Ticagrelor and Headaches: What Users Say

• Hig...
• December 15, 2015

For Acute Coronary Syndrome "Brilinta 90 mg 2x daily with 81 mg aspirin. Dull aches all over body since starting this after a mild MI event, especially lower back (both sides). Mild, tolerable headaches as well, but they are less frequent than body aches. Will be switching to Plavix, at least if the side effects are the same and the end result is the same, why am I buying Brilinta? Just doesn't feel safe."

• Hen...
• October 6, 2022

For Heart Attack "I have been on Brilinta for just over a month due to a heart attack blocking 100% of the left side. In the hospital, I immediately told the docs about my breathing issue. They said it was sleep apnea. I told them it was not. Awake, sitting there, and it would out of the blue hit me, standing. And yes, at times, asleep. The pharmacist at the hospital said this was a serious side effect and I need to talk to the doctor about it. I did. 2 of them, plus the docs' pharmacist. No, they told me it couldn't be. And I would simply die without it. (Had a stent put in). Then I started getting headaches about an hour to 2 hours after taking Brilinta, which was also when the breathing issues would start and last up to another 2 hours. Then I noticed I started losing my temper. That is not like me. Things started really setting me off at times that normally I would shrug off. I also feel like there is a disconnect in thoughts now on something, hard to describe. Don't know why docs won't listen."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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!"

• Whe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 8, 2020

For Heart Attack "Shortness of breath, could not sleep, headache, muscle cramp on my legs."

• Sup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2020

For Coronary Artery Disease "Dizzy, short of breath, head pressure, and just felt terrible for 2 months, then I was put on Plavix. Started feeling better the next day. Worst drug experience of my life!"