clopidogrel (as clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate) and aspirin
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Clopidogrel/Aspirin. It does not
contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your
doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using
this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
The name of your medicine is APO-Clopidogrel/Aspirin. It contains the active ingredients
clopidogrel (as clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate) and aspirin.
Clopidogrel/Aspirin is used to prevent blood clots forming in hardened blood vessels
(a process known as atherothrombosis), which can lead to events such as stroke, heart
attack or death.
Clopidogrel/Aspirin belongs to a group of medicines called anti-platelet medicines.
Platelets are very small blood cells which clump together during blood clotting. By
preventing this clumping, anti-platelet medicines reduce the chances of blood clots
forming (a process called thrombosis).
You may have been prescribed clopidogrel/aspirin to help prevent blood clots forming
and to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death, because you have suffered
a severe type of chest pain called unstable angina or have had a heart attack.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing clopidogrel or aspirin
any other similar medicines such as salicylates or anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant.
Do not take clopidogrel/aspirin during the third trimester of pregnancy.
It is not known whether clopidogrel/aspirin may affect your developing baby if you
take it during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Your doctor can discuss with
you the risks and benefits involved.
Do not take this medicine if you are breast-feeding.
Clopidogrel/Aspirin may pass into breast milk and there is a possibility that your
baby may be affected.
Do not take this medicine if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
a medical condition that causes bleeding such as a haemophilia, stomach ulcers or
bleeding within your head or bowels
erosive gastritis
severe liver or kidney disease
asthma with rhinitis and/or nasal polyps
mastocytosis.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging
is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives
or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
bleeding disorders or blood clotting problems
any illness or disability that was caused by bleeding, e.g. impaired sight or vision
because of bleeding within the eye
stroke
recent serious injury
recent surgery (including dental surgery)
liver or kidney disease
stomach ulcers or other problems with your digestive system
inherited diseases causing galactose intolerance or glucose-galactose malabsorption
Lapp lactase deficiency
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
gout
asthma or allergies
allergies to other anti-platelet medicines (such as ticlopidine or prasugrel)
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Do not take this medicine whilst in the third trimester of pregnancy. Your doctor
can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start
taking this medicine.
Your doctor may advise you to go for tests to determine if this medicine will adequately
work for you, as some patients may not convert this medicine to its active form.
These patients may not get the same benefit from clopidogrel/aspirin as other patients.
Based on the test results, your doctor may consider alternative treatments for you.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food
shop.
Some medicines and this one may interfere with each other. These include:
aspirin and other salicylates – this medicine already contains aspirin; taking additional
aspirin is not recommended unless advised by your doctor
clopidogrel – this medicine already contains clopidogrel; taking additional clopidogrel
is not recommended unless advised by your doctor
other medicines used to prevent blood clots, such as heparins and warfarin
thrombolytic agents, medicines used to break down blood clots
non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), medicines used to treat arthritis,
period pain, aches and pains, such as ibuprofen
steroids, including hydrocortisone
uricosuric medicines, which may be used to treat gout, such as probenecid
methotrexate, used to treat cancer or arthritis
bupropion, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and moclobemide, medicines used to treat depression
omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, medicines known as proton
pump inhibitors used to prevent gastric reflux
nicorandil, used to treat chest pain (angina)
tenofovir, an antiretroviral medicine
varicella vaccine
acetazolamide, used to treat glaucoma
cimetidine, used to treat stomach ulcers
phenytoin, diazepam, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and valproic acid, medicines used
to treat epilepsy
repaglinide, tolbutamide and chlorpropamide, medicines used to treat diabetes
tamoxifen and paclitaxel, medicines used to treat breast cancer
fluvastatin, used to lower cholesterol
voriconazole and fluconazole, medicines used to treat fungal infections
ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol, antibiotic medicines
levothyroxine, used to treat low thyroid activity
spironolactone, a diuretic medicine
ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists plus a thiazide diuretic – these
medicines are used to treat high blood pressure, and in some cases may be used together
to treat other cardiovascular diseases
opioids, medicines for strong pain relief, such as morphine
These medicines may be affected by clopidogrel/aspirin or may affect how well it works.
You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different
medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or
avoid while taking this medicine.
Alcohol consumption
The consumption of alcohol may affect how well this medicine works. It may increase
blood loss and stomach irritation. Please ask your doctor for more information.
How to take this medicine
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the directions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The usual dose of clopidogrel/aspirin is one tablet daily.
You may receive a starting dose of 300 mg clopidogrel plus an aspirin tablet. Long
term treatment is continued with one clopidogrel/aspirin tablet daily.
Should your doctor require you to take higher doses of aspirin you will be switched
to separate tablets and no longer take clopidogrel/aspirin.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
When to take it
Take clopidogrel/aspirin during or immediately after a meal.
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you
remember when to take it.
How long to take it for
Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your
next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13
11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you
think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine. Do this even
if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
Keep all your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed and have any blood tests
ordered by your doctor promptly.
Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working
and to prevent unwanted side effects.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking this medicine.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking
this medicine.
If you are going to have surgery (including dental procedures), tell the surgeon or
anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
This medicine may increase the risk of bleeding during an operation or dental procedure.
Therefore, treatment may need to be stopped before surgery. Your doctor will decide
whether to stop this medicine, and for how long.
If you become pregnant or start to breastfeed while taking this medicine, tell your
doctor immediately.
If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this
medicine.
It may interfere with the results of some tests.
Tell your doctor if you are injured while taking this medicine.
It may take longer than usual to stop bleeding while you are taking clopidogrel/aspirin.
Sometimes after an injury, bleeding may occur inside your body without you knowing
about it.
Ask your doctor whether there are any activities you should avoid while taking clopidogrel/aspirin,
for example certain sports.
Things you must not do
Do not take this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as
you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Things to be careful of
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects
you.
As with other medicines, clopidogrel/aspirin may cause faintness or dizziness in some
people. If you drink alcohol, faintness or dizziness may be worse.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are taking this medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time
they are not.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
diarrhoea
itching
pain or stiffness in the joints
ringing in the ears
taste disturbances
trembling
flushing
a fast, pounding heart beat
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and
Emergency at your nearest hospital:
bloody or black tar-like bowel motions
diarrhoea with blood, mucus, stomach pain and fever
abdominal or stomach pain
heartburn
vomiting of blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
coughing up blood
blood in the urine
blood in the eyes
unusually heavy bleeding or oozing from cuts or wounds
bleeding (including nose bleeds) or bruising more easily than normal
unusually heavy or unexpected menstrual bleeding
breast enlargement in men
numbness (paralysis) or problems with co-ordination
nausea or vomiting
faintness or dizziness
light-headedness or blurred vision
slurred speech or other difficulty in speaking
headache (severe and continuing)
confusion or hallucinations
fever or other signs of infection, such as a sore throat
chills, sweating or clammy skin
fever, muscle weakness, loss of appetite and fatigue
muscle pain
weight loss
anaemia (being tired and looking pale)
red or purple spots visible through your skin
itching, inflamed, cracking or red skin
tightness of the chest
yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, pale stools and dark urine with vomiting
and stomach pain
oedema (build-up of fluid in the body that can cause swelling)
low-blood sugar levels, sweating, fainting, light-headedness, weakness and fatigue
– these are the symptoms of insulin autoimmune syndrome
symptoms of an allergic reaction including cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of
the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention
or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C
and protected from moisture.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed,
ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
75mg/75mg tablets
Yellow, oval, biconvex coated tablet. Engraved “75-75” on one side, “APO” on the other
side. AUST R 201680. AUST R 201684.
Available in blister packs of 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 56, and 84 tablets or bottles
of 280 tablets.
75mg/100mg tablets
Light pink, oval biconvex coated tablets, engraved “APO” on one side, “75-100” on
the other side.
AUST R 190326. AUST R 190325.
Available in blister packs of 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 56, 84, 98, 100, 112, 280 tablets
or bottles of 280 tablets.
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each tablet contains 75mg of clopidogrel (as clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate) and 75mg
or 100mg of aspirin as the active ingredients.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
lactose
methylcellulose
crospovidone
colloidal anhydrous silica
zinc stearate
microcrystalline cellulose
maize starch
iron oxide yellow
hypromellose
hyprolose
macrogol 8000
titanium dioxide
iron oxide red (75/100mg strength only)
This medicine is gluten-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo
dyes.
Sponsor
Apotex Pty Ltd
16 Giffnock Avenue
Macquarie Park, NSW 2113
Australia
Tel: (02) 8877 8333
Web: www1.apotex.com/au
APO and APOTEX are registered trademarks of Apotex Inc.
This leaflet was last updated in
December 2019.
