Plavix

Plavix is available as tablets and can only be obtained with a prescription.

Plavix is taken once a day as a 75 mg tablet. Use of a loading dose (an initial higher dose) and the duration of treatment depend on the age of the patient and the disease being treated. For patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention or eligible for thrombolytic or fibrinolytic therapy, treatment should start as early as possible after start of symptoms.

For more information about using Plavix, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

The active substance in Plavix, clopidogrel, is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation. This means that it helps to prevent blood clots from forming. Blood clots are caused by cells in the blood called platelets sticking together. Clopidogrel stops the platelets sticking together by blocking a substance called ADP from attaching to a receptor on their surface. This stops the platelets becoming ‘sticky’, reducing the risk of a blood clot forming and helping to prevent another heart attack or stroke.

Plavix was more effective than acetylsalicylic acid at preventing new ischaemic events. In a study in around 19,000 patients who had recently had a heart attack or an ischaemic stroke, or who had established peripheral artery disease, 939 patients who were given Plavix experienced a new ischemic event (heart attack, ischaemic stroke or death) over a period of one to three years, compared with 1,020 patients who were given acetylsalicylic acid. This corresponds to a relative reduction in risk of 9% compared with acetylsalicylic acid and means that fewer patients will have new ischaemic events if they receive Plavix than if they receive acetylsalicylic acid.

In three studies involving over 61,000 patients with non‑ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, 2,172 of whom had a stent inserted during the study, Plavix was given in combination with acetylsalicylic acid and compared with placebo (a dummy treatment). In these studies, which differed in duration from up to 8 days to up to one year, the overall relative risk of an event such as a blocked artery, another heart attack or death was reduced by 20% when patients were given Plavix and acetylsalicylic acid compared with placebo. There was also a reduction in the patients who had a stent inserted. In 2 studies in 49,000 patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, fewer patients on Plavix had events than patients on placebo (262 against 377 in the CLARITY study, and 2,121 against 2,310 in the COMMIT study).

In a study in around 7,500 patients with atrial fibrillation who had at least one risk factor for vascular events and who could not take vitamin K antagonist therapy, patients were given Plavix together with acetylsalicylic acid or placebo for an average of three years. In this study, Plavix plus acetylsalicylic acid reduced the risk of new events by 11% compared with placebo taken with acetylsalicylic acid, with the largest reduction (28%) seen for stroke.

Study results published in medical journals showed that Plavix was effective for up to 12 months at reducing the occurrence of heart attack, stroke or death in patients treated for heart attack with ST-segment elevation who are having a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Bleeding reactions are the most common side effects reported with Plavix. The most common of these (which may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin), epistaxis (nosebleeds), gastrointestinal haemorrhage (bleeding in the stomach or gut), bruising and bleeding where the skin is punctured.

Other side effects (which may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are diarrhoea, abdominal pain (stomach ache) and dyspepsia (heartburn).

For the full list of side effects of Plavix, see the package leaflet.

Plavix must not be used in people who may be hypersensitive (allergic) to clopidogrel or any of the other ingredients. It must not be used in patients who have severe liver disease or a disease that may cause bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Plavix have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Plavix are continuously monitored. Suspected side effects reported with Plavix are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.