Aspirin+clopidogrel
About Aspirin+clopidogrel
Aspirin+clopidogrel is used for the prevention of heart attack and stroke. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood flow to the heart. This blockage of arteries is most often an accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). Signs of a heart attack include chest pain, upper body pain, sweating, nausea, fatigue and trouble breathing.
Aspirin+clopidogrel is composed of two medicines: Aspirin and Clopidogrel. These are blood thinners (anti-platelet) that prevent the formation of a clot in the blood vessels. Aspirin acts as a blood-thinning or anti-platelet agent in a low dose (about 75 mg) to prevent heart attack and stroke. Clopidogrel acts by preventing blood clots if you have severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (heart problem due to narrowed blood vessels). Aspirin+clopidogrel helps in the free flow of blood, thereby preventing a heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the vein), and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the arteries of the lungs).
Your doctor will advise you on how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. The common side effects of Aspirin+clopidogrel include abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, easy bruising, and nosebleeds. Aspirin+clopidogrel is known to cause dizziness and blurry vision, so driving should be avoided. Most of these side effects of Aspirin+clopidogrel do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Try not to stop taking this medicine of your own. Stopping Aspirin+clopidogrel may worsen your condition and increase the risk of a future heart attack. Let your doctor know if you are sensitive to clopidogrel or aspirin, have kidney/liver diseases, have bleeding issues (like peptic ulcer or brain haemorrhage), are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. The patient should inform the doctor that they are taking Aspirin+clopidogrel before any surgery is scheduled or any new medicine is taken.
Uses of Aspirin+clopidogrel
Medicinal Benefits
Aspirin+clopidogrel is composed of Aspirin and Clopidogrel, which act as blood thinners (anti-platelet) and prevent the formation of a clot in the blood vessels. Aspirin acts as a blood-thinning or anti-platelet agent in a low dose (about 75 mg) to prevent heart attack and stroke. Clopidogrel acts by preventing blood clots if you have severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (heart problem due to narrowed blood vessels). Aspirin+clopidogrel helps in the free flow of blood, thereby preventing heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the vein), and pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the arteries of the lungs).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Aspirin+clopidogrel
Abdominal pain
Indigestion
Diarrhoea
Easy bruising
Nosebleeds
Increased bleeding tendency
Drug Warnings
You should avoid taking Aspirin+clopidogrel if you are allergic to Aspirin+clopidogrel. Let your doctor know if you have a medical condition that is causing bleeding such as a haemophilia, stomach ulcer or bleeding within your head or bowel. Caution is required before giving Aspirin+clopidogrel to the liver or kidney problems patients. People affected with respiratory problems like asthma, rhinitis or nasal polyps should consult a doctor before intake of Aspirin+clopidogrel. Aspirin+clopidogrel is not recommended for the breastfeeding mother as it passes into the breast milk. The safety and effectiveness of Aspirin+clopidogrel in children less than 12 years of age have not been established.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Aspirin+clopidogrel may interact with blood thinners (warfarin, heparin), anti-psychotics (fluoxetine, lithium), anti-diabetics (glibenclamide, repaglinide), anti-cancer drugs (methotrexate), gout medicines (probenecid), anti-epilepsy drugs (valproate, phenytoin), anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen), drugs that treat upset stomach (omeprazole), antifungals (fluconazole), and HIV drugs (ritonavir, cobicistat).
Drug-Food Interaction: Limit alcohol intake since it may cause a rise in blood pressure leading to heart diseases. Avoid fatty foods and control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, heart diseases, active bleeding disorders, asthma, a clot in an artery of your brain (ischaemic stroke), liver, and kidney diseases before taking Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consuming alcohol since it may worsen the side effects like dizziness and increased blood pressure.
Pregnancy
cautionAspirin+clopidogrel is not recommended to use during pregnancy since it may affect the foetus. Please consult your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or already pregnant before starting Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Aspirin+clopidogrel affects breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before starting Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Driving
cautionDo not drive or operate machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness while using Aspirin+clopidogrel. Aspirin+clopidogrel can also sometimes cause blurry vision, hence avoid driving in such situations. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases or hepatic impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Children
cautionAspirin+clopidogrel is not recommended for children below the age of 16 years. The safety and efficacy of Aspirin+clopidogrel have not been established in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Take the medication as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals. Do not use other over-the-counter medications, herbal or vitamin supplements without informing your pharmacist or doctor when you take Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control.
Eat at regular intervals, and maintain a healthy diet that includes fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Limit alcohol intake since it raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart diseases.
Keep a check on your weight and exercise regularly to keep your heart healthy.
Your doctor also guides you on how to notice and manage the early symptoms of detecting heart diseases.
Special Advise
Let your doctor know that you are using Aspirin+clopidogrel if you have a scheduled surgery since this medicine may increase the risk of bleeding.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
A blood clot is a clump or aggregation of blood that changes from a liquid to a gel-like state. Clotting is a natural process that prevents you from losing too much blood in an accident, trauma, surgery or cut. When a clot forms inside the veins, it won’t always dissolve on its own and can become an even life-threatening situation.
