ZAJ asked
Does Brilinta worsen cough? I have COPD and have a history of heart attack. I was switched from Advair to Breo and started Brilinta months ago.
Answer
Brilinta (Ticagrelor) is an anti-platelet medication, used for the treatment of ACS (acute coronary syndrome) and in those with a prior history of heart attack.
In clinical trials for Brilinta, cough is a listed as a possible adverse reaction, with about 4.9% of those taking the drug experiencing it.
Somewhat related to cough, Brilinta was also associated in clinical trials with symptoms of dyspnea (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing).
If dyspnea occurs, it has been reported to often be mild and generally resolves as treatment with Brilinta is continued. However, the prescribing information for Brilinta states that 0.9% of individuals needed to discontinue Brilinta due to this side effect.
It should be noted that Brilinta should not be discontinued suddenly and if the side effect doesn't go away, you should speak with your doctor regarding your options.
Lastly, although cough and shortness of breath are reported with Brilinta, the drug doesn't appear to affect lung function as studies have noted no adverse effects on lung function (as noted by FEV) after at least 6 months on the medication.
Brilinta (Ticagrelor) Information
Brilinta (Ticagrelor) is an oral anti-platelet medication used for acute coronary syndrome and in those with a prior history of heart attack.
After a one time loading dose, it is generally dosed as 90 mg twice daily, along with a once daily dose of aspirin. It is important that daily doses of over 100 mg of aspirin are not used as high doses may decrease the efficacy of Brilinta.
Adverse effects include:
- Cough/shortness of breath
- Slow heart rate
- Increased risk of bleeds
- Gynecomastia in men
- GI problems
Brilinta must be used cautiously in those taking certain prescription medications are Brilinta can be greatly affected by those that are metabolized by the same enzyme (CYP3A4)
Summary
- Coughing and shortness of breath have been reported in clinical trials for Brilinta.
- Severity appears to be mild to moderate and generally goes away as therapy is continued.
