Key takeaways:
Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a blood thinner that treats and prevents unwanted blood clots. If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, you’ll likely start with a one-time Brilinta dosage of 180 mg. Then you’ll take 90 mg of Brilinta twice a day.
If you’re living with coronary artery disease, the recommended Brilinta dosage is 60 mg twice a day to help prevent a heart attack or stroke from occurring.
It’s usually recommended to take a low-dose aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg) once a day along with Brilinta. Your prescriber will let you know if this applies to you.
Brilinta is available as brand name medication as well as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on the cost of your prescription.
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Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a prescription blood thinner used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. It works by stopping platelets (a type of blood cell) from sticking together and forming unwanted blood clots. This is why Brilinta is considered an antiplatelet medication.
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.
What’s the typical Brilinta dosage for adults?
The recommended Brilinta dosage depends on why you’re taking it. In general, 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.
Below, we’ll review the specific Brilinta dosages based on the health condition you’re treating. Keep in mind that these dosages aren’t always set in stone. Your prescriber 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 prescriber will let you know if you should add a daily 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, the recommended Brilinta dosage starts with a one-time loading dose of 180 mg, followed by a 90 mg dose 6 to 12 hours later. After that, the recommended Brilinta dosage is 90 mg twice daily. After 12 months (1 year), your prescriber may lower your dose to 60 mg twice daily.
Coronary artery disease with no prior stroke or heart attack
Brilinta is also prescribed 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 in turn 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. You don’t typically need a loading dose.
Acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack
Your prescriber may recommend Brilinta to prevent new strokes if you’ve had a recent ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by blocked blood flow) or transient ischemic attack (also called a ministroke).
The recommended Brilinta dosage if you’ve had a stroke or ministroke starts with a one-time loading dose of 180 mg, taken along with 300 mg to 325 mg of aspirin. You’ll then start taking 90 mg of Brilinta twice daily (starting 6 to 12 hours after your loading dose) 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 to take it by mouth at about the same times every day, typically about 8 to 12 hours apart. You can take Brilinta with or without food, but taking it with food can help reduce or prevent nausea.
How does Brilinta work? Read pharmacist answers to this and more commonly asked questions about Brilinta (ticagrelor).
Brilinta interactions: Learn what medications and other substances can interact with Brilinta to avoid an unwanted issue while taking it.
Antiplatelets vs. anticoagulants: Here’s what to know about the differences between these two types of blood thinner medications.
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 a small amount of water, and drink it right away. Then refill the glass with water, stir, and drink again. Let your prescriber 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 prescriber for guidance. 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 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.
But 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 team 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 available as both a brand-name medication as well as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you find ways to save, including patient assistance programs and copay savings cards.
Save with GoodRx. Generic ticagrelor’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $32.51 with a free GoodRx discount.
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 brand-name Brilinta using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
Headaches aren’t a common Brilinta side effect. Though, experiencing an occasional mild headache is generally common. In most cases, you can manage a headache on your own at home. But if you’re taking Brillinta, it’s best to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), to treat your headache. NSAIDs can increase your bleeding risk if you take them with Brilinta. A sudden, severe headache can also be a symptom of a stroke. If you experience this along with vision changes or numbness, seek emergency medical care right away.
How long you take Briinta depends on what you’re taking it for. After an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, you’ll typically take Brilinta for up to 30 days. If you have a stent placed after a heart attack, you’ll typically take Brilinta for 6 to 12 months. In other cases, Brilinta may be a lifelong medication. Your prescriber can answer any questions you have about how long you can expect to take Brilinta.
Brilinta doesn’t require that you follow a specific diet. This is a consideration for those taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) — another blood thinner — since it’s affected by vitamin K in your diet. That being said, very large amounts of garlic, ginger, or dark chocolate could raise your bleeding risk while taking Brilinta. But these foods are typically fine to consume in moderate amounts.
Headaches aren’t a common Brilinta side effect. Though, experiencing an occasional mild headache is generally common. In most cases, you can manage a headache on your own at home. But if you’re taking Brillinta, it’s best to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), to treat your headache. NSAIDs can increase your bleeding risk if you take them with Brilinta. A sudden, severe headache can also be a symptom of a stroke. If you experience this along with vision changes or numbness, seek emergency medical care right away.
How long you take Briinta depends on what you’re taking it for. After an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, you’ll typically take Brilinta for up to 30 days. If you have a stent placed after a heart attack, you’ll typically take Brilinta for 6 to 12 months. In other cases, Brilinta may be a lifelong medication. Your prescriber can answer any questions you have about how long you can expect to take Brilinta.
Brilinta doesn’t require that you follow a specific diet. This is a consideration for those taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) — another blood thinner — since it’s affected by vitamin K in your diet. That being said, very large amounts of garlic, ginger, or dark chocolate could raise your bleeding risk while taking Brilinta. But these foods are typically fine to consume in moderate amounts.
The bottom line
Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a prescription blood thinner that treats and prevents heart attacks and strokes due to unwanted blood clots. If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, you’ll likely start with a one-time Brilinta dosage of 180 mg, followed by 90 mg twice a day thereafter. If you’re living with coronary artery disease, the recommended Brilinta dosage is 60 mg twice a day to help prevent a heart attack or stroke from happening. In most cases, you’ll also take a daily low-dose aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg) along with Brilinta.
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References
AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program. (n.d.). Medications that are included in the AZ&Me program.
Cardinal Health 107. (2024). Brilinta- ticagrelor tablet [package insert].
Chandra, R., et al. (2021). Ticagrelor use in stroke patients: Past, present, and future. Vascular Health and Risk Management.
MedlinePlus. (2025). Ticagrelor.
Waldron, B., et al. (2013). Natural supplements, herbs, vitamins and food: Do some prevent blood clots? Clot Connect.
