Effient Oral

Prasugrel is used in patients with heart disease (recent heart attack, unstable angina) who undergo a certain heart procedure (angioplasty). This medication helps to prevent other serious heart/blood vessel problems (such as heart attacks, strokes, blood clots in stents). It works by blocking platelets from sticking together to form harmful blood clots. This \"anti-platelet\" effect helps to keep blood flowing smoothly in your body.

How to use Effient Oral
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking prasugrel and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once a day or as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may direct you to take this medication with low-dose aspirin (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day). Follow your doctor\'s instructions carefully.
It is very important to take prasugrel exactly as directed. Do not increase the dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and the risk of serious side effects may be increased. Also, do not stop using this medication unless directed by your doctor.
Dosage is based on your medical condition, weight, and response to treatment.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.

Headache, nausea, nosebleed, or stomach upset may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
This medication can cause serious bleeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any signs of serious bleeding, including: unusual pain/swelling/discomfort, unusual bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts or gums, persistent/frequent nosebleeds, unusually heavy/prolonged menstrual flow, coughing up blood, bloody/black/tarry stools, bloody urine, vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds, severe headache, dizziness/fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty swallowing.
Medications similar to prasugrel have rarely caused a certain blood disorder (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of this blood disorder, including: vision changes, slurred speech, confusion, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, change in the amount of urine, unusual weakness/tiredness, unexplained fever.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: severe rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking prasugrel, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other thienopyridines (such as clopidogrel); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood disorders (such as hemophilia), bleeding problems (such as bleeding of the stomach/intestines, bleeding in the brain), blood clots in the brain (stroke, transient ischemic attack-TIA), recent major injury/surgery, liver disease, stomach/intestinal ulcers.
It is important that all your doctors and dentists know that you take prasugrel. Before having surgery or any medical/dental procedures (including heart bypass surgery-CABG), tell your doctor or dentist that you are using this medication.
Limit alcoholic beverages. Daily use of alcohol, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding.
Older adults (75 years or older) may be at greater risk for serious bleeding while using this drug. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

The effects of some drugs can change if you take other drugs or herbal products at the same time. This can increase your risk for serious side effects or may cause your medications not to work correctly. These drug interactions are possible, but do not always occur. Your doctor or pharmacist can often prevent or manage interactions by changing how you use your medications or by close monitoring.
To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) before starting treatment with this product. While using this product, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any other medicines you are using without your doctor\'s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: \"blood thinners\" (such as warfarin, enoxaparin), certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine, SNRIs such as venlafaxine), tipranavir.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (aspirin, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen) that may increase your risk for bleeding if taken together with this medication. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin along with this medication (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it until your doctor instructs you otherwise. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use. Share this list with your doctor and pharmacist to lessen your risk for serious medication problems.

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Store the medication in the original bottle with the desiccant to protect against moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your medication can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
Information last revised November 2011. Copyright(c) 2011 First Databank, Inc.