Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Clopidogrel will not work properly if you take less of it than directed. Taking more clopidogrel than directed may increase the chance of serious side effects without increasing the helpful effects.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor about anything you do not understand.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

If you are also taking omeprazole (Prilosec®) or esomeprazole (Nexium®), do not use it at the same time that you take this medicine. Talk with your doctor about using a different antacid.

Your doctor may tell you to take aspirin while you are using clopidogrel. Do not change the dose or stop taking the aspirin without talking to your doctor first.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For prevention of heart attack or stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS):
      • Adults—At first, 300 milligrams (mg) taken as a single dose. Then, a maintenance dose of 75 mg once a day. Your doctor may also give you aspirin together with this medicine.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For prevention of heart attack or stroke in patients with a history heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease:
      • Adults—75 milligrams (mg) once a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.