What is it and how is it used?
Efient belongs to a group of medicines called anti-platelet agents. Platelets are very small cell particles that circulate in the blood. When a blood vessel is damaged, for example if it is cut, platelets clump together to help form a blood clot (thrombus). Therefore, platelets are essential to help stop bleeding. If clots form within a hardened blood vessel such as an artery they can be very dangerous as they can cut off the blood supply, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke or death. Clots in arteries supplying blood to the heart may also reduce the blood supply, causing unstable angina (a severe chest pain).
Efient inhibits the clumping of platelets and so reduces the chance of a blood clot forming.
You have been prescribed Efient because you have already had a heart attack or unstable angina and you have been treated with a procedure to open blocked arteries in the heart. You may also have had one or more stents placed to keep open a blocked or narrowed artery supplying blood to the heart. Efient reduces the chances of you having a further heart attack or stroke or of dying from one of these atherothrombotic events. Your doctor will also give you acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. aspirin), another anti-platelet agent.
What do you have to consider before using it?
Do not take Efient
Take special care with Efient
You should tell your doctor before taking Efient if any of the situations mentioned below apply to you:
While you are taking Efient:
You should tell your doctor immediately if you develop a medical condition called Thrombotic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura (or TTP) that includes fever and bruising under the skin that may appear as red pinpoint dots, with or without unexplained extreme tiredness, confusion, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) (see section 4 ‘POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS’).
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, dietary supplements and herbal remedies. It is particularly important to tell your doctor if you are being treated with clopidogrel (an anti-platelet agent), warfarin (an anti-coagulant), or “non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs” for pain and fever (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, etoricoxib). If given together with Efient these medicines may increase the risk of bleeding
Only take other medicines while you are on Efient if your doctor tells you that you can.
Taking Efient with food and drink
Efient may be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or are trying to become pregnant while you are taking Efient. You should use Efient only after discussing with your doctor the potential benefits and any potential risks to your unborn child.
If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effects of Efient on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Efient is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Efient
Efient contains lactose. If you have been told by a doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
How is it used?
Always take Efient exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will tell you how many Efient tablets to take. The usual dose of Efient is 10 mg per day. You will start the treatment with a single dose of 60 mg.
If you weigh less than 60 kg or are more than 75 years of age, the dose is 5 mg Efient per day. Your doctor will also tell you to take acetylsalicylic acid- (s)he will tell you the exact dose to take (usually between 75 mg and 325 mg daily).
You may take Efient with or without food. Take your dose at around the same time every day. Do not break or crush the tablet.
It is important that you tell your doctor, dentist and pharmacist, that you are taking Efient. Efient should not be used in children and adolescents below 18 years of age.
If you take more Efient than you should
Contact your doctor or hospital straight away, as you may be at risk of excessive bleeding. You should show the doctor your pack of Efient.
If you forget to take Efient
If you miss your scheduled daily dose, take Efient when you remember. If you forget your dose for an entire day, just resume taking Efient at its usual dose the next day. Do not take two doses in one day. For the 14, 28, 56 84 and 98 tablet pack sizes, you can check the day on which you last took a tablet of Efient by referring to the calendar printed on the blister.
If you stop taking Efient
Do not stop taking Efient without consulting your doctor. It is especially important to discuss with your doctor before stopping Efient because both the risks and the benefits are based on regular use.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines, Efient can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
Also contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
Tell your doctor promptly if you notice any of the following:
All of the above may be signs of bleeding, the most common side effect with Efient. Although uncommon, severe bleeding can be life-threatening.
Common side effects (affect 1 to 10 users in 100)
Uncommon side effects (affect 1 to 10 users in 1,000)
Rare side effects (affect 1 to 10 users in 10,000)
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell you doctor or pharmacist.
How should it be stored?
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use Efient after the expiry date, which is stated on the blister and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in the original package to protect from air and moisture.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
