Brilinta (Ticagrelor) Indications, Side effects and warnings.

Brilinta contains Ticagrelor as an active ingredient. It is an antiplatelet drug and works by inhibiting the platelet activation. Inhibition of platelet activation decreases the risk of blood clot formation and thus, cardiovascular problems.

Indications of Brilinta (Ticagrelor)

Ticagrelor is indicated in ACS (Acute coronary syndrome) that is unstable angina, ST elevation or non ST-elevation myocardial infarction. It has been compared with clopidogrel and it has been observed that Brilinta (Ticagrelor) is more effective in preventing cardiovascular deaths and ischemic stroke. It also prevents stent thrombosis in post-angioplasty patients.
Warning and Side effects of Brilinta.
Brilinta (Ticagrelor) Shouldn’t be used if a patient has

1. Recently undergone major surgery or had serious trauma or accident.
2. History of intracranial bleed
3. Active bleed (e.g. active peptic ulcer bleed)
4. Severe hepatic impairment
5. Allergy or hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients.

Warnings and Side effects:

1. Brilinta increases the risk of bleeding (12%). It inhibits platelets activation thus, prevents blood clotting and when patient bleeds more than usual from minor trauma. Sometimes bleeding can be fatal. Consult your doctor if you notice any nose bleeds, red or black coloured stool, red, pink or brown coloured urine or blood in vomit or sputum.
2. Brilinta may cause dyspnea or shortness of breathing. Studies showed it causes dyspnea in 14% of patients.
3. Don’t stop taking Brilinta without talking to your physician. Discontinuation increases the risk of Myocardial infarction and if you have stents in your heart then you will become vulnerable to clot formation and thrombosis.
4. Brilinta interacts with several drugs, eg., cholesterol-lowering drugs, digoxin, CYP3A inducers and inhibitors.
5. Don’t increase the dose of aspirin more than 100mg. It decreases the efficacy of Brilinta. Use aspirin in the doses of 75-100mg along with Brilinta.

Read the following questions if you are taking Brilinta and answer  to these questions in “Yes” or “No”

1. Do you have any history of bleeding in the brain, Stroke, peptic ulcer bleed or severe liver problem? ˆ ˆ
2. Are you allergic to ticagrelor or any other ingredient of Brilinta? ˆ ˆ
3. Do you have any plan of undergoing surgery or dental procedure? ˆ ˆ
4. Did you have any recent surgery or major trauma/accident? ˆ ˆ
5. Do you have any lung problem (eg., COPD, Asthma etc)? ˆ ˆ
6. Are you pregnant or planning to become pregnant? ˆ ˆ
7. Are you breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed? ˆ ˆ
8. Did you notice that you bruise or bleed easily? ˆ ˆ
9. Did you have any episode of nose bleed? ˆ ˆ
10. Do you notice that It has been taking longer than usual to stop bleeding? ˆ ˆ
11. Did you notice any change in the colour of urine? (pink, brown or red) ˆ ˆ
12. Did you have any episode of coffee ground vomiting? ˆ ˆ
13. Did you pass red or black coloured stools? ˆ ˆ
14. Did you notice any blood or blood clots in sputum? ˆ ˆ
15. Did you stop taking Brilinta without talking to your physician? ˆ ˆ
16. Are you taking any medication which contains aspirin? ˆ ˆ
17. Are you taking more than 100mg of aspirin per day? ˆ ˆ
18. Are you taking any over the counter medication which contains aspirin? ˆ ˆ
19. Do you smoke? ˆ ˆ
20. Did you have any episode of unexpected shortness of breathing or notice any difficulty in breathing? ˆ ˆ
21. Are you taking any of the following medicines along with Brilinta

1. An HIV Medicine ˆ 2. Medicine for heart problem ˆ 3. Medicine for High BP ˆ
4. Medicine for cholesterol ˆ 5. Oral anti-fungal medicine ˆ 6. Anti-seizure medicine
7. Blood thinner e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, heparin etc. ˆ 8. Rifampin ˆ
9. Any other (vitamins, supplements, other medicine write names) ˆ

If have answered “yes” to any of the above questions then you should discuss that with your doctor.