Key takeaways:
Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a prescription blood thinner. It works by blocking platelets from sticking together to form blood clots. Brilinta is typically prescribed after you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, or if you’re at high risk for them.
Brilinta starts working within 2 hours of your first dose. You’ll take it twice a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart. How long you take Brilinta depends on why you’re taking it. But for many people, it’s a lifetime medication.
There are ways to save on Brilinta. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get Brilinta for as little as $5 per month. A lower-cost generic is also available.
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If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, or you’re at high risk for one, your prescriber may recommend a prescription blood thinner. Brilinta (ticagrelor) is one option. 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 Brilinta isn’t approved for everyone who’s at risk for blood clots. Brilinta uses include if you:
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)
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 prescriber tells you to.
3. How long does it take Brilinta to start working?
Brilinta starts working within 2 hours of your first dose. It works faster than Plavix (clopidogrel) and other antiplatelet medication) because it doesn’t take extra time to build up in your system. 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 prescriber 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. You should separate your doses by about 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 aspirin 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.
Brilinta side effects: Find out more about what you can expect taking Brilinta (ticagrelor), including the most common side effects and how to manage them.
Brilinta and blood donation: Learn how taking Brilinta affects your ability to donate blood, plasma, or platelets.
Comparing antiplatelet medications: Explore how Brilinta and Plavix (clopidogrel) stack up side by side.
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 or follow a consistent diet when taking blood thinners. But that’s mainly a concern with warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), not Brilinta.
That being said, large amounts of grapefruit and grapefruit juice can raise Brilinta levels in your body. This can increase your risk of bleeding and other side effects.
There are also certain herbs and supplements that could raise your bleeding risk. These include:
Garlic
Ginger
Ginseng
Vitamin E
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 prescriber before taking any herbal supplements with Brilinta.
It’s also 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 prescriber. There may be other reasons they want you to avoid alcohol.
There aren’t any other foods you should avoid when taking Brilinta. But sticking to a heart-healthy diet that’s low in saturated fats and processed foods can help you recover from a heart attack and may help prevent future heart problems.
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 1 month (30 days) after having a stroke or transient ischemic attack. And it’s recommended to take Brilinta for 6 to 12 months after having a stent placed or after a heart attack.
There are also certain scenarios where your prescriber may switch you to Plavix (clopidogrel) after 1 month of Brilinta to reduce your bleeding risk. But for many people, Brilinta is a lifelong medication.
If you stop taking Brilinta, your risk for blood clots will go up. So you shouldn’t stop taking it on your own. It’s generally a well tolerated medication. But if you’re having bothersome Brilinta side effects, such as nausea or dizziness, or the twice-daily dosing is a problem for you, talk to your prescriber 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. Still, Brilinta wears off faster than Plavix , Effient (prasugrel), and aspirin, which usually take up to 7 days to clear.
The time it takes Brilinta to clear is an important consideration if you have an upcoming surgery. You’ll likely need to stop taking it before any procedure that carries a risk of bleeding. Your prescriber will give you detailed instructions on when to stop and restart Brilinta. Be sure to follow their instructions carefully.
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 $ 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
Yes, Brilinta and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) are commonly prescribed together after a heart attack. Brilinta helps prevent blood clots. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that lowers blood pressure and helps control your heart rate. There are no major interactions between the two medications, but they do have some overlapping side effects. Both Brilinta and metoprolol can cause a slowed or irregular heartbeat. If you experience sudden dizziness, feel more tired than usual, or feel your heart skipping beats while taking these medications, seek emergency care and let your prescriber know.
Yes, but you should only switch from Brilinta to Plavix if your prescriber tells you to. Both are effective antiplatelet medications, but there are some differences between them. Brilinta works faster, but Plavix has a lower risk of bleeding. In some cases, your prescriber may switch you from Brilinta to Plavix after the first month of treatment to lower your bleeding risk. But don’t switch or stop taking Brilinta on your own, as this may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re having surgery, you may need to stop taking Brilinta to prevent extra bleeding. In most cases, it’s best to stop Brilinta at least 5 days before your procedure. Your prescriber will give you more detailed directions on when to stop and restart Brilinta based on your specific situation. But do this only under your prescriber’s guidance, since stopping Brilinta without supervision can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Yes, Brilinta and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) are commonly prescribed together after a heart attack. Brilinta helps prevent blood clots. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that lowers blood pressure and helps control your heart rate. There are no major interactions between the two medications, but they do have some overlapping side effects. Both Brilinta and metoprolol can cause a slowed or irregular heartbeat. If you experience sudden dizziness, feel more tired than usual, or feel your heart skipping beats while taking these medications, seek emergency care and let your prescriber know.
Yes, but you should only switch from Brilinta to Plavix if your prescriber tells you to. Both are effective antiplatelet medications, but there are some differences between them. Brilinta works faster, but Plavix has a lower risk of bleeding. In some cases, your prescriber may switch you from Brilinta to Plavix after the first month of treatment to lower your bleeding risk. But don’t switch or stop taking Brilinta on your own, as this may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re having surgery, you may need to stop taking Brilinta to prevent extra bleeding. In most cases, it’s best to stop Brilinta at least 5 days before your procedure. Your prescriber will give you more detailed directions on when to stop and restart Brilinta based on your specific situation. But do this only under your prescriber’s guidance, since stopping Brilinta without supervision can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
The bottom line
Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a prescription blood thinner. It helps prevent blood clots by stopping platelets from sticking together to form them. Brilinta is often prescribed after a heart attack or stroke or if you’re at a high risk of these health events. Brilinta starts working within 2 hours of your first dose. And you’ll need to take it twice a day, with doses spaced about 8 to 12 hours apart.
You don’t have to follow a special diet while taking Brilinta. But it’s best to avoid alcohol and large amounts of grapefruit products with it, as they can raise your bleeding risk. It’s also best to avoid some herbal supplements unless your prescriber OKs them. Some people may only take Brilinta for 1 to 12 months, but it’s a lifetime medication for many people. So you shouldn’t stop taking it unless your prescriber tells you to.
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