{"id":671936,"date":"2026-01-03T21:13:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T21:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/671936\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T21:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T21:13:15","slug":"clopidogrel-alert-as-nhs-warns-of-four-common-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/671936\/","title":{"rendered":"Clopidogrel alert as NHS warns of four &#8216;common&#8217; side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The NHS dispenses around 11 million units of this drug every year<\/p>\n<p>02:08, 03 Jan 2026Updated 12:57, 03 Jan 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2203057466.jpg\" alt=\"Man taking tablet\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>The NHS warned that clopidogrel could cause four &#8220;common&#8221; side effects(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Patients who take a commonly prescribed drug have been warned of four potential side effects. According to the <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/nhs\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">NHS<\/a>, these symptoms affect more than one in 100 people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On its<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/medicines\/clopidogrel\/side-effects-of-clopidogrel\/\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\"> website<\/a>, the NHS offers guidance on taking clopidogrel, an antiplatelet medicine. Also known by its brand names Grepid and Plavix, it prevents platelets from sticking together and forming a dangerous blood clot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This is typically prescribed to people who have a high risk of a blood clot forming to prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events. However, as is the case with any medication, it does <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/health\/nhs-warning-people-taking-medications-36485486\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">come with some potential side effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The NHS says: \u201cLike all medicines, clopidogrel can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These common side effects of clopidogrel happen in more than one in 100 people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">These are:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Bleeding more easily than normal<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Diarrhoea<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Stomach pain<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Indigestion or heartburn<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It continues: \u201cSpeak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-2227849204.jpg\" alt=\"Stomach pain\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Stomach pain is one potential side effect of this drug(Image: Getty)Serious side effects<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Serious side effects are \u201crare\u201d and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people. You should call a doctor or call 111 straight away if:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">There&#8217;s blood in your urine<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">There&#8217;s blood in your poo, or you have black poo that looks like tar<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">The whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">You feel very tired or have signs of infection, such as a high temperature or sore throat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The NHS adds that you should \u201cgo to A&amp;E now\u201d if:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">You&#8217;re coughing up blood<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">You&#8217;re vomiting blood, or there&#8217;s something that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">You have a nosebleed that you cannot stop and lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_GettyImages-1124672668.jpg\" alt=\"Blood clot\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Clopidogrel it prevents platelets from sticking together and forming a dangerous blood clot(Image: Getty)Who cannot take clopidogrel<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Clopidogrel is not suitable for some people. To make sure it&#8217;s safe for you, the NHS says you should tell your doctor if you:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have ever had an allergic reaction to clopidogrel or any other medicine<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have ever had a stomach ulcer<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have recently had surgery or a serious injury<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have had bleeding in your brain (a brain haemorrhage)<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Have liver or kidney problems<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Taking it with other medications<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Some medicines affect the way clopidogrel works. The NHS says you should tell your doctor if you&#8217;re taking any other medicines, including:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"unordered-list\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Other medicines to prevent blood clots, such as low-dose aspirin, warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, dabigatran, dipyridamole, ticagrelor or prasugrel<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Omeprazole or esomeprazole, for indigestion and heartburn<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Rosuvastatin, a medicine for high cholesterol<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Rifampicin, an antibiotic<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Medicines to treat epilepsy, such as carbamazepine<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Medicines to treat HIV, such as efavirenz<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Medicines to treat type 2 diabetes, such as pioglitazone or repaglinide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The NHS adds: \u201cThese are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with clopidogrel. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NHS dispenses around 11 million units of this drug every year 02:08, 03 Jan 2026Updated 12:57, 03&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":671937,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4315],"tags":[48990,34237,105,11547,302,4326,211,591,1939,72934,95530,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-671936","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-aspirin","9":"tag-breastfeeding","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-heart-attack","12":"tag-heart-disease","13":"tag-medication","14":"tag-nhs","15":"tag-pregnancy","16":"tag-prescriptions","17":"tag-stds","18":"tag-the-medicines","19":"tag-uk","20":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115833235447090685","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=671936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671936\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/671937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=671936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=671936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=671936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}