Plavix helps to prevent blood clots. It reduces the chance of having a heart attack or a stroke in people who have already had a heart attack or a stroke.

Take Plavix tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Plavix can be taken with or without food.

After taking Plavix if you see the following: red or purple spots on the skin, black, tarry stools; blood from vomiting; blood in urine or stools; nosebleed; skin rash or itching (hives); stomach pain; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusually heavy menstrual bleeding; sudden weakness stop taling the medicine and seek medical attention immediately. Other less severe side effects are diarrhea; indigestion (heartburn); mild stomach upset. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your physician or pharmacist.

Before taking this medication tell your physician if you are taking aspirin; warfarin (Coumadin); heparin, ardeparin (Normiflo), dalteparin (Fragmin), danaparoid (Orgaran), enoxaparin (Lovenox), or tinzaparin (Innohep); or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Orudis, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), or tolmetin (Tolectin). The medicines listed above can cause bleeding, especially when taken with Plavix. Plavix may also interact with the following medications phenytoin (Dilantin); tamoxifen (Nolvadex); tolbutamide (Orinase); torsemide (Demadex ); and fluvastatin (Lescol).

Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a Plavix overdose are unknown but might include vomiting, difficulty breathing, blood in the vomit or stool, and exhaustion.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Plavix helps to prevent blood clots. It reduces the chance of having a heart attack or a stroke in people who have already had a heart attack or a stroke. Plavix can also decrease the chance of a heart attack or stroke in certain groups of people at high risk for these events.

Store Plavix at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) without first talking to your physician. Do not take Plavix if you have active bleeding anywhere in the body such as the stomach (ulcer) or in the head (type of stroke). Before taking this medication, tell your physician if you: have a bleeding or blood disorder, have a stomach or intestinal ulcer; have liver disease; or need to have surgery (including dental surgery). You may not be able to take Plavix, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above.