Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication of the thienopyridine class, used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in people at high risk, and given together with aspirin after heart attacks and after a coronary artery stent is placed. It works by irreversibly inhibiting the P2Y12 receptor on platelets, preventing platelets from clumping together and forming a clot. The compound was patented in 1982 and approved for medical use in 1997, and it is marketed worldwide under the brand name Plavix, among others; it appears on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, and by 2023 it ranked as the forty first most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than fifteen million prescriptions, generic versions having become available following FDA approval in May 2012.
Facts
Mechanism of ActionActive metabolite specifically and irreversibly inhibits the P2Y12 subtype of ADP receptor, which is important in activation of platelets and eventual cross-linking by the protein fibrin 1 Approved UseReducing the risk of heart disease and stroke in people at high risk 1 First Approved / Isolated Year Significant RiskThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (incidence four per million patients treated) 1 Classification
Approval Status ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own accountB: Blood and Blood Forming Organs 2 Route of Administration WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account FAQs
How does clopidogrel prevent blood clots?
It irreversibly blocks the P2Y12 receptor on platelets so they clump less.
Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication. Its active metabolite specifically and irreversibly inhibits the P2Y12 subtype of the ADP receptor on platelets, a receptor that is important in activating platelets and in the cross-linking that forms a clot. It is used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in people at high risk. This is a description of what the sources record, not medical advice.
Sources
1. Clopidogrel - Wikipedia
Lead section, first sentence (drug class)
is an antiplatelet medication
Article body, sentence beginning 'The active metabolite of clopidogrel specifically and irreversibly inhibits'
The active metabolite of clopidogrel specifically and irreversibly inhibits the P2Y12 subtype of ADP receptor, which is important in activation of platelets and eventual cross-linking by the protein fibrin.
Lead section, first sentence (medical use)
used to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in those at high risk
Article body, sentence beginning 'Clopidogrel was patented in 1982'
Clopidogrel was patented in 1982, and approved for medical use in 1997.
Adverse effects, sentence beginning 'Serious adverse drug reactions associated with clopidogrel therapy include'
Serious adverse drug reactions associated with clopidogrel therapy include: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (incidence: four per million patients treated)
Lead section
It is also used together with aspirin in heart attacks and following the placement of a coronary artery stent (dual antiplatelet therapy).
- Regulatory approval status
View the Source2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code BQuote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code B
Blood and blood forming organs
3. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
4. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Anti-platelet medicines sectionQuote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Anti-platelet medicines section
Clopidogrel
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