Effient (Prasugrel) belongs to the class of medications called platelet aggregation inhibitors or antiplatelets. It is used in addition to acetylsalicylic acid (Asa) to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other circulation problems in people who have had severe chest pain or a Heart Attack and have been treated with a procedure called angioplasty, also called balloon angioplasty.

Normally, platelets help the blood to clot when needed, such as after an injury. When arteries become narrowed by fat deposits (plaques), platelets often clump together in the vessels. Unstable plaques can rupture, leading to more platelet clumping that can cause a larger blockage of the artery. This further narrows the arteries and increases the chances of heart attack, Stroke, or other circulation problems.

Angioplasty is a common technique used to mechanically widen narrowed or obstructed blood vessels with an artificial tube, called a stent. Effient (Prasugrel) helps to reduce the chances of platelets sticking together and forming clumps that can block an artery or a stent.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Effient (Prasugrel) may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Effient (Prasugrel) for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Effient (Prasugrel), speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Effient (Prasugrel) without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Effient (Prasugrel) to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Effient (Prasugrel) if their doctor has not prescribed it.

Effient (Prasugrel) is normally started with a single dose of 60 mg. Thereafter, the recommended adult dose of Effient (Prasugrel) is 10 mg once daily for long term use.

This medication is normally taken along with Aspirin to help prevent platelets from clumping together. The recommended adult dose of aspirin is 75 mg to 325 mg daily.

Effient (Prasugrel) may be taken with or without food.

Do not stop taking Effient (Prasugrel) without first discussing it with your doctor. Stopping Effient (Prasugrel) too early may result in increased blood clotting and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death due to other illnesses for which this is being used to prevent clotting.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Effient (Prasugrel) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Effient (Prasugrel) at room temperature in the original packaging and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Effient (Prasugrel). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Effient (Prasugrel) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• bleeding gums
• bleeding or bruising from a needle puncture
• bruising (that develops without a known cause and grows in size)
• nose bleeds
• skin rash

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• signs of Anemia (low red blood cells; e.g., dizziness, pale skin, unusual tiredness or weakness, shortness of breath)
• signs of  liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, Diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• blood in the urine
• signs of bleeding in the stomach (e.g., bloody, black, or tarry stools, spitting up of blood, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds)
• bleeding from stomach, intestine, or rectum (black, tarry stools or fresh blood in the stool, spitting up of blood, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds)
• bleeding in the eye
• coughing up blood
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)
• symptoms of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (purplish spots on the skin or mucous membranes, yellowish color of the skin or eyes, Fever, confusion, headache, extreme tiredness)
• speech or vision changes
• sudden severe headache

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Effient (Prasugrel).

Each 10 mg, beige, elongated hexagonal, film-coated, unscored tablet, debossed with "10 mg" on one side and "4759" on the other side, contains 10.98 mg Effient (Prasugrel) hydrochloride equivalent to 10 mg of Effient (Prasugrel). Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, and vegetable magnesium stearate; color coatings: hypromellose, iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, lactose, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.

Do not take Effient (Prasugrel) if you:

• are allergic to Effient (Prasugrel) or any ingredients of Effient (Prasugrel)
• have a history of stroke or a mini-stroke (also called a Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA)
• have an active bleeding condition, such as stomach or intestinal bleeding (e.g., a stomach ulcer) or bleeding in the brain
• have significant liver disease

There may be an interaction between Effient (Prasugrel) and any of the following:

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Effient (Prasugrel). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.