Clopidogrel
- Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications
What side effects can
Clopidogrel
cause?
- Mild bleeding such as:
- Unexplained nosebleed
- Bleeding from gums when brushing teeth. Use a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid gum bleeds.
- Bleeding from small cuts for 10-15 minutes even as you apply pressure on the wound. Check with your doctor if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes or if you feel unwell.
- Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal. However, heavy menstrual bleeding can also happen for other reasons. Do check with your doctor if you feel unwell.
Inform your healthcare professional of these side-effects do not go away and interfere with your daily life.
Rare but serious side effects that need to seek medical advice immediately
Patients taking antiplatelets may have increased risk of bleeding. If you experience any serious bleeding, you should stop your medication and inform your healthcare professional immediately.
Serious bleeding may include one or more of the following:
- Blood in the urine
- Black and sticky stools (if you are not using iron supplements at the same time)
- Unexplained large bruises
- Coughing up blood or coffee ground-like vomit
- Sudden severe headache with nausea or loss of consciousness
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If your experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Before taking
Clopidogrel
, what precautions must I follow?
Inform your healthcare processional if:
- You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
- You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- You have liver or kidney problems.
- You have a history of stomach or intestinal ulcers or bleeds, bleeding in the brain or other bleeding problems.
- You are planned for any medical procedures, surgeries or dental procedures as these medications may need to be stopped temporarily before the procedure to prevent too much bleeding.
- You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies
What food or medicine must I avoid when I take
Clopidogrel
?
Avoid taking large amount of grapefruit or its juice when you are taking this medication as it may interact with your mediation and reduce its effectiveness.
Some medications many interact with this medication and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of the side-effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the other medications your are currently taking.
Consult your healthcare professional if your are unsure whether your existing medications can be taken together with this medication.