• Brilinta is a brand (trade) name for ticagrelor which may be given together with aspirin to people who have had a heart attack or to those with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to reduce their risk of having a stroke or other heart problems.
• Brilinta works differently from other antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, and prasugrel. Although it still blocks a substance called ADP (adenosine-5-diphosphate) which plays a crucial role in blood clotting, it does it by reversibly binding to a receptor called P2Y12 on the platelet surface. Reversible binding means platelet activity is restored once concentrations of Brilinta decrease below a certain level, in contrast to other antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel and prasugrel which bind irreversibly for the life of the platelet.
• Brilinta prevents platelets in your blood from sticking together to form an unwanted blood clot that could block an artery. Platelets are tiny blood cells that clump and stick together to repair a damaged blood vessel. Brilinta keeps blood flowing smoothly.
• Brilinta belongs to the class of medicines known as platelet aggregation inhibitors. It may also be called a P2Y12 inhibitor or an antiplatelet agent.

• Brilinta may be given together with aspirin to people who have had a heart attack or with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), to reduce their risk of having a stroke or other heart problems.
• Brilinta may also be given to people who have had a stent inserted to reduce the rate of stent thrombosis (a blood clot forming and blocking an area near a stent).
• Brilinta may also be given to some people with other heart conditions who are intolerant to aspirin.
• Brilinta works more quickly than clopidogrel (Plavix). Within 30 minutes, a 180mg loading dose of Brilinta inhibited 41% of platelets. It takes almost 8 hours for clopidogrel 600mg to achieve this same effect.
• Crushing tablets and then administering them appears to make Brilinta work more quickly.
• Brilinta is not a prodrug. This means it does not require metabolism to be active, unlike clopidogrel and prasugrel. Because clopidogrel is a prodrug and requires conversion in the liver to its active version, clinical response to clopidogrel is variable with 20–40% of patients being classified as non-responders, poor responders, or resistant to clopidogrel.
• Brilinta has an active metabolite that is equally as potent and active as the parent drug, Brilinta. This increases how long it works.
• Brilinta is an oral medication that is usually taken twice a day.
• Brilinta is currently recommended over clopidogrel by current guidelines for people with ACS or following a myocardial infarction (heart attack). Trials have found Brilinta is more effective than clopidogrel at reducing the percentage of CV death, MI, or stroke in the first year of treatment in people taking low-dose aspirin. Apart from genetics (including variations in CYP2C19), other factors that affect the response to clopidogrel include age, diabetes, renal failure, and cardiac failure.
• Brilinta is more potent than clopidogrel. Side effects, such as bleeding and bruising are similar although Brilinta is more likely to cause shortness of breath.
• A dosage adjustment is needed in people with mild liver disease or kidney disease. Avoid Brilinta in people with severe liver disease; there is limited experience in those with moderate liver disease.
• Brilinta is available as a generic under the name ticagrelor.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

• Bleeding, shortness of breath (dyspnea), dizziness, and nausea are the most common side effects reported with Brilinta.
• Brilinta carries a Boxed Warning on its label about bleeding risks because, like other antiplatelet agents, Brilinta can cause significant, sometimes fatal bleeding. If possible, manage bleeding without discontinuing Brilinta. Stopping Brilinta increases the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events. Do not use Brilinta in patients with active pathological bleeding or a history of intracranial (within the skull) hemorrhage. Do not start Brilinta in patients undergoing urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
• If Brilinta is discontinued too soon, it can increase a person's risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death. However, Brilinta may be temporarily discontinued five days before surgery.
• Although Brilinta is usually given with aspirin to people who have had a heart attack or who have a condition called acute coronary syndrome (ACS), to reduce their risk of having a stroke or other heart problems, dosages of aspirin greater than 100mg/day should NOT be given because this will reduce the effectiveness of Brilinta.
• Brilinta should not be used in people with an active peptic ulcer, following an intracranial hemorrhage, or who have active bleeding conditions. There is limited experience in using Brilinta in people with moderate to severe liver disease. Avoid in severe liver disease.
• Although case reports have not shown an increase in major birth defects with Brilinta, animal studies, using more than the maximum recommended dose of Brilinta, have shown an increased risk of structural abnormalities, pup death, and growth delays. Advise women to use adequate contraception to ensure they do not become pregnant while taking Brilinta and to tell their doctor immediately if they become pregnant inadvertently. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Brilinta.

