Brilinta (Ticagrelor) Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a prescription blood thinner used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Brilinta is considered an antiplatelet medication. It works by stopping certain cells in your blood (platelets) from sticking together and forming unwanted blood clots.

Brilinta treats and prevents clots if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke. It’s also prescribed to prevent clots in people at high risk for these events, such as those with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Below we’ll review the recommended Brilinta dosages along with tips for taking it safely. Brilinta isn’t approved for children, so the dosages discussed are for adults only.

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What’s the typical Brilinta dosage for adults?

The recommended Brilinta dosage depends on why you’re taking it. You can take Brilinta with or without food, and in most cases, you’ll take it twice a day. Sometimes, you’ll start with a loading dose of Brilinta. This is a one-time dose that’s higher than your normal daily dose. It helps Brilinta start working faster in your body.

Keep in mind that these dosages aren’t always set in stone. Your healthcare provider will use many factors to decide on the right Brilinta dosage for you. So be sure to follow their instructions.

Good to know: It’s typically recommended to take low-dose aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg) once daily if you’re taking Brilinta. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you should add low-dose aspirin to your medication regimen.

Acute coronary syndrome or history of heart attack

If you have a history of heart attack(s), or if you’ve recently had one, you’ll likely start taking Brilinta with a one-time loading dose of 180 mg. After that, the recommended Brilinta dosage is 90 mg twice daily. After 12 months, your dose may be lowered to 60 mg twice daily.

Coronary artery disease with no prior stroke or heart attack

Brilinta can be used to prevent a first-time heart attack or stroke if you have CAD. With CAD, plaque can build up in your blood vessels. This build-up can lead to blood clots, which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Brilinta prevents this from happening.

The recommended Brilinta dosage for people with CAD and no prior stroke or heart attack history is 60 mg by mouth twice daily. No loading dose is needed.

Acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack

Your healthcare provider may recommend Brilinta to prevent new strokes if you’ve had a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack (also called a “mini-stroke”).

The recommended Brilinta dosage if you’ve had a stroke or mini-stroke starts with a one-time loading dose of 180 mg, taken along with 300 mg to 325 mg of aspirin. You’ll then take 90 mg of Brilinta twice daily for up to 30 days with a daily low-dose aspirin.

What is the best way to take Brilinta?

Brilinta is available in 60 mg or 90 mg oral tablets. It’s best taken by mouth with or without food.

It’s OK to crush Brilinta if you’re unable to swallow tablets. Just crush the tablets (the back of a spoon works well for this), mix the powder with water, and drink it right away. Then refill the glass with water, stir, and drink again. Let your healthcare provider know if you plan to take Brilinta this way.

What happens if you miss a dose of Brilinta?

If you miss a dose of Brilinta, skip it and take your next dose at the usual time. You shouldn’t take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.

If you miss more than one dose, reach out to your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can help you get back on track with your medication.

Pharmacist tip: Try to time your Brilinta doses with things you do every day. If you take Brilinta as part of your daily routine (like with breakfast and supper), it might help you remember to take it regularly. Medication reminder apps are also a useful tool to consider.

What should you do if you take too much Brilinta?

It’s unlikely to cause you harm if you accidentally take an extra dose of Brilinta. But you might have a higher risk of side effects, such as bleeding from your gums or shortness of breath.

Large amounts of Brilinta can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, which can be fatal if untreated. Nausea, vomiting, and an irregular heartbeat can also happen. If you or someone you know has taken too much Brilinta, contact your healthcare provider or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If you notice bleeding that won’t stop, or blood in your urine or stool, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.

How to save on Brilinta

There are ways to save on Brilinta, which is currently only available as a brand-name medication. The generic form of Brilinta, ticagrelor, was FDA approved but isn’t currently available due to patent issues.

GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your Brilinta prescription.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Brilinta’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $5 per month for Brilinta using a savings card from the manufacturer.

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Written by:

Justin DeFlorian, PharmD, BCPS

Justin DeFlorian, PharmD, BCPS, is a board-certified clinical pharmacist. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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