Brilinta FAQ

How Does Brilinta Work?

Brilinta is classified as an ‘anti-platelet’ medication because it helps stop platelets from sticking together. This reduces the chance of a blood clot forming, which can reduce blood flow.

What is the Dosage?

Most patients are prescribed one 90 mg dose of Brilinta twice daily for 12 months. The medication should be taken around the same time each day (i.e. one tablet in the morning and one in the evening).

What if I Miss a Dose?

If you ever forget to take a tablet of Brilinta, just resume your next dose as normal. Do not take a double dose (2 tablets simultaneously) to make up for a missed dose.

Is Brilinta Safe to Take With Other Medications?

Brilinta is known to interact with at least 455 other medications, or a total of 1791 brand name and generic drugs including:

73 major drug interactions (239 brand and generic names)
298 moderate drug interactions (1121 brand and generic names)
84 minor drug interactions (431 brand and generic names)

What’s the Problem with Brilinta?

Drugmaker AstraZeneca has been accused of manipulating trial data regarding the side effects of Brilinta. The company was investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly downplaying and even hiding information about heart problems associated with the medication during the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) clinical trial.

What Serious Side Effects Have Been Linked to Brilinta?

Heart attack
Stroke
Internal bleeding
Hemorrhaging
Rectal bleeding
Cerebral hemorrhage
Digestive tract ulcers
Kidney failure
Pulmonary embolism (PE)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Death

Are There Other Side Effects?

Other, less severe side effects of Brilinta may include:

Shortness of breath
Nosebleeds or other unusual bleeding that will not stop
Bloody or tarry stools
Blood in the urine
Chest pain
Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
Headache
Confusion
Vision problems
Pale skin or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Easy bruising

Has Brilinta Been Recalled?

To date, no recall has been issued for Brilinta in the U.S. or any other country. However, the investigation into the drug is still in its early stages, and it often takes many years and thousands of adverse event reports for all the facts to come out that may eventually lead to a recall for the drug.

Can I Participate in a Class Action Lawsuit?

In February, 2014, a federal lawsuit was filed against AstraZeneca by Dr. Victor Serebruany, a professor at Johns Hopkins Hospital who warned that data from the PLATO clinical may have been altered to make Brilinta appear safer than it actually is. However, our lawyers are only filing individual lawsuits for patients who had severe injuries such as heart attack, stroke or bleeding after taking Brilinta.