Reduce Your Chance for Heart Attack and Stroke - Patient Information for Plavix

If your doctor has recently prescribed Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) for you, or if you are simply interested in learning more about Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), then this literature will prove beneficial to you. Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) comes as a round, pink tablet form and only in the strength of 75 milligrams. Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) is used to help keep your blood from clotting. Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) is also used to prevent clots that can occur in your body due to certain conditions relating to your heart or blood vessels.

When taking Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), do NOT drink any form of alcohol. Alcohol can increase the risk of internal bleeding, since Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) already makes it easier for your body to bleed, even if it is from a small injury. (If you find that you are bleeding profusely while taking Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), contact your doctor immediately!) Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) can cause internal bleeding, as was mentioned earlier, which can make your feces black or very bloody. If you begin coughing up blood, or vomiting material that resembles grounds of coffee, then these are sure signs that you are suffering from bleeding in your digestion system. In these cases, again, call your doctor at once and seek immediate care.

If you plan on going to get dental work while on Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), keep in mind that this is a very bad idea. Let your dentist know that you are on Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), and discontinue taking Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) for at least five days before your dental appointment to reduce issues that have to do with excessive bleeding that may result from the dental probing. When you are taking Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), avoid anything with aspirin, or anything that contains any NSAIDS. NSAIDS are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If you have any kind of allergy to any of the ingredients in Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), then Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) may not be for you. If you have any bleeding at the moment, whether it is bleeding in your brain or stomach ulcers, then you may not take Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate). If Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) has been prescribed to you to reduce atherosclerotic events such as heart attacks or strokes, than 75 milligrams of Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) -one pink tablet - should be used once a day, it doesn't matter if it's with or without food. If you're a patient taking Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) for the same reason mentioned above, but you have unstable angina or have any kind of acute coronary syndrome, then you must take an initial dose of 300 milligrams of Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), and then a regular 75 milligram pink tablet after that. Aspirin, with strengths around 75 milligram up to 325 milligrams, should be used in conjunction with Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate). Most patients in this case would also be treated with heparin. If you happen to miss a dose, take it upon remembering...unless the time in closer to your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose altogether and return to your regular dosing schedule. Never double dose on Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate). If you feel that you have overdosed on Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate), there are a few tell-tale signs which should have you flying to the nearest hospital. If you are vomiting strange materials, or your fecal matter is black/bleeding, of if you're short of breath, or very tired all of a sudden, then you have overdosed on Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate).

More side effects that can be cause by Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) are nosebleeds, irregular stools, coughing blood, coffee ground blood, chest pains, arm pains, nausea, sweating, a feeling of being sick, weakness, numbness, headache, confusion, vision problems, speech irregularities, balance issues, pale skin, fever, irregular urination. If you feel any of these things, call your doctor right away. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction, which include swelling of your face, mouth, throat, and difficult breathing with hives, then call your doctor right away.

Less serious and more normal side effects include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, mild headache, dizziness, and stomach pain. Always keep your medication away from children and sunlight, as sunlight can decrease the potency of Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate). Never share this prescription drug, as well as other prescription drugs, with anyone else. Only you are authorized to use it. Letting someone else use Plavix (Clopidogrel Bisulfate) is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous to the individual who was not properly diagnosed.