Brilinta (Ticagrelor) is used along with aspirin to prevent serious or life-threatening problems with the heart and blood vessels in people who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain. It is also used to prevent blood clots from forming in people with coronary stents (metal tubes surgically placed in clogged blood vessels to improve blood flow) who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain. Ticagrelor is in a class of medications called antiplatelet medications. It works by preventing platelets (a type of blood cell) from collecting and forming clots that may cause a heart attack or stroke.

Ticagrelor comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food two times a day. Take ticagrelor at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ticagrelor exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you are unable to swallow ticagrelor tablets, you may crush the tablet and mix it with water. Drink the mixture immediately, then refill the glass with water and stir and again drink the mixture immediately. If you have a nasogastric (NG) tube, your doctor or pharmacist will explain how to prepare ticagrelor to give through an NG tube. Ticagrelor will help prevent serious problems with your heart and blood vessels only as long as you take the medication. Continue to take ticagrelor even if you feel well. Do not stop taking ticagrelor without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking ticagrelor, there is a higher risk that you may have a heart attack or stroke. If you have a stent, there is also a higher risk that you could develop a blood clot in the stent if you stop taking ticagrelor too soon.

Before taking ticagrelor,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ticagrelor, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in ticagrelor tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, in PrevPak) and telithromycin (Ketek); antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), cholesterol-lowering medications such as lovastatin (Altoprev, in Advicor) and simvastatin (Zocor, in Simcor, in Vytorin); and any other medications not listed here. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any type of lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways) or asthma.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking ticagrelor, call your doctor.

Ticagrelor may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dizziness
• nausea

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• shortness of breath that occurs while you are at rest, after a small amount of exercise, or after any physical activity
• chest pain
• fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat

Ticagrelor may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Q: Why is Brilinta prescribed?

A: Brilinta is used together with aspirin to lower your risk of having a stroke, serious heart problems, or death after you've had a heart attack or severe chest pain (angina).

Q: Does Brilinta have any other uses?

A: It is also used to prevent blood clots in people that have had a stent placed in their heart.

Q: Does Brilinta have a generic alternative?

A: Currently, there is no generic for Brilinta available.

Q: Are there any known drugs that interact with Brilinta?

A: Many drugs (including some over-the-counter medicines and herbal products) can cause serious medical problems if you take them with Brilinta. It is very important to tell your doctor about all the medicines you have recently used.

Q: What if I miss a dose of Brilinta?

A: Skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Q: How should I store this medication?

A: Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).