Brilinta (Ticagrelor)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Brilinta Used For?
Brilinta contains ticagrelor and belongs to a group of medicines called anti-platelet medicines. It helps prevent blood clots that can cause serious heart problems.
Primary Uses
Brilinta is used for preventing heart attacks and unstable angina (chest pain that is not well controlled). You may have been prescribed this medicine because you have had a heart attack or unstable angina.
How It Works
Platelets are very small cells in your blood that help stop bleeding by clumping together to form blood clots. However, clots can also form inside damaged blood vessels, which can be dangerous. Brilinta helps stop the clumping of platelets, reducing the chance of blood clots forming that could block blood vessels and cause heart attacks, chest pain, or strokes.
Good to know: There is no evidence that Brilinta is addictive.
How to Take Brilinta
Follow all directions given by your doctor carefully. Take your doses at around the same time every day for the best effect.
Dosage Instructions
The starting dose is two tablets at the same time, usually given in the hospital. After that, the usual dose is one tablet twice a day (for example, one in the morning and one in the evening). It doesn’t matter whether you take Brilinta with food or on an empty stomach. Your doctor will usually also tell you to take acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), typically 100 mg but may vary between 75-150 mg.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss your dose at the usual time, take your next dose as normal. Then go back to taking it as you would normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Shortness of breath (very common, affects more than 1 in 10 people)
- Bruising
- Nosebleed
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Constipation, diarrhea, or indigestion
- Feeling sick
- Rash
- Inflamed stomach (gastritis)
- Tingling feeling
- Fainting
- Slow and/or irregular heart rate
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of stroke: sudden numbness or weakness of arm, leg, or face (especially one side), sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding, sudden difficulty walking or loss of balance, sudden dizziness or severe headache
- Signs of bleeding: blood in urine, black stools or blood in stools, excessive bleeding after surgery or from cuts
- Signs of blood clotting: fever and purplish spots on skin or mouth, with or without yellowing of skin or eyes, unexplained extreme tiredness or confusion
- Signs of serious allergic reaction: chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, severe skin reactions
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Brilinta should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Brilinta
Do not take Brilinta if you are allergic to ticagrelor or any ingredients; have bleeding problems such as stomach or gut bleeding from an ulcer; have moderate to severe liver disease; have had a stroke caused by brain bleeding or history of brain bleeding; or are taking ketoconazole, clarithromycin, nefazodone, ritonavir, or atazanavir.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have increased bleeding risk due to recent serious injury, recent surgery (including dental work), recent stomach or gut bleeding, blood clotting conditions, asthma or lung problems, upcoming surgery, high uric acid, low heart rate, or any other medical conditions.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Brilinta is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Surgery Warning: Tell your doctor if you are due to have any surgery (including dental work) as you may need to stop taking Brilinta temporarily due to increased bleeding risk.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Brilinta and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.
- Rosuvastatin or more than 40 mg daily of simvastatin (cholesterol medicines)
- Rifampin (antibiotic)
- Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital (seizure medicines)
- Dexamethasone (anti-inflammatory)
- Digoxin (heart failure medicine)
- Cyclosporin (immune system medicine)
- Quinidine and diltiazem (heart rhythm medicines)
- Blood thinners like aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, prasugrel
- Clot-dissolvers like streptokinase and tenecteplase
- NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen
- SSRIs like paroxetine, sertraline, and citalopram
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful when driving or operating machinery while taking Brilinta.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Brilinta is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, since you are being treated for heart attack or unstable angina, you may experience dizziness and confusion. If you have these symptoms, be cautious while driving or using machines.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Brilinta, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort. Taking too many tablets may increase your risk of bleeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it doesn’t matter whether you take Brilinta with food or on an empty stomach.
No, there is no evidence that Brilinta is addictive.
Do not stop taking Brilinta without talking to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly may increase your chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot forming. The benefits of Brilinta are based on taking it continuously as prescribed.
If you miss your dose at the usual time, take your next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Then continue taking it as you normally would.
You should take Brilinta for as long as your doctor tells you to. Take it for as long as your doctor keeps prescribing it.
Tell your doctor about all medical conditions, especially bleeding problems, liver disease, recent surgery, asthma or lung problems, and all medicines you are taking including vitamins and supplements.
Yes, if you have trouble swallowing the film-coated tablets, you can crush them to a fine powder and mix with water. For orodispersible tablets, place on your tongue and let it disintegrate, then swallow with or without water.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.