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Clopidogrel: 7 things you should know

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 16, 2024.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Clopidogrel may be given to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in certain cardiovascular conditions or following a heart attack or ischemic stroke. People who are poor metabolizers of CYP2C19 may not respond very well to clopidogrel, because they make less of the active metabolite of clopidogrel. Bleeding is the most common side effect.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with clopidogrel may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with clopidogrel. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with clopidogrel include:

In general, any medicine that can increase the risk of bleeding (such as aspirin, SSRI antidepressants [eg, citalopram, duloxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine], fish oils) may interact with clopidogrel.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with clopidogrel. You should refer to the prescribing information for clopidogrel for a complete list of interactions.

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use clopidogrel only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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