Clopidogrel 75 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Clopidogrel 75mg film-coated tablets
Clopidogrel
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because It contains Important Information foryou.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you have any side effects including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, talk to yourdoctoror pharmacist. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Clopidogrel tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Clopidogrel tablets
3. How to take Clopidogrel tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Clopidogrel tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Clopidogrel tablets are and what they are used for
Clopidogrel tablets contain clopidogrel and belong to a group of medicines called antiplatelet medicinal products. Platelets are very small structures in the blood, which clump together during blood clotting. By preventing this clumping, antiplatelet medicinal products reduce the chances of blood clots forming (a process called thrombosis).
Clopidogrel tablets are taken by adults to prevent blood clots (thrombi) forming in hardened blood vessels (arteries), a process known as atherothrombosis, which can lead to atherothrombotic events (such as stroke, heart attack, or death).
You have been prescribed Clopidogrel tablets to help prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of these severe events because:
• You have a condition of hardening of arteries (also known as atherosclerosis), and
• You have previously experienced a heart attack, stroke or have a condition known as peripheral arterial disease, or
• You have experienced a severe type of chest pain known as 'unstable angina' or 'myocardial infarction' (heart attack). For the treatment of this condition your doctor may have placed a stent in the blocked or narrowed artery to restore effective blood flow. You should also be given acetylsalicylic acid (a substance present in many medicines used to relieve pain and lower fever as well as to prevent blood clotting) byyourdoctor.
• You have irregular heartbeat, a condition called 'atrial fibrillation', and you cannot take medicines known as 'oral anticoagulants' (vitamin K antagonists) which prevent new clots from forming and prevent existing clots from growing. You should have been told that 'oral anticoagulants' are more effective than acetylsalicylic acid or the combined use of Clopidogrel tablets plus acetylsalicylic acid ifyou cannot take 'oral anticoagulants' and you do not have a risk of major bleeding.
2. What you need to know before you take Clopidogrel tablets
Do not take Clopidogrel tablets:
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to clopidogrel or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If you have a medical condition that is currently causing bleeding such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding within the brain.
• If you suffer from severe liver disease.
Ifyou think any ofthese apply to you, or ifyou are in any doubt at all, consult your doctor before taking Clopidogrel tablets.
Warnings and precautions
If any of the situations mentioned below apply to you, you should tell your doctor before taking Clopidogrel tablets:
• ifyouhaveariskofbleedingsuchas
► a medical condition that puts you at risk of internal bleeding (such as a stomach ulcer).
► a blood disorder that makes you prone to internal bleeding (bleeding inside any tissues, organs orjoints ofyour body).
► a recent serious injury.
► a recent surgery (including dental).
► a planned surgery (including dental) in the next seven days.
• if you have had a clot inan artery of your brain (ischaemic stroke) which occurred within the last seven days.
• if you have kidney or liver disease.
• ifyou have had an allergy or reaction to any medicine used to treat your disease.
• if you had an allergy or reaction to other medicines similar to clopidogrel e.g. prasugrel, ticlopidine.
While you are taking Clopidogrel tablets:
• You should tell your doctor if a surgery (including dental) is planned.
• You should also tell your doctor immediately if you develop a medical condition (also known as Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura or TTP) that includes fever and bruising under the skin that may appear as red pinpoint dots, with orwithout unexplained extreme tiredness, confusion, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) (see section 4 'Possible side effects').
• If you cut or injure yourself, it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. This is linked to the way your medicine works as it prevents the ability of blood clots to form. For minor cuts and injuries e.g., cutting yourself, shaving, this is usually of no concern. However, ifyou are concerned by your bleeding, you should contact your doctor straightaway (see section 4 'Possible side effects').
• Your doctor may order blood tests.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children because it does not work.
Other medicines and Clopidogrel tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist ifyou are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Some other medicines may influence the use of Clopidogrel tablets or vice versa.
You should specifically tell your doctor ifyou take
• medicines that may increase your risk of bleeding such as:
► oral anticoagulants, medicines used to reduce blood clotting,
► a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, usually used to treat painful and/or inflammatory conditions of muscle orjoints,
► heparin or any other medicine used to reduce blood clotting,
► ticlopidine, abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban, other antiplatelet agent,
► a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (including but not restricted to fluoxetine orfluvoxamine), medicines usually used to treat depression,
• proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole or esomeprazole) for upset stomach,
• fluconazole or voriconazole, medicines to treat fungal infections,
• efavirenz, a medicine to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infections,
• moclobemide, a medicine to treat depression,
• carbamazepine, a medicine to treat some forms of epilepsy,
• repaglinide, medicine to treat diabetes,
• paclitaxel, medicine to treat cancer.
Ifyou have experienced severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), you may be prescribed Clopidogrel tablets in combination with acetylsalicylic acid, a substance present in many medicines used to relieve pain and lower fever. An occasional use of acetylsalicylic acid (no more than 1,000 mg in any 24 hour period) should generally not cause a problem, but prolonged use in other circumstances should be discussed with yourdoctor.
Clopidogrel tablets with food and drink
Clopidogrel tablets may be taken with or without food.
Pregnancyand breast-feeding
It is preferable not to use this product during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Ifyou are pregnantorbreast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Ifyou become pregnantwhile taking Clopidogrel tablets, consult your doctor immediately as it is recommended not to take clopidogrel while you are pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while taking this medicine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Clopidogrel tablets are unlikely to affect your ability to drive or to use machines.
