Ticagrelor is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of having another heart attack or stroke in people with a certain type of heart disease (acute coronary syndrome-ACS). It is in a class of medicines called antiplatelet therapy. It works by keeping platelets in your blood from sticking together and forming clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Ticagrelor is usually taken with a low dose of aspirin.
Ticagrelor is a medication used to prevent blood clots [National Institutes of Health (.gov)]. It's prescribed in various situations to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Here's a breakdown of its uses:
- Following a heart attack or acute coronary syndrome (ACS): Ticagrelor helps prevent future heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death in people who have already had a heart attack or ACS. ACS is a condition where blood flow to the heart is blocked.
- After coronary stent placement: This medication can help prevent blood clots from forming around stents, which are tiny tubes placed in clogged arteries to improve blood flow.
- Reducing risk of first-time heart attack or stroke: Ticagrelor may be used for people with coronary artery disease (CAD) to lower their chances of a first heart attack or stroke.
- Preventing another stroke: It can also be used to help prevent another stroke in people who have already had a mild or moderate stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke.
Ticagrelor works by belonging to a class of medications called antiplatelet drugs. These medications prevent platelets, a type of blood cell, from sticking together and forming clots that can cause heart attack or stroke. By reducing clot formation, ticagrelor helps keep blood flowing smoothly throughout your body.