Clopidogrel belongs to the class of medications called platelet aggregation inhibitors or antiplatelets. Clopidogrel is used to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other circulation problems for people who have atherosclerosis (narrowed blood vessels caused by "hardening of the arteries") and have already experienced at least one atherothrombotic event such as Heart Attack or Stroke, or have been diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (problems with blood flow in the arteries). It is also used with Asa (acetylsalicylic acid) by people with acute coronary syndrome or atrial fibrillation (a fast, irregular heartbeat) to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

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 additional 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. Clopidogrel reduces the chances of these events by preventing platelets from forming into clumps.

Taro Clopidogrel may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Taro Clopidogrel may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Taro Clopidogrel may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Taro Clopidogrel 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 Taro Clopidogrel, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Taro Clopidogrel without consulting your doctor.

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

The recommended adult dose of clopidogrel for most conditions is 75 mg once daily. When used by people with acute coronary syndromes, a 300 mg "loading dose" is initially prescribed. After this, treatment starts with 75 mg of clopidogrel once daily.

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.

Clopidogrel may be taken with or without food.

It is important that Taro Clopidogrel be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose within 12 hours of your usual time, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular dosing schedule. If it is more than 12 hours, 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 Taro Clopidogrel at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, 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 Taro Clopidogrel. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Taro Clopidogrel with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Taro Clopidogrel. 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.

• changed sense of taste
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• heartburn
• joint or muscle pain
• nausea
• vomiting

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

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

• abdominal pain
• enlargement of breast tissue in men
• flu-like symptoms (sudden lack of energy, Fever, cough, sore throat)
• symptoms of pneumonia (e.g., cough, fever, trouble breathing, night sweats)
• signs of bleeding (e.g., nosebleeds, blood in urine, coughing blood, bleeding gums, unusual bruising or bleeding)
• signs of infection (symptoms may include fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness)
• skin rash or itching
• symptoms of liver problems (i.e., yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, light coloured stools, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain)
• symptoms of low blood sugar (e.g., cold sweat, cool pale skin, headache, fast heartbeat, weakness)
• tingling sensation in the hands, arms, feet, or legs

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

• chest pain
• signs of bleeding in the brain (e.g., sudden severe headache, weakness, loss of speech or vision, confusion, seizures, loss of consciousness)
• signs of bleeding in the stomach (e.g., bloody, black, or tarry stools; spitting up blood; vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds)
• signs of a serious allergic reaction (i.e., swelling of face or throat, Hives, or difficulty breathing)
• signs of stroke (e.g., sudden or severe headache; sudden loss of coordination; vision changes; sudden slurring of speech; or unexplained weakness, numbness, or pain in arm or leg)

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 Taro Clopidogrel.

Each pink, round, film-coated tablet, with "75" debossed on one side and plain on the other side contains 97.9 mg of clopidogrel bisulfate USP equivalent of 75 mg of clopidogrel base. Nonmedicinal ingredients: hydrogenated castor oil, lactose monohydrate, low substituted-hydroxypropylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and polyethylene glycol 6000; film coating: hypromellose, iron oxide red, polyethylene glycol 400, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take clopidogrel if you:

• are allergic to clopidogrel or any ingredients of the medication
• have an active bleeding condition such as a stomach ulcer or a brain hemorrhage
• have significant liver disease or cholestatic jaundice
• are taking the medication Repaglinide

There may be an interaction between clopidogrel and any of the following:

• acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
• Amiodarone
• Anagrelide
• anticoagulants (e.g., Apixaban, dabigatran, Edoxaban, Enoxaparin, Heparin, Rivaroxaban, Warfarin)
• antiplatelet medications (e.g., clopidogrel, prasugrel, Ticagrelor, ticlopidine)
• Apalutamide
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• Bupropion
• cannabis
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Cobicistat
• Desloratadine
• Dipyridamole
• Enzalutamide
• Fentanyl
• ginger
• ginkgo biloba
• ginseng
• glucosamine
• grapefruit juice
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• Moclobemide
• Morphine
• multivitamins with or without minerals
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs; e.g., ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Ketorolac, naproxen)
• Obinutuzumab
• omega-3 fatty acids
• oseltamivir
• Paclitaxel
• Pentosan polysulfate sodium
• Pentoxifylline
• Pioglitazone
• certain protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Dabrafenib, Dasatinib, Pazopanib)
• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs; e.g., Esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, Pantoprazole)
• repaglinide
• rifampin
• Rosuvastatin
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIS; Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine)
• tipranavir
• Topotecan
• vitamin E

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 Taro Clopidogrel. 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.