Important information about some ofthe ingredients of Clopidogrel tablets
Clopidogrel tablets contain hydrogenated vegetable oil, which may cause stomach upset, and diarrhoea.
Clopidogrel tablets contain sodium metabisulfite (E223) which may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and bronchospasm.
Clopidogrel tablets contain sunset yellow which may cause allergic reactions.
3. How to take Clopidogrel tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist ifyou are not sure.
The recommended dose, including for patients with a condition called 'atrial fibrillation' (an irregular heartbeat), is one 75 mg tablet of Clopidogrel tablets per day to be taken orally with or without food, and at the same time each day.
Ifyou have experienced severe chest pain (unstable angina or heart attack), your doctor may give you 300 mg of Clopidogrel tablets (1 tablet of 300 mg or 4 tablets of 75 mg) once at the start of treatment. Then, the recommended dose is one 75-mg tablet of Clopidogrel tablets per day as described above.
You should take Clopidogrel tablets for as long as your doctor continues to prescribe it.
If you take more Clopidogrel tablets than you should
Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department because of the increased risk of bleeding.
If you forget to take Clopidogrel tablets
Ifyou forget to take a dose of Clopidogrel tablets, but rememberwithin 12 hours ofyour usual time, take your tablet straightaway and then take your next tablet at the usual time.
Ifyou forget for more than 12 hours, simply take the next single dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Clopidogrel tablets
Do not stop the treatment unless your doctor tells you so. Contact your doctor or pharmacist before stopping.
Ifyou have anyfurtherquestions on the use of this medicine, askyour doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possiblesideeffects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
• fever, signs of infection or extreme tiredness. These may be due to rare decrease of some blood cells.
• signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin and/or the eyes (jaundice), whether or not associated with bleeding which appears under the skin as red pinpoint dots and/or confusion (see section 2 'Warning and precautions').
• swelling in the mouth or skin disorders such as rashes and itching, blisters of the skin. These may be the signs ofan allergic reaction. Severe skin reactions like acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
The most common side effect reported with Clopidogrel tablets is bleeding. Bleeding may occur as bleeding in the stomach or bowels, bruising, haematoma (unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin), nose bleed, blood in the urine. In a small number of cases, bleeding in the eye, inside the head, the lung orthe joints has also been reported.
Ifyou experience prolonged bleeding when taking Clopidogrel tablets
Ifyou cut or injure yourself, it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. This is linked to the way your medicine works as it prevents the ability of blood clots to form. For minor cuts and injuries e.g., cutting yourself, shaving, this is usually of no concern. However, ifyou are concerned by your bleeding, you should contact your doctor straightaway (see section 2 'Warnings and precautions').
Other side effects include:
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in10 people):
Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, indigestion or heartburn.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Headache, stomach ulcer, vomiting, nausea, constipation, excessive gas in stomach or intestines, rashes, itching, dizziness, sensation of tingling and numbness.
Rare side effect (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people):
Vertigo, enlarged breasts in males.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
Jaundice; severe abdominal pain with orwithout back pain; fever, breathing difficulties sometimes associated with cough; generalised allergic reactions (for example, overall sensation of heat with sudden general discomfort until fainting); swelling in the mouth; blisters of the skin; skin allergy; sore mouth (stomatitis); decrease in blood pressure; confusion; hallucinations; joint pain; muscular pain; changes in taste of food.
In addition, your doctor may identify changes in your blood or urine test results.
Reporting of side effects
Ifyou get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.aov.uk/vellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Clopidogrel tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the blister, after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
For the bottle pack, use within 28 days after first opening the bottle.
For blister packs, this medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine ifyou notice any visible sign of deterioration.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Clopidogrel tablets contain
The active substance is clopidogrel. Each film-coated tablet contains 75 mg of clopidogrel (as hydrogen sulfate).
List of Excipients:
Tablet Core
Talc (E553b),
Simethicone,
Sodium Metabisulfite (E223),
Disodium Edetate (E385),
Hypromellose (E464),
Cellulose Microcrystalline,
Crospovidone Type A,
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Cottonseed Oil).
Tablet Coating
Hypromellose (E464),
Titanium Dioxide (E171),
Triacetin (E1518),
IronOxideRed (E172),
Sunset Yellow FCF Aluminium Lake (E110),
Iron Oxide Yellow (E172).
Tablet Imprinting
Shellac,
Iron Oxide Black (E172),
Propylene Glycol.
What Clopidogrel tablets look like and contents of the pack
Light pink coloured, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets imprinted with 'U31' on one side and plain on the other side. They are supplied in cardboard cartons containing (1x7's), (2x7's), (4x7's), (3x10's), (7x12's), (9x10's), and (10x10's) tablets in Alu/Alu blisters (Polyamide/Aluminium Foil/PVC film-Blister forming foil & aluminium lidding foil). HDPE containers containing 84,90,100,500 & 1000 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Morningside Healthcare Ltd,
115 Narborough Road, Leicester,
LE3 0PA, UK
Manufacturer
Accord Healthcare Limited,
Sage House, 319 PinnerRoad, North Harrow,
Middlesex HA1 4HF, UK
This leaflet was last revised in August 2016.