This salt alternative could help reduce blood pressure. So why are so few people usingit?

Active ingredient: Clopidogrel (clop-id-o(h)-grel)

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Plavix. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Plavix.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Plavix?
2. What should I know before I use Plavix?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Plavix?
5. What should I know while using Plavix?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Plavix?

Plavix contains the active ingredient clopidogrel. Plavix belongs to a group of medicines called anti-platelet medicines.

Platelets are very small blood cells which clump together during blood clotting. By preventing this clumping, anti-platelet medicines reduce the chances of blood clots forming (a process called thrombosis).

Plavix is used to prevent blood clots forming in hardened blood vessels (a process known as atherothrombosis) which can lead to events such as stroke, heart attack or death.

You may have been prescribed Plavix to help prevent blood clots forming and to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and death because:

• You have previously suffered a heart attack, stroke or have a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (leg pain on walking or at rest).
• You have suffered Acute Coronary Syndrome (either a severe type of chest pain called unstable angina, or a heart attack). In this case you may also be prescribed aspirin.

Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another use. If you want more information, ask your doctor.

Plavix is only available on a doctor’s prescription.

2. What should I know before I use Plavix?

Warnings

Do not use Plavix if:

• you are allergic to clopidogrel, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
  Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
• you have a medical condition that is causing bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding within your head.
• you suffer from severe liver disease.
• the packaging shows signs of tampering.
• the expiry date on the pack has passed. If you use this product after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.

Do not take Plavix to treat any other complaint unless your doctor says it is safe. Do not give this medicine to anyone else.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have any other medical conditions, especially the following:
  – bleeding disorders or blood clotting problems
  – liver or kidney problems
  – any illness or disability that was caused by bleeding, for example impaired sight or vision because of bleeding within the eye
  – recent serious injury
  – recent surgery (including dental surgery)
  – allergic to other antiplatelet medicines (such as ticlopidine, prasugrel)
  – rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption
• take any medicines for any other condition
• are planning to have an operation (including dental surgery) in the next two weeks. Your doctor will decide whether or not you need to stop Plavix prior to surgery

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Plavix.

Some patients may not convert Plavix to its active form as well as other patients. These patients may not get the same benefit from Plavix. Your doctor may advise you to go for tests to determine if Plavix will adequately work for you. Based on the test results, your doctor may change your dose of Plavix or consider alternative treatments for you.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Do not use Plavix during pregnancy unless in the opinion of your doctor there is a clear need.

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking Plavix during pregnancy.

Do not use Plavix if you are breast feeding or intend to breast feed. Plavix passes into breast milk and, therefore, there is the possibility that the breast fed baby may be affected.

Use in Children

Plavix is not recommended for children as its safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Plavix and affect how it works. These include:

• medicines that “thin the blood”. The most common examples of these include aspirin, heparins and warfarin. There are others so please check with your doctor.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – medicines used to treat arthritis, period pain, aches and pains
• medicines used to treat stomach ulcers or reflux disease (also called heartburn)
• Some medicines used to treat infections (eg ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, fluconazole and voriconazole)
• Some antidepressant medicines.
• medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and phenytoin)
• medicines used to treat diabetes (eg. tolbutamide, repaglinide)
• medicines used to treat breast cancer (e.g tamoxifen, paclitaxel)
• fluvastatin – a medicine used to lower cholesterol
• medicines used to prevent gastric reflux – proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole)
• certain type of pain relief medicines called opiates
• rosuvastatin (used to lower your cholesterol level)

These medicines may be affected by Plavix or affect how well Plavix works.

Your doctor may need to change the amount of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Plavix.

4. How do I use Plavix?

How much to take

• Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day. Take Plavix only as prescribed by your doctor and follow his or her directions carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
• The usual dose of Plavix is one 75 mg tablet daily.
• If you are prescribed Plavix for the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome, you may receive a starting dose of 300 mg (either one 300 mg tablet or four 75 mg tablets), then one 75 mg tablet daily.

When to take Plavix

• You can take Plavix before or after meals. You should swallow the tablet with a glass of water.
• You should take Plavix for as long as your doctor continues to prescribe it.

If you forget to use Plavix

Plavix should be used regularly at the same time each day Taking your tablet at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you to remember when to take it.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

• If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you use too much Plavix

If you think that you have used too much Plavix, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (by calling 13 11 26), or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while using Plavix?

Things you should do

Call your doctor straight away if you:

• if you become pregnant while taking Plavix.
• if you decide to breast feed your baby. Your doctor may want to discuss this and change your medicine.
• if you are about to start on any new medicine
• if you are injured while taking Plavix. It may take longer than usual to stop bleeding while you are taking Plavix.
• if you notice any of the following:
  – abnormal bruising or bleeding
  – abnormal nose bleeds
  – bloody or black bowel motions
  – red or purple blotches on your skin
  – swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing (see also ‘Side effects’ section)

Take Plavix exactly as your doctor has prescribed, and have any blood tests promptly if your doctor orders them.

Ask your doctor whether there are any activities you should avoid while taking Plavix, for example certain sports. Sometimes after an injury bleeding may occur inside your body without you knowing about it.

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Plavix. Plavix may increase the risk of bleeding during an operation or some dental work. Therefore, treatment may need to be stopped before surgery. Your doctor will decide whether to stop Plavix and if so, how long before surgery or dental work.

Things you should not do

• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without telling your doctor.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Plavix affects you.

Plavix may cause faintness or dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Plavix before you drive a car or operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are faint or dizzy. If this occurs, do not drive. If you drink alcohol, faintness or dizziness may be worse.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Looking after your medicine

• Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
• If you take your tablets out of the box or blister pack they will not keep well.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Serious side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Plavix contains

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Plavix looks like

Plavix 300mg tablets come as pink oblong tablets with ‘300’ engraved on one side and ‘1332’ on the other (AUST R 151257).*

A box contains 28 tablets.

*denotes not registered in New Zealand

Who distributes Plavix

Plavix is supplied in Australia by:

sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
12-24 Talavera Rd,
Macquarie Park NSW 2113

This leaflet was prepared in June 2022.

® Plavix is a registered trademark of sanofi-aventis.

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