{"id":3332,"date":"2018-12-04T20:26:15","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T01:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=3332"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:12:08","slug":"brilinta-vs-plavix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/brilinta-vs-plavix\/","title":{"rendered":"Brilinta vs. Plavix: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brilinta<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>ticagrelor<\/span>) and <\/span>Plavix<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>clopidogrel<\/span>) are antiplatelet medications, which are a type of blood thinner. More specifically, they work as <\/span>P2Y12 inhibitors<\/span> to prevent harmful <\/span>blood clots<\/span> with <\/span>acute coronary syndrome<\/span> (ACS). These medicines are usually prescribed for at least a year after an event like a <\/span>heart attack<\/span> and are taken with a <\/span>low-dose aspirin<\/span><\/a> as part of <\/span>dual antiplatelet therapy<\/span> (<\/span>DAPT<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Main differences between <\/span>Brilinta<\/span> vs. <\/span>Plavix<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

<\/td>\nBrilinta<\/b><\/td>\nPlavix<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drug class<\/span><\/td>\nAntiplatelet\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

P2Y12 inhibitor<\/span><\/td>\n

Antiplatelet<\/span><\/p>\n

P2Y12 inhibitor<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Brand\/generic status<\/span><\/td>\nBrand and generic versions available<\/span><\/td>\nBrand and generic versions available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the generic name?<\/span><\/td>\nTicagrelor<\/span><\/td>\nClopidogrel<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What form(s) does the drug come in?<\/span><\/td>\nOral tablet<\/span><\/td>\nOral tablet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the standard dosage for <\/span>acute coronary syndrome<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nInitial <\/span>loading dose<\/span> of 180 mg. Then, 90 mg twice daily for the first year after an ACS event. Then, 60 mg twice daily thereafter.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nInitial <\/span>loading dose<\/span> of 300 mg. Then, 75 mg once daily.<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How long is the typical treatment?<\/span><\/td>\n12 months or longer<\/span><\/td>\n12 months or longer<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who typically uses the medication?<\/span><\/td>\nAdults 18 years and older<\/span><\/td>\nAdults 18 years and older<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What are the main differences between <\/span>Brilinta<\/span> and <\/span>Plavix<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Brilinta<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Brilinta<\/span><\/a> is the brand name for <\/span>ticagrelor<\/span>. It\u2019s also available as a generic version and is typically taken twice daily as a pill alongside daily aspirin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to guidelines from the <\/span>American College of Cardiology<\/span>\/<\/span>American Heart Association<\/span> Joint Committee, <\/span>Brilinta<\/span> is one of the <\/span>preferred treatments<\/span><\/a> for people with ACS. It works faster than <\/span>Plavix<\/span> and has a reversible effect, which means its action wears off sooner once stopped.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plavix<\/span><\/h3>\n

Plavix<\/span><\/a> is the brand name for <\/span>clopidogrel<\/span><\/a>. It has been around longer than <\/span>Brilinta<\/span> and is a once-daily pill. Like <\/span>Brilinta<\/span>, it\u2019s also taken with aspirin to reduce <\/span>blood clots<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

One important difference is that <\/span>Plavix<\/span> is a prodrug that needs to be activated in the liver by the <\/span>CYP2C19<\/span> enzyme. People who are <\/span>CYP2C19<\/span> poor metabolizers<\/span><\/a> convert less of the drug to its active form, so it may be less effective for some. Healthcare providers may recommend genetic testing or an alternative medication if <\/span>Plavix<\/span> isn\u2019t working as expected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conditions treated by <\/span>Brilinta<\/span> and <\/span>Plavix<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both medications are <\/span>FDA<\/span>-approved to reduce the rate of <\/span>cardiovascular events<\/span> in people with ACS. These events may include <\/span>heart attacks<\/span>, stroke, <\/span>unstable angina<\/span> (sudden, worsening chest pain), and other <\/span>heart-related conditions<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both medications may help prevent two major types of <\/span>heart attacks<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n