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FACT SHEET 4
Clopidogrel
What is clopidogrel?
Clopidogrel, first introduced in 1998, is one of a
class of drugs known as anti-platelets. Anti-platelets reduce the
tendency of platelets - cells in the blood that are vital for the
normal clotting process - from sticking together and forming
potentially dangerous clots. Thus they help in allowing the blood
to flow freely.
Aspirin (the drug given alongside clopidogrel in
COMMIT/CCS-2), is also an anti-platelet but it works via a
different mechanism.
What conditions does clopidogrel treat?
Clopidogrel is suitable for thrombotic conditions;
that is, conditions involving the formation of blood clots, or
the risk of blood clot formation. These include:
Who takes this drug?
Patients who:
How is it taken?
It is normally taken as a tablet (75 mg) once a
day. Sometimes it can also be started with an initial 300 mg (or
higher) 'loading' dose in order to achieve a more rapid
anti-platelet effect.
Is clopidogrel used as emergency treatment?
Clopidogrel is becoming increasingly used as
long-term therapy for unstable angina or during coronary artery
procedures (such as PCI or stenting), but its use during a heart
attack is low, presumably because there has been no clear
evidence about the balance of benefits and risks in this setting.
COMMIT/CCS-2 was designed specifically to assess its
effectiveness in cutting deaths and the risk of repeat heart
attacks in the immediate aftermath of a heart attack.
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