Side Effects Of Clopidogrel

Like all medicines, clopidogrel can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects of clopidogrel

These common side effects of clopidogrel happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call 111 straight away if:

• there's blood in your pee
• there's blood in your poo, or you have black poo that looks like tar
• the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow, although this can be harder to see on brown or black skin - these can be signs of liver problems
• you feel very tired or have signs of infection, such as a high temperature or sore throat - these can be signs of a blood or bone marrow disorder
• you have had a head injury when taking clopidogrel, as the medicine can increase the risk of bleeding inside your brain

Go to A&E now if:

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring all the medicines you take with you.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, clopidogrel can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of clopidogrel. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

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