Effient (prasugrel)

Prasugrel and Ticagrelor in STEMI Patients

In platelet resistance

Prasugrel Bests Double-Dose Clopidogrel in Nonresponders

Prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome and a planned invasive strategy

Effient (prasugrel) helps to prevent platelets in your blood from sticking together and forming a blood clot. An unwanted blood clot can occur with certain heart or blood vessel conditions.

Effient is used to prevent blood clots in people with acute coronary syndrome who are undergoing a procedure after a recent heart attack or stroke, and in people with certain disorders of the heart or blood vessels.

Effient may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

You should not take Effient if you have any active bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain (such as from a head injury), a history of stroke, including TIA ("mini-stroke"), or you are scheduled to have surgery, especially heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

Effient increases your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have bleeding that will not stop, if you have black or bloody stools, or if you cough up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time before any surgery or dental treatment. Do not stop taking Effient unless your doctor tells you to. Stopping too soon could cause life-threatening medical problems.

While you are taking Effient, do not take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) without your doctor's advice. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), ketorolac (Toradol), mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Effient if you are allergic to prasugrel, or if you have:

• any active bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding in the brain (such as from a head injury);
• a history of stroke, including TIA ("mini-stroke"); or
• if you are scheduled to have surgery, especially heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG).

To make sure Effient is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a stomach ulcer;
• stomach or intestinal bleeding;
• a history of surgery, injury, or medical emergency;
• liver or kidney disease;
• if you weigh less than 132 pounds;
• if you also use other medicines to treat or prevent blood clots; or
• if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to clopidogrel (Plavix) or ticlopidine (Ticlid).

Effient is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. However, aspirin is usually given with Effient, and aspirin can cause bleeding when it is taken during the last 3 months of pregnancy. Aspirin can also cause side effects in a newborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether prasugrel passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.