Clopidogrel

1 medicine

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medicine that prevents heart attack and stroke by stopping platelets sticking together, and stopping it early after a stent can trigger a clot inside it.

Plavix

Clopidogrel

75mg

Plavix is a heart blood pressure medication containing Clopidogrel, available as 75mg tablets.

from $0.53 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medicine. It stops platelets, tiny blood cells, from clumping together to start a clot.
  • You take it once daily, usually alongside aspirin for a set period after a heart attack or stent.
  • Never stop clopidogrel early without your cardiologist's advice, especially after a stent. Stopping too soon can let a clot form inside the stent, which can cause a sudden heart attack.
  • Seek urgent care for black or bloody stools, blood in vomit or urine, or a sudden severe headache.

What clopidogrel treats

Clopidogrel lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with existing cardiovascular disease. It is used after a heart attack, after an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, and after a coronary stent is placed, when it is usually combined with aspirin for a period your cardiologist sets. It is also used for peripheral artery disease.

How clopidogrel works

Platelets normally clump together and release chemicals that recruit more platelets, building a clot. Clopidogrel blocks a receptor on the platelet surface (P2Y12) that drives this recruitment, so platelets stick together far less readily. The body has to make new platelets to replace the blocked ones, so the effect lasts about a week after your last dose.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber about any bleeding disorder, stomach ulcer, recent major surgery, or planned dental work or procedures.
  • Clopidogrel interacts with other blood thinners and some anti-inflammatory painkillers, which raise bleeding risk when combined. A few reflux medicines (some proton pump inhibitors) can reduce how well clopidogrel works; tell your prescriber if you take one.
  • Avoid unsupervised use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
  • Alcohol increases stomach irritation and bleeding risk; keep intake low.

Side effects

Common effects include easy bruising, indigestion, and mild diarrhoea.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Black or tarry stools, blood in urine or vomit, or bleeding that will not stop.
  • A sudden severe headache or vision changes.
  • Signs of an allergic reaction: facial or throat swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing.

Safety essentials

  • Do not stop clopidogrel early, particularly in the months after a stent, without talking to your cardiologist first. Stopping too soon is a leading cause of clotting inside the stent, which can be fatal.
  • If you need surgery or a dental procedure, tell the team you take clopidogrel; they will advise whether and when to pause it, since stopping and restarting carries its own risk.
  • Report any unusual bleeding or bruising promptly, and carry a card noting you take an antiplatelet medicine.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.