Yesterday the FDA issued a public health advisory warning that side effects of Prilosec, an over the counter heartburn medication, may interfere with the effectiveness of Plavix, an anti-blood clotting medication. This increases the risk of a heart attack, death or other injuries for patients.
The advisory was released after an FDA investigation of the effects of combining Prilosec and Plavix found that their combined use reduces the effective of Plavix by almost 50%. The FDA will now require new warnings on the label for Plavix, Prilosec and other heartburn medications that work the same way by inhibiting the CYP2C19 enzyme, which interacts with Plavix.
Plavix is a blood thinner that prevents platelets from sticking together and forming clots. It is a blockbuster medication, generating over $6 billion annually for Bristol Myers Squibb. Prilosec and other stomach acid drugs are often prescribed in tandem with Plavix to combat upset stomachs, a common side effect of Plavix.
Whats scary about this is that Plavix is usually only prescribed to patients who have a very high risk of heart attacks or strokes. Reducing it's effectiveness by 50% can be a death sentence for these patients. If you know anybody who takes Plavix, warn them about this immediatly. Everyday they do not know this they are putting their life in danger. If they have any adverse affects while taking Plavix and a stomach acid inhibitor while taking Plavix, they should contact a lawyer to discuss their options. According to the FDA, Zantac, Pepcid, Axid, Mylanta and Maalox are safe alternatives to Prilosec and its generics for Plavix patients.
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