Key takeaways
Brilinta (ticagrelor) and Plavix (clopidogrel) are both blood thinners used to prevent heart attacks and strokes, but they have some key differences. Both Brilinta (ticagrelor) and Plavix (clopidogrel) are P2Y12 inhibitors, but Brilinta needs to be taken twice a day, while Plavix is taken once daily. Brilinta (ticagrelor) is known to work better than Plavix (clopidogrel) in preventing heart attacks and strokes for up to one year after a heart attack if you have plaque buildup in your blood vessels, but it also has a higher risk of causing serious bleeding. Plavix (clopidogrel) is available as a lower-cost generic, whereas Brilinta (ticagrelor) does not have a generic form at this time. Additionally, Brilinta (ticagrelor) can cause shortness of breath and should not be used if you have severe liver problems or a history of brain bleeds. On the other hand, Plavix (clopidogrel) has many interactions with other medications and might not work as well for people with certain genetic factors or those of East Asian descent. Both medications require careful monitoring for bleeding and should not be stopped suddenly without consulting your healthcare provider.
