What Is Brilinta Used For? Plus, 6 More Brilinta FAQs

If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, or you’re at high risk for one, your healthcare provider may recommend you take a prescription blood thinner. Brilinta (ticagrelor) is one option — it helps prevent unwanted blood clots that can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

But what is Brilinta used for, and what’s the best way to take it? Let’s take a closer look at the answers to these and more common questions about Brilinta.

1. What is Brilinta used for?

Brilinta is an antiplatelet medication. It’s a specific type of blood thinner that prevents unwanted blood clots. But it’s not approved for everyone who’s at risk for blood clots. Your provider may prescribe Brilinta if you:

• Have acute coronary syndrome

• Have had a heart attack

• Have had an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (strokes caused by a clot that blocks blood flow)

• Have coronary artery disease with a high risk of heart attack or stroke

• Have a stent (a tube placed in a blood vessel to help keep it open for blood flow)

Promotion disclosure

Brilinta

Avg retail price

$613.46(Save 27.53%)

GoodRx discount

$444.55

Compare all prices

Keep in mind: There are other reasons you may need to take a blood thinner, such as after hip surgery or if you have an irregular heartbeat. But Brilinta isn’t approved to prevent blood clots for those reasons.

2. How does Brilinta work?

As mentioned, Brilinta is an antiplatelet medication. It works by stopping platelets — a type of blood cell — from being activated to stick together and form blood clots.

Blood clotting is a natural process that usually helps your body stop bleeding after an injury. But if blood clots form when there’s not an injury, they can cause serious problems, such as a heart attack or stroke. So, preventing unwanted clots helps lower the risk of these problems.

In most cases, Brilinta works best when it’s combined with low-dose aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg). But you shouldn’t take both low-dose aspirin and Brilinta unless your healthcare provider tells you to. 

3. How long does it take Brilinta to start working?

Brilinta starts working within 2 hours of your first dose. It doesn’t take time to build up in your system the way some other blood thinners do. And it doesn’t require frequent blood tests to ensure it’s working, either.

Sometimes, you’ll start with a loading dose of Brilinta to help it start working faster. This is a one-time dose that’s higher than your normal daily dose. Your provider will let you know if they recommend taking a loading dose of Brilinta. 

4. When is the best time to take Brilinta?

You’ll take Brilinta twice a day, with or without food. There’s no set time to take it, but it will work best if you’re consistent with when you take it. It’s best to separate your doses by 8 to 12 hours, so try to choose times that work well for your daily schedule.

If you’re taking low-dose aspirin with Brilinta, you’ll only take it once a day — not with each dose of Brilinta. So it’s a good idea to choose which dose of Brilinta you’ll take your aspirin with and be consistent with that, too.

If you miss a dose of Brilinta, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. You’ll still be protected against blood clots, even if you miss a dose by mistake. So you shouldn’t take two doses to make up for one you missed.

If you’re having trouble remembering to take Brilinta, try working it into your daily routine. You can also use reminder apps or alarms on your cellphone to help. 

5. Should you avoid certain foods when taking Brilinta?

You may have heard that you should avoid certain foods when taking blood thinners, but that doesn’t apply to Brilinta. There aren’t any foods you should avoid while you’re taking it. But sticking to a heart-healthy meal plan that’s low in saturated fats and processed foods is still a good idea. 

That being said, there are certain herbs, supplements, and spices that could raise your bleeding risk. These include:

• Cayenne pepper

• Garlic

• Ginger

• Grapeseed oil

• Turmeric

• Vitamin E

• St John’s wort

• Ginkgo biloba

It’s unlikely for these to be an issue if you use them in small amounts to season your food. But consuming a large amount or taking any of these in supplement form could cause a problem. So, it’s best to check with your provider before taking any herbal supplements with Brilinta. 

Some other medications like blood thinners and NSAIDs can also interact with Brilinta. So, review your entire medication list with your provider, not just your supplements.

Good to know: It’s a good idea to limit your alcohol intake while you’re taking Brilinta. Alcohol can raise your risk of serious bleeding events. A moderate amount of alcohol (1 or 2 drinks in a day) is likely OK now and then. But you should confirm this with your provider. There may be other reasons they want you to avoid alcohol.   

6. How long do you need to take Brilinta?

How long you’ll take Brilinta depends on why you’re taking it. You may only need to take Brilinta for 6 to 12 months in some cases, such as after having a stent placed or after a heart attack. But for many people, Brilinta is a lifelong medication and it is generally well tolerated.

If you stop taking Brilinta, your risk for blood clots will go up. So you shouldn't stop taking it on your own. If you’re having bothersome side effects, such as nausea, dizziness or the twice-daily dosing is a problem for you, talk to your provider about other options. They can help you safely switch from Brilinta to another treatment option if it’s OK for you to do so.

7. How long does Brilinta stay in your system after you stop

Brilinta is cleared from your system pretty quickly. It takes about 2 days for most of it to be removed from the body after your last dose. But it can still take 4 to 5 days for your platelets to return to normal after you stop taking Brilinta. 

If you’re having surgery, you may need to stop taking Brilinta to prevent extra bleeding. It’s best to stop Brilinta 5 days before your procedure. Your provider will give you more detailed directions on when to stop and restart Brilinta in this case. 

How to save on Brilinta

There are ways to save on Brilinta, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

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

• 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.

Why trust our experts?

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:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts