Plavix Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Plavix (clopidogrel) is an antiplatelet medication. It’s used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people at a higher risk for experiencing them. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe it for other heart-related health conditions.
A common Plavix dosage for adults is 1 tablet (75 mg) by mouth once daily. But before you start taking this dose, you may take one higher dose at a hospital. This will help the medication reach adequate levels in your body.
Plavix is available as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save over 95% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
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Table of contents
When you have a cut or scrape, your blood naturally clots to stop the bleeding. But when clots form inside your blood vessels, they can block normal blood flow. This can lead to a number of health complications, including a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re at a high risk for heart complications like these, your healthcare provider may recommend taking a blood thinner. These medications help prevent unwanted clots. And depending on your health background and insurance coverage status, you may have several options to choose from.
Plavix (clopidogrel) is one popular blood thinner. It’s an antiplatelet drug that’s FDA approved to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people at higher risk for them. It’s useful for many people, but taking an optimal dosage helps maximize its benefits. Here, we’ll review recommended Plavix dosages for adults.
What’s the typical Plavix dosage for adults?
The typical Plavix dosage for adults is 1 tablet (75 mg) by mouth once daily. You can take each dose with or without food.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe aspirin, another antiplatelet medication, with Plavix. Aspirin works with Plavix to lower your risk for clotting even more. You may hear your healthcare provider refer to this as dual antiplatelet therapy.
Your first dose of Plavix
Depending on what you’re taking Plavix for, you may need to take one higher dose before you start taking a 75 mg tablet once daily.
This initial dose is called a loading dose. It helps to quickly get enough of the medication in your body for it to start taking effect, such as during a heart attack. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe a loading dose if you’re getting a percutaneous coronary intervention, which involves placing a stent that opens up clogged blood vessels.
A common Plavix loading dose is one or two 300 mg tablets while you’re still in the hospital.
Your following doses of Plavix
Plavix isn’t a one-and-done treatment. After a loading dose, you’ll take it once daily for a set period of time. How long you’ll take it depends on what you’re taking it for. It also depends on your age and other medical conditions you have.
For instance, after a stroke or transient ischemic attack, you may only need Plavix for 21 days (3 weeks). But if you had a stent placed, you may need to take Plavix for 1 year or more. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long you should continue taking Plavix.
Are there any Plavix dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
Not typically. Dosage adjustments with Plavix aren’t common, even if you have liver or kidney problems. Older adults shouldn’t need any dosage adjustments, either.
However, if you have an upcoming surgery, make sure your surgeon knows you’re taking Plavix. They may want you to stop taking Plavix temporarily before and after surgery to prevent excessive bleeding. If this is the case, they can tell you more details on when you should stop and restart the medication.
Drug interactions
Surgical procedures aren’t the only situation that can affect your Plavix dosage. Certain drug interactions can also be an issue. Some interactions may mean you need lower dosage of the interacting medication. And other times you should avoid it altogether.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil), can raise your risk for bleeding. And proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec), can prevent Plavix from working effectively. Your healthcare provider may want you to avoid combining these over-the-counter products with Plavix.
Prescription-only medications can interact with Plavix, too. Other blood thinners, like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and apixaban (Eliquis), increase your risk for bleeding when they’re taken in combination. Your provider will decide if it’s safe for you to take Plavix alongside another blood thinner.
What happens if you miss a dose of Plavix?
If you miss a dose of Plavix, take the missed dose 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. Don’t take an extra dose to make up for the missed one.
Don’t feel bad, either. Everyone forgets to take their medication on occasion. But if you're frequently having trouble remembering to take your medication, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can provide tips and strategies to keep you on track based on your daily routine.
If you have a smartphone, you might try using the Medicine Cabinet feature within the GoodRx app to keep track of when you should be taking your medications. Many other medication reminder apps are also available.
What should you do if you take too much Plavix?
Excessive or accidental bleeding is a possibility when you take Plavix — even at prescribed doses. This stems from how it works to prevent heart attacks and strokes. But it’s more likely to happen if you take too much Plavix.
The risk of excessive bleeding is more likely with larger doses of Plavix, or if you’re taking it with certain interacting medications. However, it’s still possible with just one or two extra doses. Symptoms of bleeding from a Plavix overdose may include:
Bloody or black stools
Bloody urine
Vomit that looks bloody or resembles coffee grounds
Unusual or prolonged bleeding
If you think you took too much Plavix, contact your healthcare provider right away. This is a smart precaution even if you’re feeling normal. If they’re not available, another option is calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.
If you think you're actively experiencing a bleed, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room — especially if your symptoms feel severe. Don’t try to treat a Plavix overdose on your own.
How to save on Plavix
There are ways to save on Plavix, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 95% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic clopidogrel’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.50 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
Plavix (clopidogrel) is an antiplatelet medication used to prevent blood clots. The recommended Plavix dosage is 1 tablet (75 mg) by mouth once daily. You may also receive a higher dosage once while you’re still in the hospital. How long you should keep taking Plavix depends on your situation. Never stop taking Plavix until your healthcare provider says it’s OK to do so.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Heart Association. (2023). What is dual antiplatelet therapy?
Lawton, J. S., et al. (2022). 2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI guideline for coronary artery revascularization: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Mauri, L., et al. (2015). Twelve or 30 months of dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stents. New England Journal of Medicine.
McDermott, M. (2021). Short-term dual antiplatelet therapy after ischemic stroke. American College of Cardiology.
Poison Control. (n.d.). Homepage.
Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC. (2022). PLAVIX- clopidogrel tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
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