Ticagrelor
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Ticagrelor

Drug Class: Commonly Known As: Category:
Antiplatelet Brilinta Adult

Ticagrelor - What is it for

​Ticagrelor belongs to the class of medications called antiplatelets. Antiplatelets are used to prevent blood clots from forming by making the blood less “sticky”. By preventing blood clots, this reduces the risk of you having a heart attack or stroke.

Ticagrelor - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Ticagrelor cause?

  • ​Feeling breathless easily. Inform your healthcare professional if this happens.
  • Mild bleeding such as:
    • Unexplained nosebleed
    • Bleeding from gums when brushing teeth. Use a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid gum bleeds.
    • Bleeding from small cuts for 10-15 minutes even as you apply pressure on the wound. Check with your doctor if the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes or if you feel unwell.
    • Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than normal. However, heavy menstrual bleeding can also happen for other reasons. Do check with your doctor if you feel unwell.


Inform your healthcare professional if these side-effects do not go away or are bothersome to you.

Patients taking antiplatelets may have increased risk of bleeding. If you experience any serious bleeding, you should stop your medication and inform your healthcare professional immediately.


Serious bleeding may include one or more of the following:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Black and sticky stools (if you are not using iron supplements at the same time)
  • Unexplained large bruises
  • Coughing up blood or coffee ground-like vomit
  • Sudden severe headache with nausea or loss of consciousness


The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

  • Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Itchy skin rashes over your whole body


If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Ticagrelor , what precautions must I follow?

​Inform your healthcare professional if:

  • You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
  • You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
  • You have kidney or liver problems.
  • You have a history of stomach or intestinal ulcers or bleeds, bleeding in the brain or other bleeding problems.
  • You are planned for any medical procedures, surgeries or dental procedures as these medications may need to be stopped temporarily before the procedure to prevent too much bleeding.
  • You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Ticagrelor ?

​Avoid taking grapefruit when you are taking this medication as grapefruit may interact with your medication and increase the risk of side-effects.


Some medications may interact with this medication and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side-effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the other medications you are currently taking.


Examples include:

  • Medications for bacterial infections (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin)
  • Medications for fungal infections (e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole)
  • Medications for viral infections (e.g. atazanavir, darunavir, ritonavir)


Consult your healthcare professional if you are unsure whether your existing medications can be taken together with this medication.

Ticagrelor - Dosage and How to Use

How should Ticagrelor be used?

​Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
You may take this medication with or without food.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

​If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What should I do if I overdose?

Ticagrelor - Handling

How should I handle Ticagrelor safely?

Ticagrelor - Storage

How should I store Ticagrelor ?

;#Keep away from children;#Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight;#

​Throw away all expired medications.

How should I dispose of Ticagrelor safely?

​Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Ticagrelor - Additional Information

  • Tags: Ticagrelor
  • Updated on 9/30/2020 12:00:00 AM
  • Article contributed by PSS National Medication Information Workgroup PSS National Medication Information Workgroup
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

​If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

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