Can you drink alcohol while taking Brilinta?

You should not drink alcohol with Brilinta (ticagrelor) because you will also be taking aspirin. Combining aspirin with alcohol can lead to stomach bleeding and ulcers. You should not be started on Brilinta if you have any active bleeding such as a peptic ulcer.

There is no reported drug-drug interaction in the manufacturer's product label between alcohol (ethanol) and Brilinta. However, as a precaution, you should avoid consumption of alcohol while taking Brilinta and aspirin. Drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin can increase the risk of stomach ulcers or bleeding.

Brilinta (ticagrelor) is an oral antiplatelet prescription tablet that is usually taken twice a day, in the morning and the evening. It is used with a daily maintenance dose of aspirin. It is approved by the FDA for these uses:

• to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, a heart attack or stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or a history of a heart attack. For at least the first 12 months following ACS, it is superior to clopidogrel.
• to reduce the risk of a clot formation in stents of patients who have been stented for treatment of ACS.
• to reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) at high risk for such events.
• to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with acute ischemic stroke (NIH Stroke Scale score ≤5) or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Brilinta (ticagrelor) is manufactured by AstraZeneca and was first approved by the FDA in July 2011.

Bottom Line

• You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking aspirin. You can also ask your doctor if it is safe for you to drink alcohol while taking Brilinta and aspirin.
• Tell your health care provider if you have a history of stomach ulcers or digestive tract bleeding.
• Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

This is not all the information you need to know about Brilinta for safe and effective use. Review the full Brilinta information here, and speak to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns.