What is Plavix and what is generic for Plavix?
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Nowadays more and more people are suffering from different blood disorders. For example, when platelets start coagulating in one’s blood, it may lead to serious conditions such as a heart attack / a stoke, especially when a patient has already had one.
Fortunately, modern medicine has an efficient response for the problem of blood clotting. Plavix – this is how the medicine is called.
However, many people also what to find out what is the generic for Plavix, as generic drugs are usually cheaper than their brand analogs. So, you are welcome to get acquainted with clopidogrel bisulfate which is generic name for Plavix. On our website you will find a lot of information concerning Plavix and generic version of this med. Having read this medical guide you will find the answers to such questions as who can use this drug and who can’t, how to use the medicine properly, what are possible side effects, what is generic Plavix price, and on the whole, is generic Plavix available. It is worth to highlight, that despite generic brand for Plavix costs cheaper, the effectiveness of this medication is the same. So buying Plavix in generic you have an opportunity to save some money and get the desirable effect at the same time. So let’s start with denoting the aim this med is used for in patients.
What clopidogrel (generic for Palvix) is used for?
As clopidogrel belongs to the group of drugs called blood thinners and has the ability to prevent the platelets coagulating, it is used for the preventing of such conditions as strokes or heart attacks that often happen in patients who have experienced these conditions earlier or those who have certain problems with their blood vessels or heart.
What should a patient know before using generic Plavix?
Be very cautious while using clopidogrel (generic for Plavix) as this drug thins your blood which means you can bleed much easier, even if the injury is very small. Bleeding may also develop in your stomach or somewhere in digestive tract. You can guess it happened to you in case your stools has become black or bloody. Bare in mind that alcohol consumption increases the risk of the development of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. In case you have any kind of bleeding you should seek for medical help.
In case you are going to have a surgery/dental work, please, inform the medical specialist of the fact that you are on clopidogrel.
Contraindications and precautions
Clopidogrel (Plavix generic name) is contraindicated for the using in patients who are allergic to the medicine as well as those who have:
· severe liver failure,
· acute bleeding,
· any conditions that predispose bleeding.
There are certain conditions when taking Clopidogrel is not prohibited, but dosage adjustment is needed. These conditions include:
· hemophilia;
· thrombocytopenic purpura;
· a history of stroke including \\\\\\\”mini-stroke\\\\\\\”;
· kidney disease;
· moderate liver failure;
· ulcerative colitis;
· stomach ulcers.
If a pregnant or breast-feeding woman wants to take this medicine she consult her doctor in order to find out whether she will get benefits from the treatment and a fetus or a baby won’t be at risk of developing any bad conditions.
How should one take clopidogrel (generic Plavix)?
Read the prescription label attentively before using the medicine. It is not recommended to take the medication in smaller doses; exceeding doses is prohibited. Take the medication as long as you were directed to.
Plavix generic – clopidogrel – is taken orally with a glass of water during the meal or independently. If you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but never double the dose as this may lead to dangerous conditions.
Overdose symptoms are the following: vomiting (especially with blood), bloody stools, shortness of breath. Call an ambulance in case you suspect overdose or experience any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Plavix generic side effects
While taking Plavix you may experience itching. You should not worry about it too much, as this one is not a serious side effect. But if you experience troubles while breathing, or have hives, or your mouth/face is swollen – these are the signs of l allergic reaction. Stop using the drug and call an ambulance.
Seek for immediate medical help in case you have any of the following side effects:
· blood in your urine;
· bloody stools;
· nosebleed;
· any unusual bleeding that won’t stop;
· coughing up blood;
· vomit with blood;
· chest pain;
· pale skin;
· sweating;
· sudden headache;
· sudden numbness;
· confusion;
· balance, vision, speech, problems;
· easy bruising;
· jaundice;
· purple pinpoint spots under your skin.
Drug interactions
Plavix as generic may interact with various drugs. Before you start the treatment with clopidogrel you must inform your healthcare professional of any medicines you are using at the moment, especially if they are:
· Blood thinners like enoxaparin (Lovenox); abciximab (ReoPro); fondaparinux (Arixtra); tirofiban (Aggrastat); dalteparin (Fragmin); tinzaparin (Innohep); warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); heparin; eptifibatide (Integrilin); urokinase (Abbokinase); ticlopidine (Ticlid);
· Cancer medicaments such as ibritumomab (Zevalin), letrozole (Femara), dasatinib (Sprycel), tositumomab (Bexxar);
· Such meds as gemfibrozil (Lopid); armodafanil (NuVigil); fluoxetine (Prozac); isoniazid (Rifamate, Rifater); modafanil (Provigil); fluvoxamine (Luvox);
· Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), voriconazole (Vfend), fluconazole (Diflucan);
· HIV meds such as etravirine (Intelence), delavirdine (Rescriptor), tipranavir (Aptivus), efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla);
· Seizure meds such as oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) or felbamate (Felbatol);
· Stomach acid reducers like omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid), esomeprazole (Nexium), cimetidine (Tagamet).
Storage
After you buy clopidogrel store it in a dry place away from moisture and heat.
When is Plavix going generic?
Today you can buy only brand name Plavix. So many people want to know the answer to the question: is Plavix going generic? Yes, this medication will be generic. But when will Plavix be generic is another question. And such an interest is not a surprise, as generic version will be cheaper than the brand one. Pharmaceutical companies-manufacturers of Plavix (Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb) wanted to release a generic version last year, but FDA adjusted the term. So now it is expected that Plavix going generic will happen in May, 2012. So you have to wait just a little. We will make Plavix generic available as soon as it is released.
Plavix generic
what is the generic for Plavix
· acute bleeding,