Ticagrelor, Oral ty-KAG-reh-lor

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiplatelet

Generic and brand names: ticagrelor, oral; Brilinta

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to reduce the risk heart attack or stroke in people who have had a heart attacks or chest pain. It is taken along with aspirin.

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• a stroke
• bleeding problems or blood disorders
• breathing problems or a lung disease such as COPD or asthma
• liver problems
• stomach ulcers or colon polyps

Tell your provider if you have recently had a serious injury or any kind of surgery.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. This is a strong medicine that can cause serious side effects or bleeding if you take too much. Take this medicine with a glass of water.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Do not stop taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves. Take it regularly each day.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, blood in your stools or urine, vomiting blood, unusual bleeding or bruising.

What should I watch out for?

While taking this medicine, you may bleed more easily and it may take longer for you to stop bleeding. Avoid activities where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Report any unusual bruising or bleeding to your healthcare provider right away.

Do not take products that contain aspirin without your healthcare provider's approval while you are taking this medicine. Many nonprescription medicines may contain aspirin. Taking more than 100 mg of aspirin affects the way this medicine works.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. You may need to stop taking this medicine several days before surgery. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests and checkups.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness, weakness, or paleness; red or purple spots on skin; bloody diarrhea; black, tarry stools; blood in vomit or urine; unusual or severe shortness of breath; sudden severe headache; trouble talking; confusion or loss of feeling; chest pain; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; severe dizziness or fainting.

Other: Headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, tiredness, constipation, back pain, runny or stuffy nose, cough.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), isoniazid, rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin, and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressant medicines such as nefazodone, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and voriconazole (VFEND)
• anti-HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• aspirin or products that contain aspirin (Do not take more than the low dose daily aspirin that your healthcare provider prescribed).
• bosentan (Tracleer)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor)
• conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• dexamethasone
• heart medicines such as digoxin (Lanoxin), nicardipine (Cardene, Cardene SR), and quinidine
• medicines that affect blood clotting such as cilostazol (Pletal), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine, Aggrenox), ticlopidine, dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox), fondaparinux (Arixtra), heparin, prasugrel (Effient), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• natural remedies such as alfalfa, anise, bilberry, bladderwrack, bromelain, cat's claw, chamomile, dong quai, evening primrose, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, green tea, horse chestnut, licorice, red clover, SAMe, turmeric, willow, and St. John's wort
• pain or arthritis medicines such as diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal, etodolac, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), oxaprozin, (Daypro), and piroxicam (Feldene)

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.