Plavix and/or Equivalents

Plavix (clopidogrel)

Plavix Description

Plavix is the market name for the medicine clopidogrel is prescribed in order to prevent the formation of clots in the blood. The companies that manufacture Plavix include Sanofi Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. It is one of the highest selling drugs at a global level and is sold in over 100 countries. Few years ago, there was a court case regarding patents for Plavix that was ruled in favor of Bristol-Myers Squibb who currently hold the manufacturing and patent rights till May of 2012.

Conditions Treated by Plavix

Clopidogrel is the active chemical ingredient in Plavix and more specifically it is used in the clopidogrel bisulfate (clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate) format for commercial purposes. The brand name associated with clopidogrel is Plavix and is a highly popular drug everywhere in the world. It is used to treat a very serious condition of blood clot formation. Plavix works by preventing the blood from clotting or coagulating. Blood contains platelets which is the specific component that aids coagulation to prevent excessive bleeding.

However blood clots due to cardiovascular disease, increases the risk of a heart attack and stroke by as high as 80%. Furthermore ,the formation of clots is typically associated with patients of heart disease. Therefore Plavix is prescribed for patients with blood related disorders or who have a history of stroke and heart disease. Plavix or Clopidogrel works with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in blood by preventing it from binding to its receptors on platelets that cause them to lumps together and form clots.

Plavix Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

Plavix is available for oral consumption in the form of a tablet of 75mg. The drug can be consumed with or without food. However since it is usually recommended for people who might have cardiovascular diseases, they must maintain a healthy diet. The specific focus should be on lowering the LDL cholesterol that causes heart disease. However there is no specific dietary recommendation due to Plavix consumption.

b.) Missing a dose

For most daily medicines, it is recommended that there should be specific timings for taking Plavix. This is a technique to ensure that the patient does not forget the dose. However it is possible that with a change in the schedule, patients might miss a dose. Plavix dose should not be doubled to compensate for a missed dose. On the other hand, the patient can take the dose whenever he or she remembers. However if the next dose is due, it is advisable to just take that one.

c.) Overdosing

Plavix is not an over the counter drug that can be consumed without a prescription. This is because an overdose can be potentially dangerous. Some of the signs of an overdose of Plavix are dizziness, shortness of breath, feeling uneasy of vomiting sensation. In case of an overdose, the patient must immediately be provide emergency medical aid.

Plavix Warnings

Plavix is drug that is used for critical medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease hence the dosage is crucial. Patients must never tamper with the dose and increase or decrease the dose without consulting their physician. There can be side effects or harmful reactions with dosage variations. Also, Plavix must be ideally taken with a glass of plain water to swallow the drug properly. Alcohol must be avoided when taking any medicine, including Plavix. Since the drug works on the platelets in the blood, it is important to have some blood tests done on a regular basis. These are necessary to monitor the impact of the drug on the patient. If there is bleeding due to an accident then the patient must inform the doctor treating him/her that he is taking Plavix. This also applies to major dental treatments where there can be blood loss. In such situations the blood loss could be severe since the patient is taking Plavix. Therefore if the dentist is pre-informed then he can take due precautions. In fact for major dental works, the patient might even have to adjust the Plavix dosage for a few days prior to the dental treatment. Hence communicating with the doctor is the best option for the patient. Never underestimate minor cuts and injuries as these can also cause blood loss.

Plavix Side Effects

Plavix is a drug that is used for critical conditions such as blood clotting. The drug should not be self administered as it can cause potential harm in some people. Adjusting doses must also be done only after a doctor’s recommendation; otherwise there is a greater risk of side effects. Plavix is ideally not recommended for patients who have a past history of kidney disease or liver function problems. Pregnant and lactating mothers are also rarely given Plavix. The drug has some minor side effects that get eliminated as the patient becomes accustomed the drug. Some of these are mild headaches, pain in the stomach, cold-like symptoms such as sore throat or a runny nose. There could even be dizziness that will eventually go away. However, if the symptoms are too severe or persist then seek advice from your physician. In addition to these side effects, there are some more serious side effects as well.

• Heaviness in the chest or pain in the chest that spreads to other areas such as arms, shoulders etc...
• Nosebleeds
• Constant bleeding that cannot be stopped
• Dark colored stools and stools with traces of blood
• Blood found in vomit or dark colored cough
• Numbness or loss of strength on one side of the body
• Feeling severely dizzy and disoriented
• Slurry speech, vision related problems of trouble in maintaining balance
• Fever and weakness that is persistent
• Paleness of skin
• Increased weakness without any apparent reason
• Too frequent urination
• Easy bruising and/or bleeding that doesn’t stop

Possible Drug Interactions With Plavix

Any drug works at the biochemical level by specific compounds. For instance, the drug Plavix has the chemical compound clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate that specifically targets the adenosine diphosphate in blood to prevent blood coagulation. However the chemicals in a drug could also have interactions with other drugs due the chemical components in them. Hence the physician must be informed when a drug is prescribed. Plavix interacts adversely with:

• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
• Nolvadex (tamoxifen)
• Lescol (fluvastatin)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Demadex (torsemide)
• Interlence (etravirine)

However this is not an exhaustive list and it is best to seek medical advice regarding the medications you are taking at the time of starting treatment with Plavix.

If you have any questions about buying discount Plavix online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Plavix and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information