Brilinta (Ticagrelor) is a medication prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and other serious cardiovascular conditions.
Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or those who have had one or more stents placed in their heart arteries are advised to take Brilinta. Stents are small metal tubes designed to keep the blood vessels open, ensuring proper blood flow.
Brilinta is also recommended for individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) who are at a heightened risk for heart attacks or strokes, including those who have previously suffered a stroke due to a blocked artery or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Combination of Aspirin with Brilinta
When using Brilinta, patients should limit their aspirin intake to no more than 100 mg daily. Taking more than this amount can reduce the effectiveness of Brilinta. Therefore, it’s important to monitor and manage your daily aspirin consumption closely.
Potential Side Effects of Brilinta
Side effects of Brilinta can vary from mild to severe. Some of the potential adverse effects include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Slow heart rate
- Rash
- Allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, throat, lips, tongue, hands, or feet
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following severe side effects while taking Brilinta:
- Severe or uncontrollable bleeding
- Pink, red, or brown urine
- Vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Red or black stools
- Coughing up blood or blood clots
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks the side effects of approved medications. You can report any side effects experienced with Brilinta to the FDA through the MedWatch program.
Contraindications for Brilinta
Avoid taking Brilinta if you:
- Have a history of brain bleeding
- Are currently experiencing bleeding
- Are allergic to ticagrelor or any of the other ingredients in Brilinta
Alternative Medications
Several alternatives to Brilinta include:
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
- Prasugrel (Effient)
- Dipyridamole (Persantine)
- Dipyridamole/aspirin (Aggrenox)
- Ticlopidine
- Eptifibatide
- Warfarin (Jantoven)
- Heparin
- Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
- Apixaban (Eliquis)
- Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
- Edoxaban (Savaysa)
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Fondaparinux (Arixtra)
Note: Some of these medications are used off-label, which means they are prescribed for conditions other than those officially approved by the FDA.