Karen Berger, PharmD, is a community pharmacist and medical writer/reviewer.

Alex Yampolsky, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, a pediatric long-term care facility in Yonkers, New York.

Brilinta can cause significant bleeding that can sometimes lead to death. People with active bleeding or a history of intracranial hemorrhage (brain bleeds) should not take Brilinta. Do not start Brilinta prior to undergoing urgent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This medication may not be appropriate for people who underwent a recent and urgent CABG or fibrinolytic therapy.

In the event of a bleed, it is recommended to manage the bleeding without stopping Brilinta, as stopping Brilinta increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. After the initial aspirin dose, people should avoid taking more than 100 milligrams (mg) of aspirin per day because daily doses over 100 milligrams can interfere with how well Brilinta works.

Brilinta (ticagrelor ) is an oral prescription drug used to prevent serious or life-threatening heart attack, stroke, or death in people who have had a heart attack or have a condition called acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Brilinta is in a drug class called antiplatelet medications. It works by preventing blood cells called platelets from making clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke.

Brand Name(s): Brilinta

Therapeutic Classification: Antiplatelet drug

Dosage Form(s): Tablet

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Brilinta to:

Brilinta is usually taken with a 75 milligram (mg) to 100 milligrams daily dose of aspirin (not to exceed 100 milligrams of aspirin per day).

Once you receive your Brilinta prescription, read the prescription label and the information leaflet that comes with it. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions. Use Brilinta exactly as directed, and do not skip doses. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Brilinta to take and when to take it.

When taking Brilinta, remember to:

If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, you can crush the tablet. Mix with water, and drink all of the water immediately. Fill the glass with water again, stir, and drink all of it.

Brilinta makes you more likely to bleed. Contact your healthcare provider right away or get emergency medical help if you have bleeding that won't stop. Do not stop taking Brilinta unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop. Stopping Brilinta can increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke.

Store at room temperature, away from heat, direct light, and moisture. Keep this medication out of reach and out of sight of children and pets. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Brilinta starts working after a few hours, but you have to keep taking it as directed so that it can keep working. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long to take Brilinta. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by your provider. Stopping Brilinta too soon can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.

The most common side effects of Brilinta are:

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

While many people tolerate Brilinta well, long-term or delayed side effects are possible. Some long-term side effects can be mild, such as:

Moderate long-term side effects can include:  

Severe long-term side effects may include:  

Brilinta may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Brilinta is an oral medication that comes in tablet form. Some people have trouble swallowing pills and may need to modify how they take them. If you have difficulty swallowing Brilinta, you can crush the tablet. Mix with water, and drink all of the water immediately. Fill the glass with water again, stir, and drink all of it.

Impaired liver function can increase the risk for bleeding and other side effects because the liver processes the medication. For this reason, people with severe liver problems should not use Brilinta. However, people with mild liver problems can take Brilinta with caution. Discuss the risks vs benefits with your healthcare provider. Generally, it is OK for people with kidney problems to take Brilinta, but consult your healthcare provider for more information.

People who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should consult their healthcare provider. You should not breastfeed while taking Brilinta because the drug is expected to be present in milk.

If you miss a dose of Brilinta, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses together at the same time.

Taking too much Brilinta can cause bleeding, stomach problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), or heart rate problems.

If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Brilinta, call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).

If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Brilinta, call 911 immediately.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Tell all medical doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists you go to that you are taking this medicine. Ticagrelor may increase the risk of serious bleeding during a surgery, other medical procedures (eg, coronary artery bypass graft or CABG), or some kinds of dental work. You may need to stop using this medicine at least 5 days before a surgery, medical procedure, or dental work. The results of some medical tests may also be affected by this medicine.

Do not change your dose or stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of having a heart attack, blood clotting problems, or other serious conditions.

While you are using this medicine, if you have any kind of bleeding, it may take longer than usual to stop, especially if you hurt yourself. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

This medicine may increase your chance of bleeding or bruising. Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin. Avoid picking your nose. If you need to blow your nose, blow it gently.

