Antiplatelets, clopidogrel - Interactions with other medicines

When two or more medicines are taken at the same time, the effects of one of the medicines can alter the effects of the other. This is known as a drug-drug interaction. Clopidogrel can interact with other medicines.

Some of the more common interactions are listed below. However, this is not a complete list.

Increased risk of bleeding

There is an increased risk of bleeding when clopidogrel is taken with some other medications, including:

• aspirin
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) – such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen
• dipyridamole – another type of antiplatelet
• warfarin – anticoagulant medicine that prevents your blood from clotting
• newer types of antiplatelet medicines – such as prasugrel, ticagrelo and cangrelor
• newer types of antithrombotic medicines – such as ticlopidine or GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, tirofiban, eptifibatide, ximelgatran and dabigatran)

Some medications may also prevent clopidrogrel from working as well as it should, or interact in other ways. For example, if you're taking medication for stomach acid problems, your dose may need to be altered.

If you want to check your medicines are safe to take with clopidogrel, ask your doctor or pharmacist or read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Interactions with food and alcohol

There are no known interactions between clopidogrel and food, although it is a good idea to take clopidogrel with or after food, to help reduce irritation to the stomach.

It may be safe to drink alcohol with clopidogrel as long as you:

• check the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine
• take the correct dose of your medicine
• do not drink more than the maximum recommended daily limits of alcohol

Taking more than the recommended dose increases the risk of irritation to your stomach lining. This risk is increased further if you drink more than the recommended daily limits and may lead to bleeding from the stomach.