Vim & Vigor - Spring 2010 - North Mississippi - (Page 16)

PLAVIX Rx Only (clopidogrel bisulfate) tablet, ﬁlm coated WHO IS PLAVIX FOR? PLAVIX® (clopidogrel bisulfate) is a prescription-only medicine that helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. PLAVIX is for patients who have: • had a recent heart attack. • had a recent stroke. • poor circulation in their legs (Peripheral Artery Disease). PLAVIX in combination with aspirin is for patients hospitalized with: • heart-related chest pain (unstable angina). • heart attack. Doctors may refer to these conditions as ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome). Clots can become dangerous when they form inside your arteries. These clots form when blood platelets stick together, forming a blockage within your arteries, restricting blood ﬂow to your heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke. WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE PLAVIX? You should NOT take PLAVIX if you: • are allergic to clopidogrel (the active ingredient in PLAVIX). • have a stomach ulcer. • have another condition that causes bleeding. • are pregnant or may become pregnant. • are breast feeding. • have certain genetic factors. WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING PLAVIX? Before taking PLAVIX, tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or are breast feeding, if you are taking any other drugs or if you have any of the following: • gastrointestinal ulcer • stomach ulcer(s) • liver problems • kidney problems • a history of bleeding conditions WHAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT PLAVIX? Genetics: People with a speciﬁc genetic makeup may get less protection against heart attack or stroke with PLAVIX. Drug interactions: Some medicines, such as Prilosec, may affect how PLAVIX works. Tell your doctor all the medications you are taking, including prescription or over-the-counter medications. You should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking, including prescription or over-the-counter Prilosec (omeprazole). Taking Prilosec with PLAVIX may reduce the effect of PLAVIX. Antacids and most H2 blockers, except Tagamet (cimetidine), are not known to interfere with how PLAVIX works. TTP: A very serious blood condition called TTP (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) has been rarely reported in people taking PLAVIX. TTP is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves low blood platelet and red blood cell levels, and requires urgent referral to a specialist for prompt treatment once a diagnosis is suspected. Warning signs of TTP may include fever, unexplained confusion or weakness (due to a low blood count, what doctors call anemia). To make an accurate diagnosis, your doctor will need to order blood tests. TTP has been reported rarely, sometimes in less than 2 weeks after starting therapy. Gastrointestinal Bleeding: There is a potential risk of gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine) bleeding when taking PLAVIX. PLAVIX should be used with caution in patients who have lesions that may bleed (such as ulcers), along with patients who take drugs that cause such lesions. Bleeding: You may bleed more easily and it may take you longer than usual to stop bleeding when you take PLAVIX alone or in combination with aspirin. Report any unusual bleeding to your doctor. Geriatrics: When taking aspirin with PLAVIX the risk of serious bleeding increases with age in patients 65 and over. Stroke Patients: If you have had a recent TIA (also known as a mini-stroke) or stroke taking aspirin with PLAVIX has not been shown to be more effective than taking PLAVIX alone, but taking aspirin with PLAVIX has been shown to increase the risk of bleeding compared to taking PLAVIX alone. Surgery: Inform doctors and dentists well in advance of any surgery that you are taking PLAVIX so they can help you decide whether or not to discontinue your PLAVIX treatment prior to surgery. WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT TAKING OTHER MEDICINES WITH PLAVIX? You should only take aspirin with PLAVIX when directed to do so by your doctor. Certain other medicines should not be taken with PLAVIX. Be sure to tell your doctor about all of your current medications (prescription or over-the-counter), especially if you are taking the following: • aspirin • nonsteroidal anti-inﬂammatory drugs (NSAIDs) • warfarin • heparin • heartburn or stomach ulcer medicines, like Prilosec Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking PLAVIX before starting any new medication. WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF PLAVIX? The most common side effects of PLAVIX include gastrointestinal events (bleeding, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea) and rash. This is not a complete list of side effects associated with PLAVIX. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list. HOW SHOULD I TAKE PLAVIX? Only take PLAVIX exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your dose or stop taking PLAVIX without talking to your doctor ﬁrst. PLAVIX should be taken around the same time every day, and it can be taken with or without food. If you miss a day, do not double up on your medication. Just continue your usual dose. If you have any questions about taking your medications, please consult your doctor. OVERDOSAGE As with any prescription medicine, it is possible to overdose on PLAVIX. If you think you may have overdosed, immediately call your doctor or Poison Control Center, or go to the nearest emergency room. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on PLAVIX, call 1-800-633-1610 or visit www.PLAVIX.com. Neither of these resources, nor the information contained here, can take the place of talking to your doctor. Only your doctor knows the speciﬁcs of your condition and how PLAVIX ﬁts into your overall therapy. It is therefore important to maintain an ongoing dialogue with your doctor concerning your condition and your treatment. Distributed by: Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanoﬁ Pharmaceuticals Partnership Bridgewater, NJ 08807 PLAVIX® is a registered trademark. CLO-BSC-SA-OCT09 http://www.PLAVIX.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2010 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2010- North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Weight-loss Success Stories
Come See Us
Hit the Links
Excuses, Excuses
Easing the Pressure
Prostate Predicament
On Mended Knees
Imaging IQ
Will Power
Caregiving: A Survival Guide
Form Factors
Wake-Up Call
Stroke of Luck
Weight Matters
History Lesson
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2010 - North Mississippi