Plavix

Plavix, known as Clopidogrel, is an oral drug taken by people with certain heart and blood vessels disorders, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease, to prevent the apparition of unwanted blood clots by keeping the blood’s platelets from coagulating. Plavix is usually prescribed to patients that recently suffered from a heart attack or a stroke. It is can also be used to prevent thrombosis after the placement of an intracoronary stent along with aspirin, or as an alternative for patients that are intolerant to aspirin.

Patients that are allergic to Plavix may suffer from several reactions. Immediately stop taking the medication and contact your treating doctor if you have any of these symptoms of allergic reactions: pain in the upper part of the body; flu-like symptoms; headaches; paler skin color; swelling of the face, tongue, throat and lips; difficulty to breath or eat; hives, easy bruising and bleeding; excessive tiredness; sudden numbness (especially on one side of the body); nausea; dizziness; tarry, bloody or black stools; coughing up or vomiting blood; continuous bleeding (especially nose bleeding); fever; or unusual urinary trouble (urinating more than usual or not at all).If the patients forgot a dose, they should take it immediately after they notice it. However, if there is not much time left until their next dose, they should simply ignore the missed dose and follow their regular medication schedule. Do not try to make up for the missed dose by taking more of the medication, and do not take any extra Plavix tablet to make up for a dose you think you might miss as it could result in an overdose, which will require serious medical attention. Symptoms of a Plavix overdose are vomiting, breathing problems, sudden weakness and bloody stools and/or vomit.