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Healtheuniversity > English > Cardiac College > Treat Heart Disease > Heart Medications > Antiplatelets

Antiplatelets

​​Benefits

  • Reduces the risk of dangerous blood clots forming in the body that may cause a heart attack or stroke.

Action

  • ​Prevents the blood platelets (cells) from sticking together and forming clots.

​Potential Side Effects

  • easy bruising
  • nausea (upset stomach)
  • vertigo
  • ringing in ears (tinnitus)
  • light-headedness
  • abdominal pain, bleeding ulcers (black tarry stool)
  • impaired kidney or liver function

Common Names

  • Acetylsalicylic acid, ASA (Aspirin®)
  • Ticagrelor (Brilinta®)
  • Clopidogrel (Plavix®)
  • Prasugrel (Effient®)
  • Ticlopidine (Ticlid®)
  • Dipyridamole (Persantine®, Aggrenox®)
Last Reviewed: