Effient

Effient is a prescription medication used to prevent blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and death after angioplasty heart procedures. This antiplatelet drug is taken with aspirin; together, the two medications work to prevent platelets from sticking to each other. The medicine comes in the form of a tablet that is taken once a day. Possible side effects include bleeding, high blood pressure, and headache.

Effient Medication Information

What Is Effient?

Effient^® (prasugrel hydrochloride) is a prescription medication approved to reduce the risk of a heart attack or other serious problems related to blood clots in the heart or blood vessels. It is used in people who have had an angioplasty procedure to treat a blocked coronary artery after experiencing a heart attack or heart-related chest pain.

(Click Effient Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes This Medication?

Effient is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, and is marketed by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company.

How Does Effient Work?

This medication is an antiplatelet drug. It helps to prevent blood platelets from sticking together (an important step in clot formation). Effient is similar to an older antiplatelet medication known as Plavix^® (clopidogrel).

Effient is intended to be taken with aspirin. The two medications work together to prevent platelets from sticking together. Effient and aspirin are similar, but work on different types of receptors on the platelets.

Clinical Effects

Clinical studies have shown Effient to be more effective than Plavix for preventing nonfatal heart attacks.

There was little or no difference between the two medications for preventing nonfatal strokes or cardiovascular-related deaths, such as deaths due to a heart attack or stroke.

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