Stroke: When our brain does not get sufficient oxygen and blood supply, it starts dying within a few minutes, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Heart attack: It occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood flow to the heart. This blockage of arteries is most often an accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries). During a heart attack (myocardial infarction), the blood supply which nourishes the heart with oxygen is cut off. This causes the heart muscle to die. Signs of a heart attack include chest pain, upper body pain, sweating, nausea, fatigue and trouble breathing.
FAQs
Aspirin+clopidogrel is used for the prevention of heart attack and stroke.
Aspirin+clopidogrel consists Aspirin and Clopidogrel. Aspirin acts as a blood-thinning or anti-platelet agent in a low dose to prevent heart attack and stroke. Clopidogrel acts by preventing blood clots if you have severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (heart problem due to narrowed blood vessels).
Please consult your doctor if Aspirin+clopidogrel needs to be discontinued before undergoing surgery. The doctor might ask you to stop taking Aspirin+clopidogrel a few days before surgery since it can cause an increased risk of bleeding during surgery.
Aspirin+clopidogrel consists of Aspirin and Clopidogrel. These are blood-thinning agents and can increase the risk of bleeding. It is advised to be cautious during your daily activities like shaving, cutting fingernails or using sharp objects. Also, please consult your doctor beforehand if you undergo any surgery.
Aspirin+clopidogrel is generally safe to take for a long time. It works best if you take it for many months or even years. If you're at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to treat ulcer, while you're taking Aspirin+clopidogrel.
Inform your doctor if you suffer from any underlying health conditions such as ulcers, bleeding disorders, stomach swelling, gout, kidney disease, breathing difficulty or asthma that was induced by a painkiller. Also, tell your doctor about all the medications and herbal products you are taking or will soon be taking. Specifically, make sure to mention if you use blood thinners such as aspirin, warfarin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, as your doctor may need to adjust the dose of your medication or monitor for side effects.
Before undergoing any surgeries or during medical emergencies, inform your doctor that you are taking aspirin, as too much aspirin may result in bleeding disorders.
Take Aspirin+clopidogrel as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break or chew it.
Aspirin+clopidogrel should be used as advised by the doctor for best results and do not discontinue Aspirin+clopidogrel on your own without consulting your doctor. Following cardiac bypass surgery, recovery takes time and each person recovers at a slightly different pace.
You may have been prescribed Aspirin+clopidogrel if you underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), had heart attack, or received treatment with stents in your coronary arteries.
Yes, Aspirin+clopidogrel is a blood thinner. It works by preventing the formation of a clot in the blood vessels. Thus, it helps to prevent heart attack and stroke.
Take Aspirin+clopidogrel for as long as it is advised by your doctor. The duration depends on various factors such as type of stent inserted, the illness you are being treated for, any episodes of bleeding experienced by you during treatment, etc. Usually, Aspirin+clopidogrel is prescribed for a minimum of one year. However, for best results, follow your doctor’s instructions. Do not discontinue on your own without consulting doctor as it may increase the risk of clot formation in the stent, heart attack, and can even lead to death.
You are advised to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Aspirin+clopidogrel as it may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. However, if you have any concerns, please discuss with your doctor.
Aspirin+clopidogrel may result in severe bleeding that could be life-threatening. Moreover, even if you suffer a slight injury, such as a small cut from shaving, you may bruise easily and the bleeding may take longer to stop than usual. Seek immediate medical attention if you have prolonged or excessive bleeding. If you observe blood in the urine or black, tarry stools, you should notify your doctor. Watch out for any symptoms of a stroke, such as sudden weakness or numbness on one or both sides of the body, slurred speech, mental confusion, difficulty walking, dizziness, and unexplained headache. Since stroke is an unusual adverse effect of Aspirin+clopidogrel, call your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms.
Aspirin+clopidogrel is contraindicated in patient who has an allergy to it or any of its ingredients. If you have or have ever had serious liver disease, bleeding in the brain (stroke or transient ischemic attack), stomach ulcers, or bleeding disorders such as hemophilia (disease in which blood does not clot normally), avoid taking Aspirin+clopidogrel. If you are pregnant, attempting to conceive, or are breastfeeding, do not take Aspirin+clopidogrel.
If you forget to take a dose of Aspirin+clopidogrel, take it as soon as you remember. But, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regular dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Avoid activities that could increase the risk of bleeding. Take additional care when shaving or brushing your teeth to prevent bleeding. Additionally, you should not use painkillers; nevertheless, if you must take something like ibuprofen for headache, joint pain, back pain, etc., first consult your doctor. This is due to the possibility of a stomach ulcer and bleeding if you take painkillers along with Aspirin+clopidogrel. Avoid consuming too much alcohol while using Aspirin+clopidogrel as this may irritate your stomach and lead to stomach ulcer also.
