Prasugrel

Common use

Prasugrel is used in people who've had a balloon angioplasty to open blocked arteries after having a heart attack or severe chest pain. Prasugrel may help lower your risk of having another heart attack or stroke.

Dosage and direction

Use the medicine exactly as directed. If you also take aspirin, follow your doctor's instructions about how much to take and for how long. Prasugrel can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.
Do not stop using prasugrel without your doctor's advice, even if you feel fine. Stopping this medicine too soon may increase your risk of a blood clot, heart attack, or death.

Precautions

Tell your doctor if you have ever had: a stomach ulcer, colon polyps, or diverticulosis; bleeding problems; surgery, an injury, or a medical emergency; liver or kidney disease; if you are allergic to clopidogrel or ticlopidine; if you weigh less than 132 pounds (60 kilograms); or if you also use other medicines to treat or prevent blood clots.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Contraindications

You should not use prasugrel if you are allergic to it, or if you have: active bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain (such as from a head injury); a history of stroke, including TIA ("mini-stroke"); or if you are scheduled to have surgery, especially heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).
You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time before any surgery or dental treatment. Do not stop taking prasugrel unless your doctor tells you to.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Prasugrel increases your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening. The risk of bleeding is higher in older adults.
Prasugrel may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; any bleeding that will not stop; pink or brown urine; signs of a serious blood-clotting problem - pale skin, purple spots under your skin or on your mouth, fever, fast heart rate, weakness, stomach pain, trouble breathing, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); signs of stomach bleeding - bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance.
Common side effects of prasugrel may include: nosebleeds; or easy bruising or bleeding.

Drug interaction

Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and others. Using an NSAID with prasugrel may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially: opioid medication; or any other medicines to treat or prevent blood clots, including heparin or warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Missed dose

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Overdose

Prasugrel overdose increases your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have bleeding that will not stop, if you have black or bloody stools, or if you cough up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the tablets in their original container, along with the packet or canister of moisture-absorbing preservative. Keep away from children and pets.