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2017

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "Had a heart attack on 12/15/2016 and was put on Brilinta 90mg twice a day, plus 81mg of Aspirin once a day. I experienced shortness of breath and a cough. I went to see my Cardiologist, and he says the shortness of breath will get better, and the cough is not related to the Brilinta. Recently, I started feeling soreness on the tops of my hands when I press on the veins, and the soreness increases. I have now developed large bruises on the top of both hands, with slight swelling. My vision has also changed, with blurriness in my left eye. I see no documentation that this is a side effect. Has anyone else experienced this?"

• DCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2019

For Heart Attack "I had a heart attack last Wednesday, 7-31, and after having a stent placed, I was started on Brilinta. So far, I’m not happy with this drug. I am totally fine during the day, but in the middle of the night, while sleeping, I get woke up with severe shortness of breath. It takes about an hour plus for me to feel better. But now I wake up exhausted due to little sleep. I have been on Plavix in the past and it worked fine, the only thing I had was bruising, and I’d rather have that over not being able to catch my breath."

• Ric...
• September 24, 2016

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "I was on this med for a year after having angioplasty with the placements of two stents. I was on 90 mg twice a day and had such bruising that after a year my doctor lowered it to 60 mg twice a day. Four weeks later, I had a heart attack because a clot formed in the stent. I had to have another angioplasty and have lost significant heart tissue. I feel backed into a corner because my doc won't change the med."

• Doc...
• January 30, 2018

For Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events "At 90 years of age and after an MI and 2 stents, I started 90 mgs Brilinta twice daily and 88 mgs aspirin daily. After reporting excessive bruising, aspirin was reduced to every other day. A few weeks later, I suffered dyspnea severe enough that I thought of another MI. Even after the Brilinta dosage was reduced to 60 mgs twice daily, I experience mild dyspnea for a few hours after a dose. I am sleeping several hours a day longer than before. Though I also take lisinopril, metoprolol, and Lipitor, Brilinta appears to be the only drug with unpleasant side effects. I would be interested to know how much lower might be the incidence of clotting with Brilinta as compared to aspirin alone. I really don't like the stuff."

• Nan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2020

For Heart Attack "Just finished my last dose of Brilinta. Was on the medication for 12 months related to stent and CABGx4 (August 2019). Noticed bruising, which is a known side effect of the medication. Gum bleeding only when brushing and would easily stop. Recommend an ultra-soft toothbrush. Someone mentioned arm and leg pain in another review, I have some of that pain/feelings but not to the level that I would compare it to MS. What may be the difference for me is that I followed my recovery protocol seriously by maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, and strict adherence to my meds and maintaining my glucose for my diabetes to an A1c of 5.1."

• bil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2020

For Heart Attack "I took this drug for eight months. After a month, I experienced regular nosebleeds, headaches, a high degree of bruising, and extreme difficulty urinating. Things got so bad that if I sneezed, my nose would start bleeding. After eight months, my cardiologist switched me to clopidogrel. Within two weeks, all these side effects went away. The only downside is that I can't eat grapefruit. I do not recommend this drug at all. In addition, it costs over $400 per month versus $7.50 for clopidogrel."

• Don...
• October 22, 2015

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "I had been taking Coumadin and Plavix for years with no problem. Since Brilinta, the bleeding, bruising, nausea, and joint pain have been horrible. And yes, my PT/INR levels are within the therapeutic level between 2 and 3."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2018

For Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events "I have been on Brilinta for 30 days. I am also an asthmatic, so breathing is always a problem. This medication does not make it any easier. I remember waking up because it felt like someone was covering my mouth and nose. I could not catch my breath. I am always tired, body aches, lightheaded. Yes, I do bleed heavily when it is a small cut. I bruise very easily. Every day I wake up, I have a new purple, red, black, and green bruise. As time goes on, the breathing is not as bad. The bruising is still horrible. I pray one day soon I will be off this medication."

• Sal...
• August 2, 2017

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "Had a heart attack in Nov 2016, was put on Brilinta twice a day. I too have experienced fatigue, bruising, blurred vision, and shortness of breath. It takes me a long time to get started in the morning, then about 3:00 pm... I'm ready to nap but can't because I work."

• 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."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2017

For Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events "I had three stents put in on July 17, 2017. The surgery was very easy and successful. I was immediately put on Plavix, which did not agree with me. I was then put on Brilinta and am doing okay with it, it seems. However, I do get dizzy, feel fatigued, and bruise horribly. My worst problem is being unable to take anything for pain for my arthritis and spinal stenosis. I sustained pinched nerves on C7 during the surgery, and not being able to get a cortisone shot or even take an Aleve for pain and inflammation has literally made my life miserable. I was not told anything about having to expect these side effects either. I’m grateful for the stents, but how can I improve the quality of my life while staying on this blood thinner for a year?"

• Sto...
• November 7, 2017

For Prevention of Atherothrombotic Events "I had a stent installed in the right ventricle at 80% blockage. And then I was put on Brilinta for 1+ year. Minimal problems. Minor bruising in the last few weeks. Minor bleeding early on. Can't tell if it's affecting breathing since I'm also on other meds (statin, metoprolol, lisinopril ... pardon spelling errors). I was a runner, now am a walk/jogger... a few miles/day, a few times a week. Still experience some pressure/breathing occurrences during the first few minutes, then I walk and restart jogging. After a while (10-15 minutes, about a mile) this tends to go away and I can jog a little longer. No way to determine if any of the meds contribute to this. I look forward to stopping Brilinta very soon. Hope it helps the breathing/pressure but am pessimistic."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2022

For Coronary Artery Disease "I really don't like the bruising and bleeding from small cuts. My main complaint is being dizzy every day with loss of equilibrium. I can't take how this feels and will not be on it for long! I had one iliac stent and one coming on my femoral next. Cigarettes and I'm type 2 diabetic, so claudication of these arteries is bad at 95%."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 19, 2025

For Heart Attack "Have been on twice daily with low dose aspirin for the past 8 months. I have experienced nosebleeds, bruising, racing heartbeat, joint aches, and back stiffness. Also, some dizziness. Doctor said to keep taking for now. I see him again in one month. I'm hoping to switch to something less symptomatic."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2018

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "I have been on Brilinta since 2015, and outside of easy bruising, I have had no side effects."

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Bruising arms, nose bleeding that is hard to stop. Slow healing wounds, and doctors that don't know how to read blood pressure."