Clopitab 75: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Clopitab, Clopitab 75 mg, Clopitab 75 tablet, Clopidogrel 75 mg
Clopitab 75 is a prescription tablet containing 75 mg of clopidogrel, used to help prevent blood clots and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with heart or blood vessel disease. It belongs to the antiplatelet medicines. It is taken once a day only on a doctor's prescription, and must not be stopped without the doctor's advice. Because the blood clots less easily, bleeding is the main risk.
- Active ingredient
- Clopidogrel 75 mg
- Type of medicine
- Antiplatelet medicines
- Starts working in
- Its effect on platelets begins within hours of a dose; a doctor may sometimes give a larger first dose
- Effect lasts
- It is taken once a day; its effect on platelets lasts for days after the last dose
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Alcohol may add to the risk of stomach bleeding; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Not often recommended, but can be used if the doctor thinks it is needed; talk to your doctor
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Clopitab 75 used for?
- How does Clopitab 75 work?
- How to take Clopitab 75
- Side effects of Clopitab 75
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Clopitab 75
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Clopitab 75 used for?
Clopitab 75 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to help prevent blood clots in people with heart or blood vessel disease.
- Lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with conditions such as angina, a past heart attack, a past stroke or a mini-stroke (TIA), when a doctor judges it suitable
- Helping prevent blood clots in people who have had heart procedures, when a doctor prescribes it for this
How does Clopitab 75 work?
Platelets are small blood cells that stick together to start a clot. Clopidogrel blocks a receptor on platelets that responds to a chemical signal called ADP, so the platelets are less able to clump together. Blood clots form less easily in narrowed arteries, but bleeding also becomes more likely.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut and clopidogrel is absorbed into the blood. It can be taken with or without food.
The liver activates it
Clopidogrel is a pro-drug: the liver turns it into its active form, which is what acts on platelets.
It blocks the platelet receptor
The active form attaches to the ADP receptor on platelets and stops the signal that makes them sticky.
Platelets clump less
Platelets are less able to stick together, so clots are less likely to form in narrowed arteries. The effect lasts for the life of the affected platelets.
The body replaces the platelets
New platelets are made over several days. This is why the effect wears off slowly after stopping, and why the doctor should plan any stop.
How to take Clopitab 75
Take Clopitab 75 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
- Swallow the tablet whole with water, with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- If you are less than 12 hours late for a dose, take it when you remember. If it is more than 12 hours late, skip it and take the next dose at the usual time. Never take two doses together.
- Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to, because stopping raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
- Treatment may last a few weeks, months or longer, as your doctor decides.
Side effects of Clopitab 75
Most people take clopidogrel without serious problems. Bleeding and bruising are the most common effects, and a few effects need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Bleeding more easily: nosebleeds, bruising, heavier periods or cuts that are slow to stop bleeding
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Indigestion or heartburn
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Blood in urine or stools, or black, tar-like stools
- Vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like material, or coughing up blood. Get medical help immediately
- A nosebleed lasting more than 10 to 15 minutes
- A sudden severe headache with confusion, speech problems or weakness, or any head injury (possible bleeding in the brain). Get medical help immediately
- Yellow skin or eyes, or unusual tiredness or signs of infection
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or severe breathing difficulty (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Clopitab 75, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to clopidogrel or any ingredient of the tablet
- Active bleeding, such as a stomach ulcer or a bleed in the brain
- A history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
- A bleeding disorder such as haemophilia, or a past bleed in the brain
- Recent surgery or a serious injury
- Liver or kidney problems
- A past allergic reaction to clopidogrel or another medicine
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: talk to your doctor; do not stop it on your own
- Surgery or dental work: tell the surgeon or dentist that you take it, and do not stop without advice
Medicines and things that interact with Clopitab 75
Clopitab 75 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies and painkillers bought over the counter.
- Other blood thinners such as warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban and ticagrelor: more bleeding. Low-dose aspirin is sometimes prescribed with it on purpose
- Painkillers such as ibuprofen and high-dose aspirin: more bleeding; ask before using them. Paracetamol is generally fine
- Omeprazole and esomeprazole: they may reduce its effect; ask your doctor which stomach medicine suits you
- SSRI antidepressants such as citalopram
- Rifampicin, carbamazepine, efavirenz, rosuvastatin, pioglitazone and repaglinide
- St John's wort, ginkgo and other herbal products
If someone takes too much
Taking one or two extra tablets by mistake is unlikely to harm you, but get advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient clopidogrel is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Clopitab 75 contains clopidogrel only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Clopidogrel 75 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some products also contain other medicines, such as aspirin, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Clopidogrel is sold in different strengths and in combination tablets with other medicines such as aspirin. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Clopitab 75 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Clopidogrel is a prescription-only medicine. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice.
Why must I not stop Clopitab 75 suddenly?
Stopping can raise the risk of serious problems such as a heart attack or stroke, especially soon after a stent or heart attack. Treatment may last weeks, months or longer. Always talk to your doctor before stopping.
Is Clopitab 75 a blood thinner?
It is often called one, but it is an antiplatelet. It makes platelets less sticky so clots form less easily. It works differently from anticoagulants such as warfarin. Your doctor decides which type of medicine is suitable.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Clopitab 75?
If you are less than 12 hours late, take it when you remember. If more than 12 hours late, skip it and take the next dose at the usual time. Never take two doses together.
Can I take painkillers with Clopitab 75?
Paracetamol is generally fine. Ibuprofen and similar painkillers, and high-dose aspirin, increase the chance of bleeding, so ask your doctor or pharmacist before using them.
Can I take a stomach acid tablet with Clopitab 75?
Some acid medicines, such as omeprazole and esomeprazole, may reduce the effect of clopidogrel. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which one is suitable. Do not stop or change either medicine on your own.
What should I do before surgery or dental work?
Tell the surgeon or dentist that you take Clopitab 75. Do not stop it on your own, because stopping may raise the risk of a clot. The doctors involved will decide together what is safest for you.
What is the difference between Clopitab 75 and clopidogrel 75 mg?
Clopitab is a brand name, and clopidogrel is the medicine inside it. Generic clopidogrel 75 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching.
Sources
- Clopidogrel. NHS (UK)
- Who can and cannot take clopidogrel. NHS (UK)
- How and when to take clopidogrel. NHS (UK)
- Side effects of clopidogrel. NHS (UK)
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking clopidogrel. NHS (UK)
- Taking clopidogrel with other medicines and herbal supplements. NHS (UK)
- ATC/DDD Index: B01AC04 clopidogrel. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)