Prescription medication · Antiplatelet Agent
clopidogrel
Also sold as Plavix. Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attack and stroke in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 192,921
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- 19
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $7.88
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
clopidogrel (Plavix) is a prescription Antiplatelet Agent, more reported than roughly 9 in 10 tracked drugs (192,921 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
clopidogrel (Plavix) is a prescription Antiplatelet Agent. Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attack and stroke in adults.
Clopidogrel is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots. It is used to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$7.88/unit
Generic Price
$0.06/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (14 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: CLOPIDOGREL 75 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (3 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -8.8% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.0640/EA | - | 3 |
| September 18, 2024 | $0.0626/EA | -2.2% | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0571/EA | -8.8% | 38 |
What it does
Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attack and stroke in adults.
Common side effects
Bleeding
Key warnings
This drug may not work well for people with certain genes.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from clopidogrel's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Clopidogrel keeps blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. It blocks a substance that causes platelets to clump. This helps blood flow more freely through your body.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 192,921 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for clopidogrel, by number of reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
9,917 reports
- Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial Infarction
9,459 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
8,479 reports
- Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage
Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage
8,202 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
7,881 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
7,692 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
7,353 reports
- Asthenia
Asthenia
6,742 reports
- Fall
Fall
6,546 reports
- Cerebrovascular Accident
Cerebrovascular Accident
6,398 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for clopidogrel each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where clopidogrel sits
clopidogrel has more FDA adverse-event reports than 94% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is clopidogrel; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 192,921 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
192,921
Reports Mentioning Death
21,408
11.1% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
88,784
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DYSPNOEA | 9,917 |
| 2 | MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION | 9,459 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 8,479 |
| 4 | GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE | 8,202 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 7,881 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 7,692 |
| 7 | DIARRHOEA | 7,353 |
| 9 | ASTHENIA | 6,742 |
| 10 | FALL | 6,546 |
| 11 | CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT | 6,398 |
| 12 | ANAEMIA | 6,050 |
| 13 | DEATH | 6,041 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 5,419 |
| 15 | PAIN | 5,414 |
| 16 | CHEST PAIN | 5,264 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
This drug may not work well for people with certain genes. If you have two copies of a certain gene, clopidogrel may not prevent clots as well. Your doctor may consider a different medicine for you.
Known Drug Interactions
Omeprazole or Esomeprazole Avoid concomitant use of clopidogrel with omeprazole or esomeprazole. In clinical studies, omeprazole was shown to reduce significantly the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel when given concomitantly or 12 hours apart. A similar reduction in antiplatelet activity was observed with esomeprazole when given concomitantly with clopidogrel.
Mechanism: Omeprazole stops clopidogrel from working correctly by preventing it from turning into its active form. This makes the medicine less effective at stopping blood clots.
( 7.3 ) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin, selective serotonin and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, SNRIs): Increases risk of bleeding. 7.5 Warfarin (CYP2C9 Substrates) Although the administration of clopidogrel 75 mg per day did not modify the pharmacokinetics of S-warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate) or INR in patients receiving long-term warfarin therapy, coadministration of clopidogrel with warfarin increases the risk of bleeding because of independent effects on hemostasis.
Mechanism: Both medicines work to prevent blood clots, but they do it in different ways. Using them together makes it much easier for you to bleed or bruise.
Omeprazole or Esomeprazole Avoid concomitant use of clopidogrel with omeprazole or esomeprazole. A similar reduction in antiplatelet activity was observed with esomeprazole when given concomitantly with clopidogrel. Dexlansoprazole, lansoprazole, and pantoprazole had less effect on the antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel than did omeprazole or esomeprazole [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Mechanism: Esomeprazole keeps clopidogrel from being activated in your body. This prevents the blood thinner from doing its job of protecting your heart and blood vessels.
Rifampin strongly induces CYP2C19 resulting to both an increase level of clopidogrel active metabolite and platelet inhibition, which in particular might potentiate the risk of bleeding.
Mechanism: Rifampin speeds up the process that turns clopidogrel into its active form in the body. This leads to higher levels of the active drug, which can make your blood too thin and increase the risk of bleeding.
( 7.3 ) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin, selective serotonin and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, SNRIs): Increases risk of bleeding. 7.6 SSRIs and SNRIs Since selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) affect platelet activation, the concomitant administration of SSRIs and SNRIs with clopidogrel may increase the risk of bleeding.
Mechanism: Both of these medications affect how your blood cells, called platelets, stick together to form clots. Taking them at the same time can make it harder for your blood to clot, which raises the risk of bleeding.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take clopidogrel with aspirin?
How long will I need to take clopidogrel?
What should I do before surgery?
Can I drink alcohol while taking clopidogrel?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can clopidogrel cause an allergic reaction?
Can I take ibuprofen with clopidogrel?
Does clopidogrel interact with other medications?
What are the symptoms of TTP?
Will clopidogrel cause hair loss?
What are the common side effects of clopidogrel?
Does clopidogrel interact with other medications?
What drug class is clopidogrel?
Is there a generic version of clopidogrel?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for clopidogrel?
Related Medications in Antiplatelet Agent
Other drugs grouped near clopidogrel - same-class peers and common alternatives.
apixaban
Eliquis
Apixaban (Eliquis) is a medicine that helps prevent blood clots.
Compare with clopidogrel →
aspirin
Bayer, Ecotrin
Aspirin is a common medicine used to relieve minor pain.
Compare with clopidogrel →
cilostazol
Pletal
Cilostazol is a medicine that helps improve walking distance in people with leg pain due to poor circulation.
Compare with clopidogrel →
dabigatran
Pradaxa
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) is a drug that helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Compare with clopidogrel →
dalteparin
Fragmin
Dalteparin (Fragmin) is a type of blood thinner medicine.
Compare with clopidogrel →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for clopidogrel: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 192,921.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 11.10%.
- fluvoxamine Δ 0.00 pts · 2,289 reports · Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) 11.10%death share
- tamsulosin Δ 0.01 pts · 18,628 reports · Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker 11.09%death share
- ascorbic acid Δ 0.04 pts · 22,556 reports · Vitamin C Supplement 11.13%death share
- prasugrel Δ 0.04 pts · 2,254 reports · P2Y12 Inhibitor (Antiplatelet) 11.14%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for clopidogrel
The FDA label for clopidogrel (sold under brand names such as Plavix) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiplatelet Agent class. Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attack and stroke in adults. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Bleeding.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 192,921 voluntary reports. The database also lists 19 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.06 versus $7.88 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: May 17, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages