Ticagrelor Usage

Ticagrelor is used to prevent prevention of blood clots
It decreases the chances of having another heart attack or stroke from a disease related to your heart or blood vessels.

How Ticagrelor works

Ticagrelor is an antiplatelet medication. It works by preventing platelets from sticking together which decreases the formation of harmful blood clots. This lowers the chance of heart attack or stroke.

Common side effects of Ticagrelor

Bleeding

Expert advice for Ticagrelor

• Good medication for preventing blood clots.
• For best results, take Ticagrelor at the same time every day.
• Ticagrelor increases your risk of bleeding. Be careful while shaving, cutting fingernails or toenails, or using sharp objects.
• Do not discontinue use without consulting your doctor.
• If you are going to have a surgery or dental treatment, you may be asked to stop taking Ticagrelor temporarily.
• You may experience shortness of breath in the initial weeks of therapy. Notify your doctor if it becomes worse or persists for long.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Q. What is Ticagrelor used for?
Ticagrelor belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet medicines. Ticagrelor in combination with aspirin is used in a person who had a heart attack, or unstable angina (angina or chest pain that is not well controlled). It reduces the chances of having another heart attack, stroke or dying from a disease related to heart or blood vessels.

Ques. Q. How does Ticagrelor work?
Ticagrelor belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet drugs. Ticagrelor affects the platelets (also called thrombocytes). These very small blood cells help to stop the bleeding by clumping together to plug tiny holes in blood vessels that are cut or damaged. However, platelets can also form clots inside diseased blood vessels in the heart and brain. This can be very dangerous. Ticagrelor works by preventing the clumping of platelets and this reduces the chance of a blood clot forming that can reduce blood flow.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor safe?
Ticagrelor is safe when taken at prescribed dose and duration as advised by your doctor.

Ques. Q. Can I take ticagrelor with paracetamol?
Paracetamol can be taken with ticagrelor. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take ticagrelor with ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen taken with ticagrelor can increase the risk of bleeding. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take ticagrelor with sildenafil?
Sildenafil can be taken with ticagrelor. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take ticagrelor with naproxen?
Naproxen can be taken with ticagrelor. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take ticagrelor with omeprazole?
Omeprazole can be taken with ticagrelor. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor an anticoagulant?
Ticagrelor is not an anticoagulant. It belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet medicines. Both antiplatelets and anticoagulants work to prevent formation of clots in your blood vessels, but they work in different ways. Antiplatelets interfere with the binding of platelets, or the process that actually starts the formation of blood clots. Anticoagulants interfere with the proteins in your blood that are involved in the coagulation process.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor reversible?
Ticagrelor is a reversible oral antiplatelet agent.

Ques. Q. Is ticagrelor better than clopidogrel?
Ticagrelor and clopidogrel belong to the same class of medicines with similar action, but their effect may vary upon individual response. Always follow doctor's advice regarding its use.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor a prodrug?
Ticagrelor is not a prodrug. A prodrug is a medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized (converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug. Ticagrelor itself is an active drug.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved?
Ticagrelor is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. US Food and Drug Administration approved Ticagrelor in July 2011 to reduce cardiovascular death and heart attack in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor a beta blocker?
Ticagrelor is not a beta blocker. Ticagrelor belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet medicines.

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor a blood thinner?
Ticagrelor belongs to a group of medicines called antiplatelet medicines (can be described as blood thinner drugs).

Ques. Q. Is Ticagrelor generic?
Yes, Ticagrelor is a generic medicine.

Ques. Q. Is ticagrelor the same as clopidogrel?
Ticagrelor and clopidogrel are two different drugs which belong to the same class of medicines with similar action, but their effect may vary upon individual response. Always follow your doctor's advice regarding its use.

Ques. Q. Does Ticagrelor lower blood pressure?
Lowering of blood pressure is a common side effect of Ticagrelor. Please consult your doctor in case you experience low blood pressure as the dose of Ticagrelor may need to be changed.

Ques. Q. Does Ticagrelor cause bruising?
Ticagrelor can commonly cause an increased tendency to bruise. Please consult your doctor if you experience increased bruising while taking Ticagrelor.

Ques. Q. Does Ticagrelor cause hair loss?
Ticagrelor does not cause hair loss. Please consult your doctor if you experience hair loss while taking Ticagrelor.

Ques. Q. Why does Ticagrelor cause dyspnea?
Ticagrelor inhibits certain receptors on sensory neurons which increase the sensation of dyspnea (breathlessness). Ticagrelor related breathlessness is generally mild and characterized as a sudden, unexpected hunger for air usually occurring at rest and may appear in the first weeks of therapy then disappear in many patients. If your feeling of shortness of breath gets worse or lasts a long time after taking Ticagrelor, tell your doctor. Your doctor will decide if it needs treatment or further investigations or the dose of your medicine may need to be decreased.

Ques. Q. Why does Ticagrelor cause bradycardia?
Ticagrelor causes bradycardia due to dysfunction of SA (sinoatrial) node. SA node is the heart's natural pacemaker and the electrical impulses are generated there. Please consult your doctor in case you experience slowing of the heartbeat after taking Ticagrelor.

Ques. Q. How much does Ticagrelor cost?
The cost of Ticagrelor will vary depending on the brand. Please refer to the pack to know the cost.