Prasugrel
Generic Effient
Prasugrel (PRA soo grel) is a generic medication prescribed for preventing blood clots in people who have had heart angioplasty (a procedure to open blocked blood vessels). Prasugrel belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelets, commonly called blood thinners.
Prasugrel (PRA soo grel) is a generic medication prescribed for preventing blood clots in people who have had heart angioplasty (a procedure to open blocked blood vessels). Prasugrel belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelets, commonly called blood thinners.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 10mg
- • 30 Tablets
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Purva Singla, PharmD
Updated on August 23, 2023
Prasugrel (PRA soo grel) is a generic medication prescribed for preventing blood clots in people who have had a heart attack or heart angioplasty (a procedure to open blocked blood vessels). Prasugrel belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelets, commonly called blood thinners.
Boxed warning: Risk of serious bleeding
Prasugrel has a boxed warning about the risk of serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for prasugrel” section.
FAQs
Common questions about prasugrel
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about prasugrel.
What brand names are available for prasugrel?
Prasugrel is available as the brand-name drug, Effient. Prasugrel oral tablet is the generic version of this brand-name product.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.
You can learn more about this by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is prasugrel similar to clopidogrel?
Yes, prasugrel is similar to clopidogrel (Plavix). They’re both antiplatelet drugs prescribed to prevent blood clots. They’re both typically taken with aspirin for 12 months or more after heart angioplasty (a procedure to open blocked blood vessels in the heart).
The two drugs also have differences. Prasugrel appears to be more effective than clopidogrel at stopping blood clots from forming. But prasugrel also has a higher risk of causing serious bleeding. Prasugrel carries a boxed warning about this risk. (For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for prasugrel” section.)
To find out more about how these two drugs compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I take aspirin with prasugrel?
Yes. In fact, people taking prasugrel should also take a daily aspirin. The drugmaker of prasugrel recommends 75–325 milligrams (mg) of aspirin daily while taking prasugrel. Your doctor will let you know what the right dose of aspirin is for you.
Talk with your doctor to find out more about taking aspirin and prasugrel together.
How does prasugrel work? And how long does it take to start working?
Prasugrel stops platelets from sticking together well. (Platelets are a type of blood cell that help your blood form clots.) If they can’t stick together well, they’re less likely to form blood clots.
Prasugrel usually starts working within an hour of taking the first dose. But it can take up to 5 days to see the maximum effect on blood clotting.
If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Side effects
Side effects of prasugrel
Prasugrel may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of prasugrel and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.
To learn more about prasugrel’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for prasugrel listed in the “Resources” section.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with some forms of prasugrel are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about prasugrel’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for prasugrel listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Prasugrel oral tablet’s mild side effects include:
- dizziness
- headache
- minor bleeding, such as a nosebleed
- bruising
- nausea
- mild allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for prasugrel” section.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of prasugrel are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about prasugrel’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for prasugrel listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
In general, prasugrel’s serious side effects include:
- slow heart rate or irregular heartbeat
- high blood pressure or low blood pressure
- liver problems
- low red blood cell counts
- low platelet counts
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (a blood clotting emergency)
- boxed warning: risk of serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding*
- severe allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for prasugrel” section.
Interactions and warnings
Interactions and warnings for prasugrel
Below, you’ll find information about prasugrel’s possible interactions and warnings.
Interactions of prasugrel
Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.
Before you take prasugrel, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:
- prescription or over-the-counter drugs
- vitamins, herbs, or supplements
To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for prasugrel” section below.
Warnings for prasugrel
Some people should not take prasugrel, and others should take it cautiously.
Boxed warning: Risk of serious bleeding
Prasugrel has a boxed warning about the risk of serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The risk of bleeding is highest when you first start taking prasugrel. It can also be higher for adults who:
- are age 75 years and older
- weigh less than 60 kilograms (132 pounds)
- have conditions that make bleeding more likely, such as liver disease, kidney disease, or recent surgery, trauma, or bleeding
- take other medications that increase the risk of bleeding, such as warfarin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Serious bleeding was commonly reported in studies of prasugrel. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize bleeding, especially internal bleeding. Symptoms may include:
- blood in the urine
- coughing up blood
- gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms such as:
- blood in the stool
- black, tar-like stool
- bleeding in the brain symptoms such as:
- severe headache
- blurry vision
- weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- dizziness or fainting
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
If you have any of these symptoms, immediately seek emergency medical care or call 911.
Due to the risk of serious bleeding, doctors are careful not to prescribe prasugrel to anyone who may have a higher risk of bleeding, such as anyone who:
- is actively bleeding (such as from a stomach ulcer or colonic polyp)
- has had a stroke or ministroke (TIA)
- is likely to have heart bypass surgery in the future
Prasugrel should be stopped at least 7 days before any type of surgery. But don’t stop taking prasugrel without talking with your doctor first. Doing so could increase the risk of heart attack and death.
To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other warnings
Prasugrel could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether prasugrel is a safe option for you.
Ask your doctor about specific warnings for prasugrel, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:
- current health, including any allergies to medications
- past health conditions or surgeries
Allergic reaction
Prasugrel can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to prasugrel or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe prasugrel. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
- swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
- swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems
If you have an allergic reaction to prasugrel, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Overdose of prasugrel
If you take prasugrel by mouth, you should not take more prasugrel than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve taken too much prasugrel, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and prasugrel
Information about prasugrel and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Prasugrel and pregnancy
It’s not known whether prasugrel should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Prasugrel and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether prasugrel should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Uses
Uses of prasugrel
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as prasugrel for certain conditions. Approved uses for prasugrel are described below.
Use for lowering risk of serious cardiovascular events
Doctors may prescribe prasugrel oral tablet to prevent blood clots. It’s used for this purpose in adults who have had a heart attack or unstable angina* and who have had angioplasty (a procedure to open blocked blood vessels). It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.
If your heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen, you may experience unstable angina or have a heart attack. This usually happens when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle become blocked. A blood clot is often the cause of the blockage. Angioplasty opens blood vessels by removing the blood clot. A stent (mesh tube) can help keep blood vessels open.
After angioplasty, prasugrel can help lower the risk of developing another blood clot. This lowers the chance of having a heart attack or other serious problem, such as a stroke or blood clot in the stent. It also decreases the risk of death from a blood clot.
Prasugrel is prescribed together with aspirin.
Doctors may not prescribe prasugrel oral tablet in certain situations, such as when you:
- are likely to need coronary artery bypass surgery
- have active bleeding
- have had a stroke or ministroke (TIA) in the past
* With unstable angina, heart symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath occur even when you’re resting.
Ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor
Let your doctor know if you have questions about prasugrel or would like more details about it.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How does prasugrel compare with other medications that could treat my condition?
- Am I at higher risk of side effects compared with other people?
- How should I take prasugrel?
- What’s the most important information I need to know about prasugrel?
Resources
Resources
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
- Levine G, et al. (2016). 2016 ACC/AHA Guideline Focused Update on Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000404
- Prasugrel tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/596c923d-db8d-4b96-bf31-52186a38c30d/spl-doc
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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