4 Corners Pharmacy clopidogrel, plavix, plavix online information

Search . . . . . . . .

Other Sections

Plavix Plavix

PLAVIX^®

Clopidogrel 75 mg tablet

What is Plavix used for?

Plavix belongs to a group called anti-platelet medicines.

Platelets are very small blood cells which clump together during blood clotting. By preventing this clumping, anti-platelet medicines reduce the chances of blood clots forming (a process called thrombosis).

A heart attack or stroke may occur when a blood vessel in the heart or brain is blocked by a blood clot. Plavix is used to prevent blood clots from forming in these vessels. This reduces the risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another use. If you want more information, ask your doctor.

Plavix is only available on a doctor's prescription.

Before you take Plavix

When you must not use Plavix.

You should not take Plavix if you are allergic to clopidogrel or any of the ingredients listed under 'Product Description' at the end of this leaflet.

You should not take Plavix if you have a medical condition that is causing bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding within your head.

You should not take Plavix if you suffer from severe liver disease.

You should not take Plavix if you are breast feeding or intend to breast feed. Plavix passes into breast milk and, therefore, there is the possibility that the breast fed baby may be affected.

You should not take Plavix if:

the packaging shows signs of tampering;
the expiry date on the pack has passed. If you use this product after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.

Do not take Plavix to treat any other complaint unless your doctor says it is safe. Do not give this medicine to anyone else.

The safety and effectiveness of Plavix in children have not been established.

Before you start to take Plavix

You must tell your doctor if:

You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking Plavix during pregnancy.

You are planning to have an operation (including dental surgery) in the next two weeks. Your doctor will decide whether or not you need to stop Plavix prior to surgery.

You have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

bleeding disorders or blood clotting problems
Any illness or disability that was caused by bleeding, for example impaired sight or vision because of bleeding within the eye
recent serious injury
recent surgery (including dental surgery)
any form of liver disease. \

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Plavix.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food store.

Some medicines and Plavix may interfere with each other. These include:

medicines that "thin the blood". The most common examples of these include aspirin, heparins and warfarin. There are others so please check with your doctor.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -medicines used to treat arthritis, period pain, aches and pains
phenytoin - a medicine used to treat epilepsy
tolbutamide - a medicine used to treat diabetes
tamoxifen - a medicine used to treat breast cancer
fluvastatin - a medicine used to treat high cholesterol.

These medicines may be affected by Plavix or affect how well Plavix works.

Your doctor may need to change the amount of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

If you are unsure about any medicine you are taking you should check with your doctor or pharmacist. They will have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Plavix.

How to take Plavix

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day. Take Plavix only as prescribed by your doctor and follow his or her directions carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

The usual dose of Plavix is one 75 mg tablet daily.

You can take Plavix before or after meals.

Take Plavix at about the same time each day. Taking your tablet at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you to remember when to take it.

You should take Plavix for as long as your doctor continues to prescribe it.

If you forget to take Plavix

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed, and take your next dose when you are meant to.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor, or go to the Accident and Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Plavix.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are taking Plavix

Things you must do

Take Plavix exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Plavix.

Tell your doctor if you decide to breast feed your baby. Your doctor may want to discuss your decision and change your medicine.

Tell your doctor that you are taking Plavix if you are about to start on any new medicine.

Tell all your doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists that you are taking Plavix.

Plavix may increase the risk of bleeding during an operation or some dental work. Therefore, treatment may need to be stopped before surgery. Your doctor will decide whether to stop Plavix and if so, how long before surgery.

Ask your doctor whether there are any activities you should avoid while taking Plavix, for example certain sports. Sometimes after an injury bleeding may occur inside your body without your knowing about it.

Tell your doctor immediately if you are injured while taking Plavix. It may take longer than usual to stop bleeding while you are taking Plavix.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

abnormal bruising or bleeding
abnormal nose bleeds
bloody or black bowel motions.

Do not suddenly stop taking Plavix without telling your doctor.

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while taking Plavix.

Like other medicines Plavix can cause some side effects. Most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

diarrhoea
itching.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

rash
bloody or black bowel motions
abdominal or stomach pain
vomiting of blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
coughing of blood
blood in the urine
blood in the eyes
unusually heavy bleeding or oozing from cuts or wounds
bleeding (including nosebleeds) or bruising more easily than normal
unusually heavy or unexpected menstrual bleeding
numbness (paralysis) or problems with co-ordination
faintness or dizziness
slurred speech or other difficulty in speaking
headache (severe and continuing)
fever or other signs of infection
hives
tightness of the chest or difficulty breathing.

These could be more serious side effects - you may need urgent medical attention.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of side effects. Most people do not experience any of them.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Plavix affects you. As with other medicines, Plavix may cause faintness or dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Plavix before you drive a car or operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are faint or dizzy. If this occurs, do not drive. If you drink alcohol, faintness or dizziness may be worse.

After Using Plavix

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take your tablets out of the box or blister pack they will not keep well.

Keep Plavix in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Do not leave Plavix in the car on hot days.

Do not store Plavix or any other medication in the bathroom or near a sink.

Keep Plavix where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.