Brilinta vs Plavix: Comparison, Use, Switching, and More
Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Wed Aug 02 2023)
When researching which medication might be right for your needs, you will often come across a variety of options and alternatives. Brilinta vs Plavix is one option you may encounter.
Aside from following the recommendation of your health care provider, you can also do your own research to understand each medication better.
As providers of over 1500 medications in the US from over 180 manufacturers, we are well placed to offer some insights into the comparison of Brilinta vs Plavix.
Here’s a short answer, then we’ll dive further into discussing comparisons, uses, dosage, and more.
For those who have suffered a previous heart attack, Brilinta (ticagrelor) is an antiplatelet medication that helps reduce the risk of further heart attacks. Clopidogrel (Plavix) is a blood thinner used to prevent strokes and heart attacks for those who are at higher risk of those events.
That’s the quick answer, but let’s look at more comparisons. Firstly we’ll provide a brief outline of what each drug is.
Brilinta vs Plavix – An overview
Let’s begin by outlining what each of these two medications are.
Brilinta
Brilinta (ticagrelor) is an antiplatelet medication, prescribed to lower the risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack due to blood clots in people with acute coronary syndrome.
This includes conditions such as angina, heart attack, and stroke. Plavix (clopidogrel) is also classified as an antiplatelet medication used to reduce the risk of these same conditions.
Let’s go on to provide an overview of Plavix.
Plavix
Plavix is known as clopidogrel and these terms are interchangeable. essentially, Plavix is a blood thinner prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack. It works by preventing platelets in your blood from clumping together and forming dangerous clots that can cause a stroke or heart attack.
Plavix is typically taken after an acute coronary syndrome episode, such as a heart attack or stroke, to help prevent additional episodes.
You can find out more about Plavix here.
So we have an outline, and currently, both of these medications currently sound quite similar. So let’s explore the next area with regard to who might typically be prescribed each medication.
Who is Brilinta or Plavix prescribed to?
Brilinta is usually prescribed to those who have had a recent heart attack or unstable angina (chest pain). It is also often prescribed following some types of angioplasty and stent placement procedures.
Plavix (clopidogrel) is normally prescribed as an alternative for those who cannot take aspirin, or in combination with aspirin for people who are at risk of having another stroke or heart attack.
Read out posts regarding different types of heart disease.
Where prescriptions may differ is that Brilinta is most often prescribed for people who have experienced either a heart attack or unstable angina. Plavix may also be prescribed for these same conditions, but it’s more likely to be recommended if you’ve had previous stent placement, bypass surgery, or other procedures that involve clots in the coronary arteries.
Brilinta vs Plavix – Typical dosage
The typical maintenance dose for Brilinta is 90mg taken twice per day. It should be taken with food and a full glass of water.
For Plavix the usual starting dose is 75 mg once daily, again taken with food and a full glass of water.
Both medications should be taken with food and a full glass of water to reduce the risk of stomach upset.
Brilinta vs Plavix – Interactions and Side Effects
It’s important to note that both Brilinta and Plavix can interact with certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, other anticoagulants, or certain antibiotics.
What are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of medications used to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.
Common examples include:
- Ibuprofen
- Aspirin
- Naproxen
- Celecoxib.
The interaction between Brilinta and Plavix with NSAIDs may increase the risk of bleeding. It’s important to speak with your doctor if you take other medications before taking either of these drugs.
Side effects
Other side effects associated with Brilinta vs Plavix include
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- itching skin.
These side effects should be reported to your healthcare provider right away so that they can adjust the dose …or switch medications where needed.
Additionally, both medications can have adverse reactions such as bleeding or bruising more easily than usual, diarrhea, headache, indigestion, dizziness, or lightheadedness when standing up suddenly.
If any of these occur while taking either medication you should speak to your healthcare provider right away.
Switching from Brilinta to Plavix
If you’ve been taking Brilinta and your doctor decides to switch you to Plavix, it’s important to follow the instructions given.
Your doctor will likely start by gradually decreasing the Brilinta dose while increasing the Plavix dose.
After some time, your doctor may decide to fully discontinue the Brilinta and keep you on Plavix for a longer period.
It is vital that you follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully when making any medication changes or switching from one medication to another.
Switching from Plavix to Brilinta – The process
The process of switching from Plavix to Brilinta is likely to be similar.
Your healthcare provider will likely begin by gradually decreasing the Plavix dose while increasing the Brilinta dose.
After some time, your doctor may decide to fully discontinue Plavix and keep you on Brilinta for a longer period of time.
Again, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions carefully when making any medication changes or switching from one medication to another.
Brilinta vs Plavix – Summary
Each medication has its own pros and cons, as well as side effects that should be taken into account before making a decision.
In summary, Brilinta (ticagrelor) is an antiplatelet medication usually prescribed to lower the risk of stroke or heart attack due to blood clots in people with an acute coronary syndrome such as angina, heart attack, or stroke. It is normally taken twice per day with food and a full glass of water.
Plavix (clopidogrel) is also classified as an antiplatelet medication. It’s used to reduce the risk of these same conditions and works by preventing platelets from clumping together. It is typically taken once daily with food and a full glass of water.
Next steps
If you are currently prescribed either Brilinta or Plavix, then you may be paying too much for your medication. This is where Prescription Hope can help.
