I. Plavix Fact File
Plavix was introduced by Sanofi-Synthelabo.
Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of the global pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis.
Sanofi-aventis group is Number 1 in Europe and Number 3 worldwide in the pharmaceutical industry. This group is present in more than 100 countries throughtout the 5 continents.
Sanofi-Synthelabo's principal area of business is ethical pharmaceuticals. The core therapeutic areas of Sanofi-Synthelabo are cardiovascular disease and thrombosis; diseases of the central nervous system; oncology; and internal medicine.
II. Plavix Medication
Generic Plavix is a medication that when taken daily can help reduce your risk of having a future heart attack or stroke.
Generic Plavix is recommended for people who have suffered from a recent heart attack or recent stroke, or who have peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—poor circulation in the legs, which may cause pain during exercise (such as walking) that is relieved by rest.
Generic Plavix, taken with aspirin, is also recommended for people who have been hospitalized with heart-related chest pain or had a certain type of heart attack—conditions doctors call acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Generic Plavix is in a class of medications called antiplatelet medication.
Generic Plavix is the only antiplatelet medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or vascular death in patients with established peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Antiplatelet Drugs: Information of Plavix
Antiplatelet drugs (Generic Plavix) are a powerful group of medication that prevent the formation of blood clots.
When you are wounded, platelets arrive on the scene and group together forming a blood clot that stops the bleeding. In a lot of situations, this is a good thing. But, platelets can also aggregate when injury to a blood vessel occurs, like during atherosclerosis. In this situation, the platelets cause blood clots to develop in an already stressed artery. Antiplatelet medication can prevent this process from occurring.
Antiplatelet medications (Generic Plavix)
protect against myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death and other serious vascular events in patients with a history of previous vascular events or known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet medications (Generic Plavix). Other antiplatelet drugs commonly used to treat heart disease include Plavix and Ticlid.
Platelets: Information
Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are small, colorless, irregularly shaped bodies that are present in the blood.
Diagram 1: Platelets
Their sticky surface lets them, along with other substances, form clots to stop bleeding. Platelets play a vital role in hemostasis, the prevention of blood loss. When the lining of a blood vessel is traumatized, platelets are stimulated to go to the site of the injury where they form a plug that helps reduce blood loss and forms a clots.
Platelets are not cells, but are tiny fragments of other cells. The life span of a platelet, once it is released into the circulatory system, is approximately five to nine days. Normal platelet counts range from 150,000 to 400,000 per cu/ml. Certain stem cell disorders may cause an increase in platelets, a condition called thrombocytosis. Increased bleeding or clotting can occur in thrombocytosis. A decrease in the platelet count in thrombocytopenia. It can be caused by diseases that affect platelet production or by excessive platelet destruction. Thrombocytopenia makes the individual more susceptible to bruising and/or increased bleeding.
Young platelets are more effective in achieving and maintaining hemostasis, the process carried out by the body to maintain blood in the vascular system. The speen reomves Old, damaged and nonfunctional platelets.
The hemostatic process prevents blood loss from ruptured blood vessels through the following processes:
1. Vascular spasm
2. Platelet function
3. Blood coagulation, or clotting
The most immediate hemostatic response to blood vessel injury is vascular spasm, a rapid constriction of small arteries and arterioles. The second response is the formation of a platelet plug. The final response is the initiation of the coagulation cascade, which leads to fibrin production and the formation of a fibrin clot. Together, all the responses help prevent blood loss.
Diagram 2: Platelet Adhesion
Platelets perform two functions in coagulation. First, a clot begins to form when blood is exposed to air. The platelets sense the presence of air and begin to break apart and react with a protein called fibrinogen to form a temporary plug that covers the break in the blood vessel lining. Second, the platelets bind (adhesion) to each other, releasing agents which, recruit and activate surrounding platelets. The result of these two processes is the formation of fibrin, which stabilizes the platelet plug, stops bleeding and allows injuries to heal.
Calcium and vitamin K must be present in blood to support the formation of clots. If the blood is lacking these nutrients, it will take longer for the blood to clot. A healthy diet provides most people with enough vitamins and minerals although, in some instances, vitamin supplements are sometimes needed.
Not all blood clots are good. If a small clot forms in an unbroken blood vessel in the brain, blocking the flow of blood to the cells, these brain cells may begin to die, causing a stroke.
Platelets are transfused to:
- treat bleeding disorders due to a low platelet count
- replace abnormal platelets
- replace platelets destroyed by disease or other conditions
Platelets are prepared using two methods. They are collected for transfusion from a unit of whole blood or by plateletpheresis. In a plateletpheresis donation, only the platelets are collected from the donor with the rest of the donor's blood being returned to him or her.
Side effects of Plavix (Antiplatelet Drugs)
Antiplatelet medication may cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reaction (swelling, problems breathing, itching or skin rashes)
- Nausea, indigestion or stomach pain
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Ringing in ears
- Bloody urine
- Convulsions or seizures
Side effects of Plavix can be worse in people with asthma and allergies.
Some people with bleeding problems, ulcers or are planning to undergo surgery, including dental surgery, should talk to their doctor before taking these drugs as they may cause excessive bleeding.
Uses of PLavix (Antiplatelet drugs)
Antiplatelets Generic Plavix are used to treat:
- As Coronary artery disease (Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is when the arteries become clogged and narrowed, restricting blood flow to the heart. Without adequate blood, the heart becomes starved of oxygen and vital nutrients it needs to work properly).
- Heart attack (If taken while an attack is in progress or within 30 minutes of symptoms, antiplatelets may reduce heart damage.)
- Angina (chest pain)
- Stroke and mini-strokes
- Peripheral artery disease
- After angioplasty
- After heart bypass surgery
- To prevent the formation of blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation
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III. Useful links
Government http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
Pharmacy sites
Sanofi-Aventis
Aventis Pharma USA
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509 ,
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1516
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504,
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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