Special Information on Pletal

Most Important Fact about Pletal

Patients with congestive heart failure should not use Pletal. If you have a history of heart disease, talk to your doctor about the potential risks associated with Pletal before taking it.

Pletal precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Studies in rats and rabbits have shown that Pletal may cause some birth defects. Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking Pletal . Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving Pletal .

It is not known whether Pletal passes into human breast milk. However, Pletal has been shown to pass into the breast milk of rats. Pletal is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Special warnings about Pletal
After you start to take Pletal, it may take 2-4 weeks for you to notice improvement in your condition. In some people, it can take as long as 3 months for claudication (leg pain) to improve.

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Do not stop taking Pletal except on your prescriber\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s advice. If you notice any unusual symptoms or side effects, contact your prescriber.

You may get dizzy, especially when you sit or stand up quickly. Do not drive, use machinery or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how Pletal affects you. To reduce dizzy spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can increase dizziness, so try to avoid alcoholic drinks.

Grapefruit juice can increase the levels of Pletal in your body, which could increase the risk of unwanted side effects. Try to avoid drinking grapefruit juice while on Pletal .

Smoking tobacco may have effects on the circulation that may limit the benefits you receive from Pletal . You may wish to discuss how to stop smoking with your prescriber or health care professional.

Ask your prescriber or health care professional before you take certain non-prescription (OTC) pain relievers. These include aspirin, aspirin-containing products, and products that contain NSAIDs: like Motrin, Aleve and Orudis-KT. These OTC medications could interfere with your Pletal therapy. While taking aspirin with Pletal may be beneficial for you, check with your prescriber prior to taking this combination on your own.

If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking Pletal.

Why Pletal should not be prescribed ?
Pletal should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using Pletal and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.