Effient (Prasugrel)

Effient is a medicine used to treat people who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain that happens when your heart does not get enough oxygen, and have been treated with a procedure called “angioplasty” (also called balloon angioplasty). Effient is used to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels, such as another heart attack, a stroke, blood clots in your stent, or death. Platelets are blood cells that help with normal blood clotting. Effient helps prevent platelets from sticking together and forming a clot that can block an artery or a stent.

Effient can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and sometimes lead to death. You should not start to take Effient if it is likely that you will have heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft surgery or CABG) right away. You have a higher risk of bleeding if you take Effient and then have heart bypass surgery. When possible, discontinue Effient at least 7 days before any surgery, as instructed by your doctor. Notify your doctor prior to any surgery or dental procedure. You may have a higher bleeding risk if you have had trauma or surgery, have stomach or intestinal bleeding, a stomach ulcer, severe liver problems, weigh <132 pounds, or take certain other medications. Effient may cause a rare but serious condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) that needs to be treated right away. TTP is a condition in which blood clots form in the blood vessels and can occur all over the body. Get medical help right away if you develop any of these symptoms that cannot otherwise be explained: fever, weakness, extreme skin paleness, purple skin patches, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, or neurological changes (such as confusion, speech changes). Serious allergic reactions can happen with Effient. Get medical help right away if you get swelling or hives of your face, lips, in or around your mouth, or throat; if you have trouble breathing or swallowing; if you develop chest pain or pressure; or if you develop dizziness or fainting.