Ticagrelor

Ticagrelor is an antiplatelet medicine or blood thinner. It makes your blood flow through your blood vessels more easily, reducing the chances of developing dangerous blood clots.

Drinking too much alcohol while taking Ticagrelor can irritate your stomach. This can increase your risk of getting a stomach ulcer. Therefore, avoid alcohol intake while taking this medicine.

Ticagrelor is a blood thinner which lowers your chance of getting or dying from a heart attack or stroke. However, this blood thinning property of Ticagrelor (and similar drugs) can cause serious bleeding and may even lead to death in some cases. The need for blood transfusions or surgery may arise in cases of serious bleeding, such as internal bleeding.

Do not stop taking Ticagrelor without talking to your doctor. Doing this may increase your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. Moreover, people being treated with a stent should continue taking it, as stopping this medicine may increase the risk of getting a blood clot in the stent. As a result, the person may become susceptible to a heart attack or even death.

Your doctor may instruct you to stop taking Ticagrelor 5 days before surgery. This will help decrease your risk of excessive bleeding during your surgery or procedure. Your doctor will advise you when to start taking Ticagrelor again.

Ticagrelor starts working within 30 minutes of taking your first dose. You may not feel any different after you start taking Ticagrelor, but this does not mean that the medicine is not working. Keep taking this medicine even if you feel well, as you will still be getting its benefits.