Ticagrelor, known by the brand name Brilinta: Understanding potential adverse effects, cost, applications, and further details
Brilinta, a brand-name prescription drug, is used to lower the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and death caused by heart problems. This antiplatelet agent is available as a tablet that's taken twice a day and comes in two strengths: 60 mg and 90 mg.
For those who have experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or have had a heart attack in the past, Brilinta is prescribed. In a clinical study, people with ACS and a stent took aspirin with either Brilinta or clopidogrel. Over the course of 1 year, people who took the Brilinta combination had a 33% lower risk of blood clots forming on their stents than did people who took the clopidogrel combination.
Brilinta is also prescribed for people with ACS who will be having or have had a stent placed in their heart. In this case, Brilinta should be taken with daily aspirin. For stroke prevention, Brilinta is used in combination with aspirin each day for people who have had either a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel or a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
However, Brilinta comes with potential side effects. The main side effects for stroke prevention include increased bleeding risk, shortness of breath (dyspnea), dizziness, confusion, vertigo, syncope, nausea, and diarrhea. These effects need monitoring, especially in patients with pre-existing bleeding risks or respiratory issues.
Brilinta is also FDA-approved to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with coronary artery disease (CAD) who have an increased risk for heart attack or stroke but haven't had one in the past. In a study, people who took Brilinta with aspirin had a 17% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death caused by heart problems than did people who were taking aspirin alone over the course of 1 year.
It's important to note that Brilinta should not be taken by people with a history of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), active pathological bleeding, or hypersensitivity to any component of Brilinta. It should also be used with caution in people with a history of bleeding inside their head, a slow heart rate or other heart rate problems, severe liver problems, breathing problems, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
A generic form of Brilinta has been approved, but it may not be available at pharmacies yet. Brilinta interacts with several other medications, including ibuprofen, digoxin, certain antifungal drugs, certain antiviral drugs, certain seizure drugs, certain cholesterol drugs, and opioid pain relievers. Therefore, it's crucial to inform your doctor about all medications you're currently taking.
Brilinta should not be taken by people who will be having emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Additionally, you should avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while you're taking Brilinta, as Brilinta and alcohol can each increase your risk of bleeding when used on their own, and using them together may increase your risk of serious bleeding.
In another clinical study, people with CAD and diabetes who had an increased risk for heart attack and stroke but hadn't had a heart attack or stroke in the past took Brilinta. Over the course of the study, people taking Brilinta had a 10% lower risk for stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular-related death than people who took a placebo.
Brilinta works as an antiplatelet agent by preventing platelets from clumping together, thereby reducing harmful blood clots that can cause strokes or TIAs. Because bleeding is the most significant risk, patients are advised not to stop the medication without consulting a doctor, even if side effects occur, to avoid increasing stroke risk.
Side effects should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through MedWatch. For more information about Brilinta, consult with your healthcare provider.
[1] Brilinta Prescribing Information. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/022168s035lbl.pdf [3] Brilinta Medication Guide. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/022168s035medguide.pdf
- Health-and-wellness decisions involving Brilinta, a drug used for lowering the risk of serious cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke, should consider the patient's history of hypertension and pre-existing bleeding risks, as it may have significant side effects.
- In the realm of science, researchers have found that combining Brilinta with pain medications such as opioid pain relievers could result in increased bleeding risk, and thus, it's essential to inform deciders about all medications being taken.
- While Brilinta is prescribed for people who have experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or have a history of heart attack, it's not recommended for those with a history of intracranial hemorrhage or those who will be having emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, due to potential complications with bleeding.
