Plavix Side Effects

Plavix is a prescription medication designed to prevent heart attack and stroke by reducing blood clot formation in patients with heart disease. According to the manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, clinical tests have studied side effect reactions in over 42,000 patients treated with Plavix. Approximately 13 percent of patients in the clinical trials withdrew because they could not tolerate the side effects.

Itching and Rash

• The two most common side effects of Plavix are severe itching and a rash that causes purple spots on the body, according to the manufacturer.

Gastrointestinal Upset

• Nearly one-third of patients on Plavix reported some form of gastrointestinal upset while on the medication, including diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. For most of these patients, the manufacturer states, the side effects were not severe enough to warrant stopping the medicine.

Headache and Dizziness

• Headache and dizziness are also common side effects of Plavix, and were reported in 7.6 and 6.2 percent of patients, respectively, in the clinical trials reported by the manufacturer. If you develop a severe headache while on Plavix, talk to your doctor immediately.

Fever or Confusion

• Some users of Plavix have developed a rare, but serious, condition known as TTP. The symptoms of this condition include a high fever and feelings of weakness and confusion, according to Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Severe Side Effects

• In the clinical trials, 2 percent of patients taking Plavix reported a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Bristol-Myers Squibb states. Others reported increased bleeding, especially if they were taking aspirin in addition to Plavix.