Tricagrelor

[Jaybbb]

I am currently on Tricagrelor (Brilinta) 90MG for a stent. Wondering what type of side effects you experienced with it, did you live with these side effects, and the decision to switched to Clopidogrel (Plavix). Before going on Plavix, did your doctor check the CYP2C19 gene function to verify they do not have allele *2 or *3 variant which prevents full metabolizing of Plavix.

[Yogi1950s]

Hi Jaybbb

I was on Ticagrelor 90mg for 12 months after HA and Stents followed by Ticagrelor 60mg for a further 24 months.

Apart from bruising like a peach in a supermarket and every tiny scratch bleeding for ages I had no real side effects and so I just carried on taking it until it was time to stop.

All the best

Yogi

[july2020]

Hi

I was put on Tricagrelor post my bypass.

I suffer from sleep apnea and my central apneas went through the roof, (a central apnea is where you stop breathing and your airways are open as opposed to obstructed apnea where your airways close, the suggestion is your brain stops sending the signals to breathe until your O2 levels drop low enough for you start gasping for breath.)

The CPAP machine, that suffers in UK use, send stats back to sleep clinics so they can monitor and report back to licensing authorities who will revoke your driving license if you are not compliant, the rise in my apneas was dramatic enough for them to be alerted to the situation.

At the time this side effect was not on the medication information but had been raised enough times to have been researched and refuted by the manufacturer.

Long story short, my cardiologist switched me to clopidogrel but no tests were made. (this is the first I have heard about CYP2C19 gene function.)

The switch brought the Central Apneas back to normal levels.

On the anniversary of my discharge I stopped taking the clopidogrel as I was advised.

[Jaybbb in reply to july2020]

Thank you for your response july2020. Interesting that some (many?) doctors are not looking at the CYP219 gene function when they are prescribing clopidogrel. As we know, I am not a doctor, but perhaps a number of doctors are thinking that if a person has a problem with clopidogrel not metabolizing properly, meaning it is less than fully effective as a drug, that it will show up after prescribing in the blood lab work. There is a whole protocol that labels the anticipated effectiveness of this gene function on clopidogrel (Plavix) --ie "UM", "RM", "PM", etc. I am sure that a doctor is well aware of this if asked. Maybe the cost of the lab test in determining this is a factor. My concern is if I have a problem with Tricagrelor that I am currently on for 3 months with some side effects, if Clopidogrel is a good alternative based on a CYP219 gene test. I trust my cardiologist will know this and advise accordingly.

[RTCLP1 in reply to Jaybbb]

Can I ask what are your side effects?

[Jaybbb in reply to RTCLP1]

Ticagrelor: SOB, chest tightness and pain, ultra tired, dizziness, no bruising. My doctor has scheduled me for a TEE Test to determine if this is all related to the medications

[aardvark68]

Like Jbbb I was on Ticagrelor following a STEMI for a year with no side effects apart from more easily bruising. And I still have that issue now even after stopping the Ticagrelor and only taking baby aspirin.! At least I know it’s doing the job of keeping my blood thin.

[Velda1]

I was on it for a year after HA and 4 stents. I had a little breathlessness but nothing major. I bruised like a peach I was also on aspirin. `i only needed to be touched and I bruised, I could go to bed and next morning I would have bruises in places which I couldn't think how they got there......sleep kicking etc., After a year I came off which is normal practice and I don't bruise the same any more...within days of stopping it no new bruises appeared. Good luck

[costant]

Awful pill. I tried this after a stent my side effects were, I could hardly breath, I had a headache from hell I was so dizzy and drowsiness. I got mine changed to clopidogrel