Tell your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, or difficult or trouble breathing when asleep or awake. These could be symptoms of a serious lung or breathing problem (eg, central sleep apnea, Cheyne-Stokes respiration).

This medicine may cause heart rhythm problems (eg, bradyarrhythmia). Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, trouble breathing, slow or irregular heartbeat, or unusual tiredness.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Brilinta is not appropriate for everyone. You should not take this medication if you are allergic to ticagrelor or any of the inactive ingredients in Brilinta. 

You also should not take Brilinta:

This medication may also not be appropriate for people who underwent a recent and urgent CABG. In this case, your healthcare provider will weigh the risks versus benefits and may monitor Brilinta's use.

Brilinta may be prescribed with caution in some people only if the healthcare provider determines it is safe. This includes:

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and vitamins or supplements. The following drugs may interact with Brilinta.

Brilinta interacts with drugs known as strong CYP3A inhibitors. These drugs interfere with how the body processes Brilinta, resulting in higher Brilinta levels. This can increase the risk of side effects like bleeding and shortness of breath. Examples of these drugs include:

Brilinta also interacts with drugs known as strong CYP3A inducers. These drugs have the opposite effect. They decrease Brilinta levels, making Brilinta less effective. Examples of these drugs include:

Although aspirin is taken along with Brilinta, aspirin doses of 100 milligrams or more per day can decrease the effectiveness of Brilinta and should be avoided. If you take any other OTC medicines for pain or cold and cough, make sure they do not contain aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ask your pharmacist if you need help with the ingredients.

Avoid drinking alcohol if you take Brilinta with aspirin. Alcohol taken with aspirin can increase the risk of stomach bleeding.

Opioid pain medications can decrease the effectiveness of Brilinta. Examples of opioids include:

Zocor (simvastatin) and Mevacor (lovastatin) interact with Brilinta. Brilinta increases levels of these cholesterol medications, which will require a dosage adjustment of the cholesterol medicine.

People who take digoxin will require close monitoring of digoxin levels while taking Brilinta.

Other drug interactions may occur with Brilinta. Consult your healthcare provider for a complete list of drug interactions.

Brilinta is a blood thinner. There are two types of blood thinners: antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Brilinta is an antiplatelet drug.

Brilinta is used, along with a daily low dose of aspirin (75 to 100 milligrams but not more than 100 milligrams) to:

Brilinta works by preventing platelets (a type of blood cell) from making clots that can cause a stroke or heart attack.

Brilinta interacts with various drugs, including certain antibiotics, heart medications, and cholesterol medications. Before taking Brilinta, tell your healthcare provider about all of the medications you take, including prescription and OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements.

Brilinta starts working within a few hours. However, you have to keep taking the medication as directed so that it can keep working. Your healthcare provider will tell you how long to take Brilinta. Stopping Brilinta too early may increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack, so do not stop taking the medication unless instructed by your healthcare provider.

The most common side effects of Brilinta are bleeding, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. Before taking Brilinta, talk with your healthcare provider about what side effects to expect and what to do if you experience them.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how long to take Brilinta. Do not stop taking this medication without guidance from your healthcare provider. Stopping Brilinta too soon can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Before taking Brilinta, discuss your medical history and all medications you take with your healthcare provider. 

When taking Brilinta, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for use. Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your prescription and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

When you take a blood thinner, you are more prone to bleeding, and bleeding can take longer to stop. Here are some tips to help you stay as safe as possible:

Verywell Health's drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.

Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health.

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

Prescribers’ Digital Reference. Ticagrelor - drug summary.

Berwanger O, Lopes RD, Moia DDF, et al. Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with STEMI treated with fibrinolysis: TREAT trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(22):2819-2828. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.03.011

Lawton JS, Tamis-Holland JE, Bangalore S, et al. 2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI guideline for coronary artery revascularization: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on clinical practice guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(2) e21-e129. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.09.006

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.