ticagrelor

What is the most important information I should know about ticagrelor?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with ticagrelor.

What is ticagrelor?

Ticagrelor is used to lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, or death due to a blocked artery or a prior heart attack.

Ticagrelor is also used to lower your risk of blood clots if you have coronary artery disease (decreased blood flow to the heart) and have been treated with stents to open clogged arteries.

Ticagrelor is also used to lower your risk of a first heart attack or stroke if you have decreased blood flow to the heart.

Ticagrelor is also used to lower the risk of stroke and death in adults with a blockage or decreased blood flow in an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

Ticagrelor is usually given together with low-dose aspirin. Carefully follow your doctor's dosing instructions. Using too much aspirin can make ticagrelor less effective.

Ticagrelor may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ticagrelor?

• any active bleeding; or
• a history of bleeding in the brain (such as from a head injury).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stroke;
• heart problems;
• a surgery or bleeding injury;
• bleeding problems;
• a stomach ulcer or colon polyps;
• liver disease; or
• asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) or other breathing problem.

How should I take ticagrelor?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Ticagrelor is taken together with aspirin. Use these medicines exactly as directed.

Do not take more aspirin than your doctor has prescribed. Taking too much aspirin can make ticagrelor less effective.

Take ticagrelor at the same times each day, with or without food.

If you cannot swallow a tablet whole, crush the pill and mix it with water. Stir and drink this mixture right away. Add more water to the glass, stir, and drink right away.

To prevent excessive bleeding, you may need to stop using ticagrelor for a short time before a surgery, medical procedure, or dental work. Any healthcare provider who treats you should know that you are taking ticagrelor.

This medicine may affect medical testing for platelets in your blood and you may have false results. Tell the laboratory staff that you use ticagrelor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking ticagrelor?

Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.

What are the possible side effects of ticagrelor?

• slow heartbeats;
• nosebleeds, or any bleeding that will not stop;
• shortness of breath even with mild exertion or while lying down;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;
• red, pink, or brown urine;
• black, bloody, or tarry stools; or
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common side effects may include:

• bleeding; or
• shortness of breath.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect ticagrelor?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect ticagrelor, especially:

• antifungal medicine;
• antiviral medicine to treat HIV or AIDS;
• a blood thinner;
• cholesterol medication;
• heart or blood pressure medication;
• opioid medication;
• seizure medicine; or
• tuberculosis medicine.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect ticagrelor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about ticagrelor.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 1/22/2021.