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

• Brilinta is an oral tablet that is usually taken twice a day, in the morning and the evening. Brilinta can be taken with or without food and is usually given with a daily maintenance dose of aspirin. The first dose of Brilinta may be higher than subsequent doses. This is called a loading dose and it helps Brilinta to reach effective levels faster.
• Do not stop Brilinta suddenly without talking to your cardiologist first. If Brilinta is discontinued too soon, it can increase a person's risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death. However, if you are having surgery, your doctor may instruct you to stop taking Brilinta 5 days before your procedure. This will help to lower the chance of bleeding. Follow your doctor’s directions on when to stop and start taking Brilinta again.
• Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Brilinta. Grapefruit juice can inhibit (block) one of the enzymes (3A4) needed to break down Brilinta for excretion from the body. Theoretically, drinking grapefruit juice with Brilinta may increase the antiplatelet effect of your medicine and increase the risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor about this possible drug-food interaction.
• Brilinta does not have the same dietary restrictions as warfarin has, and you do not need to worry about eating green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, kale, or other vitamin K-rich foods with Brilinta.
• Drinking alcohol with Brilinta is not recommended because you will also be taking aspirin. Combining aspirin with alcohol can lead to stomach bleeding and ulcers. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of stomach ulcers or digestive tract bleeding. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
• Do not take any other medications, including those brought from a supermarket or drug store, without talking to your doctor or a pharmacist first. If you need a mild pain reliever, it is safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) with Brilinta. Many nonprescription, over-the-counter (OTC) products contain aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) which are not suitable for use with Brilinta. These ingredients can also be found in combination products used for cold or flu symptoms or sleep. Be sure to check the labels for these ingredients. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure.
• You may notice that you bruise or bleed more easily and it will take longer to stop bleeding while you are taking Brilinta. This shows that Brilinta is working. However, if bleeding is excessive, or prolonged, or you notice blood in your urine or stool, seek urgent medical advice.
• Seek prompt medical attention if you develop a fever, weakness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, feel confused, or your skin looks extremely pale.
• Tell your dentist and other health professionals that you are taking Brilinta before an invasive procedure is scheduled.
• Although an increased risk of major birth defects has not been reported in case studies investigating Brilinta use during pregnancy, animal studies using more than the maximum recommended dose did show an increased risk of structural abnormalities, pup death, and growth delays. If you are taking Brilinta you should tell your doctor if you are planning a pregnancy before conceiving or if you become pregnant inadvertently. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Brilinta.

• Brilinta works more quickly than clopidogrel (Plavix). Within 30 minutes, a 180mg loading dose of Brilinta inhibited 41% of platelets. It takes almost 8 hours for clopidogrel 600mg to achieve this same effect.
• Maximum platelet inhibition (88% inhibition) was reached two hours after a dose of Brilinta. Crushing tablets and then administering them appears to hasten the time to peak concentrations. Maximum platelet inhibition lasts for another six hours (eight hours total). 24 hours after a dose of Brilinta, platelet inhibition is still 58%. It takes 56 hours (over 2 days) for platelet inhibition to drop to 56% and 110 hours (over 4 days) for platelet inhibition to drop to 10%.
• Brilinta is typically used for 6 to 12 months, or longer, after a stent or heart attack. It is given with low-dose aspirin to help prevent blood clots. Based on the use, Brilinta may be given for different amounts of time.
• For at least one year after ACS, Brilinta has been found in studies to be better than the use of another antiplatelet drug known as clopidogrel (Plavix).
• In studies of high-risk patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and type-2 diabetes, at 36 months, the combined use of aspirin plus Brilinta 60 mg was significantly more effective at preventing a major event such as heart attack or stroke when compared to taking aspirin alone.
• In studies, Brilinta or a placebo was given to patients with an acute ischemic stroke or TIA within 24 hours of onset. Treatment was continued for a median of 30 days. Brilinta was found to be superior to a placebo in reducing the rate of a composite of stroke and death (the primary endpoint). The manufacturer suggests treatment be continued for up to 30 days. The treatment effect accrued early in the course of therapy
• Depending on the use, the first dose of Brilinta may be given as a loading dose which is a higher dose to help achieve therapeutic levels more quickly. The manufacturer has shown that Brilinta typically works to inhibit platelets within 30 minutes of taking this loading dose (two 90 mg tablets). However, one small, open-label study demonstrated that despite giving a Brilinta loading dose, it can take from 2 to 11 hours to reach adequate platelet inhibition in patients who have had a heart attack and are receiving a stent.
• Responses can be different for different patients, and some patients may need additional antiplatelet therapy when undergoing a stent placement after a heart attack to prevent stent thrombosis.
• Using PLATO clinical trial figures Brilinta appears to be more effective than Plavix at reducing the risk of CV death, MI, or stroke in the first year of treatment.

Medicines that interact with Brilinta may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Brilinta. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

There are over 400 medications that interact with Brilinta. Common medications that may interact with Brilinta include:

• aspirin (dosages greater than 100mg)
• amiodarone
• apalutamide
• apixaban
• aprepitant
• bismuth subsalicylate
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem or verapamil
• cholesterol-lowering agents, such as simvastatin or lovastatin
• cobicistat
• dabigatran
• dalteparin
• digoxin
• erythromycin
• fluconazole, ketoconazole, or voriconazole
• grapefruit juice
• herbals, such as Dong Quai or echinacea
• mifepristone
• NSAIDs, such as celecoxib, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etodolac, and naproxen
• opioids, such as methadone, morphine, or oxycodone (can delay and reduce the absorption of Brilinta and its active metabolite possibly due to slowed gastric emptying)
• repaglinide
• steroids such as dexamethasone
• strong CYP3A inducers such as rifampin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital (substantially reduce the efficacy of Brilinta). Avoid
• strong CYP3A inhibitors such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, clarithromycin, nefazodone, atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and telithromycin (substantially increase the risk of side effects such as dyspnea or bleeding). Avoid
• ticlopidine
• tinzaparin
• tramadol
• warfarin and other anticoagulants.

In general, any medicine that can increase the risk of bleeding (such as aspirin, corticosteroids, SSRI antidepressants [eg, citalopram, duloxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine], enoxaparin, fish oils) may interact with Brilinta.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Brilinta You should refer to the prescribing information for Brilinta for a complete list of interactions.