FAQ: How Long Does It Take For Plavix To Work?

Some inhibition of platelet clotting is seen within two hours of taking the drug; however, it takes between three to seven days of regular Plavix dosing to reach its maximal effect.

How long before Plavix takes effect?

If you take it every day, clopidogrel stops platelets clumping together to form unwanted blood clots. This helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Clopidogrel works within 2 hours of taking it.

How long does it take for Plavix to thin your blood?

Plavix is estimated to be cleared from your body in about 33 hours. A single, oral dose of Plavix (clopidogrel) 75 mg has a half-life of approximately 6 hours. It takes 5.5 x half-life of a medicine for a drug to leave the body, therefore most of the Plavix should be eliminated from your system in 5.5 x 6 = 33 hours.

Is it better to take Plavix in the morning or at night?

You can take clopidogrel at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, but take your doses at the same time of day each day. Most people prefer to take it in the morning, as they find this helps them to remember to take it regularly. You can take the tablet either before or after a meal.

Is clopidogrel fast acting?

Platelet inhibition can be demonstrated two hours after a single dose of oral clopidogrel, but the onset of action is slow, so a loading dose of either 600 or 300 mg is administered when a rapid effect is needed.

How do you know if Plavix is working?

Talk to a pharmacist or your doctor before buying any over-the-counter medicine to check if it is compatible with Plavix. You may notice that you bruise or bleed more easily and it will take longer to stop bleeding while you are taking Plavix. This shows that Plavix is working.

Does Plavix lower blood pressure?

You likely won’t have blood pressure changes while you’re taking Plavix. However, sudden drops in blood pressure may be a symptom of serious internal bleeding, which is a possible side effect of Plavix.

Is 75 mg of Plavix a lot?

Dosage for Plavix The recommended dose is 75 mg per day for patient with a history of MI, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. Many doctors may choose to add an aspirin per day along with the Plavix dose in both non-ST elevation and ST elevation MIs as well as to stroke and peripheral vascular disease patients.

Can you drink coffee with Plavix?

These medications are used to slow blood clotting and include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, and others), enoxaparin (Lovenox), and more. Health experts advise caution when combining them with coffee, which can also slow blood clotting.

Will Plavix make you tired?

Clopidogrel may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: excessive tiredness.

What does Plavix do for your heart?

Plavix (clopidogrel) prevents platelets in your blood from sticking together to form an unwanted blood clot that could block an artery. Plavix is used to lower your risk of having a stroke, blood clot, or serious heart problem after you’ve had a heart attack, severe chest pain (angina), or circulation problems.

Can I take aspirin and Plavix together?

Aspirin and Plavix are more effective when taken together, but it increases the risk of bleeding.

Is clopidogrel a good blood thinner?

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet blood-thinning medicine that may help prevent future heart attacks, strokes, and other clot-related diseases in patients who have already had a heart attack, stroke, or have certain cardiovascular conditions.

What is Plavix 75 mg used for?

Plavix is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome such as a stroke, blood clot or serious heart problem after a heart attack, severe chest pain or circulation problems. Plavix may be used alone or with other medications.

Which is safer aspirin or clopidogrel?

The CAPRIE trial reported that patients treated with clopidogrel had lower risk of composite vascular events (ischemic stroke, AMI, or death) than aspirin (5.32% vs 5.83%), with a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 8.7% in favor of clopidogrel (95% CI = 0.3–16.5, p 0.043).

How long do I have to take Plavix after a stroke?

Based on the positive results of CHANCE and POINT, the stroke community has largely adopted the guideline-concordant use of dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel for 21 days post-stroke.