Brilinta 90 mg tablets: Uses, dosage, and safety

Brilinta is a prescription antiplatelet medicine (blood thinner that helps prevent clots). It is commonly used after certain heart or stroke-related events; this page summarizes how Brilinta 90 mg is used, along with dosing basics, key safety points, and handling. The goal is to help patients understand what to review with their clinician and what to watch for over time.

What Brilinta Is and How It Works

Brilinta contains ticagrelor, a P2Y12 receptor antagonist that reduces platelet activation and platelet clumping. By lowering platelet activity, it can reduce the risk of clot-driven events such as heart attack, ischemic stroke, or certain complications after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). CanadianInsulin can help verify prescription details with your prescriber when required, but treatment decisions remain with your clinical team.

This medicine is often used with low-dose aspirin as part of a broader cardiovascular prevention plan. Some patients explore Ships from Canada to US options as part of cross-border medication access planning, depending on eligibility and jurisdiction. Because antiplatelet therapy affects bleeding risk, it is important to understand the intended indication, the expected duration, and what other medicines may raise bleeding risk.

Who It’s For

Brilinta may be prescribed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in people with acute coronary syndrome or a prior heart attack. It may also be used in certain people after an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and in some higher-risk coronary artery disease situations when a clinician determines benefits outweigh risks. Your prescriber considers factors such as the event type, stent history, bleeding history, and other medical conditions.

This treatment is not appropriate for everyone. It is typically avoided in people with active pathological bleeding, a history of intracranial hemorrhage, or severe liver impairment, and it may be held around some procedures based on clinician guidance. For background on related conditions, browse hubs such as Heart Attack, Coronary Artery Disease, and Ischemic Stroke.

Dosage and Usage

Dosing depends on the reason it is prescribed and where you are in treatment. For many ACS-related plans, clinicians start with a one-time loading dose and then continue with a twice-daily maintenance schedule; for some longer-term prevention strategies, a prescriber may later transition to a different strength. Follow the prescription label and the prescriber’s instructions, and do not change how you take it without clinical direction. In many cases, Brilinta 90 mg is taken twice daily, with or without food.

If the medicine is paired with aspirin, the aspirin dose matters. Labels commonly specify a low daily aspirin maintenance range, because higher aspirin doses may reduce ticagrelor’s benefit and increase harm. Tell your care team about any planned dental work or surgery, since holding antiplatelet therapy can change clotting risk.

Quick tip: Keep an updated medication list in your wallet or phone.

Strengths and Forms

Brilinta is supplied as oral tablets. The most common strengths are 90 mg and 60 mg, and strength selection is tied to indication and treatment phase. Availability of specific package sizes may vary by pharmacy and jurisdiction, and your prescription should state the strength and directions clearly.

The table below is a simple reference for what patients may see on a label:

If you are unsure which strength you have, verify the tablet imprint and bottle label with a pharmacist before taking a dose.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets at controlled room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture. Keep the bottle tightly closed and out of reach of children and pets. Avoid storing medicines in a bathroom cabinet where humidity can be high. If a pill organizer is used, refill it in a dry area and confirm you can still identify each tablet.

For travel, carry tablets in the original labeled container when possible, and pack doses in a carry-on bag to reduce loss risk. If you are comparing heart-related therapies across a broader regimen, you can browse Cardiovascular Products and educational updates in Cardiovascular Articles.

Why it matters: Missed doses can raise clot risk, while extra doses can raise bleeding risk.

Side Effects and Safety

Because it changes platelet function, bleeding is the main safety concern. Common effects can include easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bleeding that lasts longer than expected. Some people report shortness of breath (dyspnea), which can be mild and transient but should be discussed with a clinician, especially if it is new, severe, or linked to chest symptoms. Headache, dizziness, and nausea may also occur.

Seek urgent evaluation for symptoms that may indicate serious bleeding or an emergency, such as coughing or vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, severe or persistent headache, sudden weakness, trouble speaking, or fainting. The risk profile is shaped by age, kidney or liver disease, prior bleeding, and the use of other medicines that affect clotting. If Brilinta 90 mg is being stopped for a procedure, the timing should be guided by the prescriber who understands your cardiac history.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Many interactions relate to bleeding risk or to how ticagrelor is metabolized. Combining antiplatelet therapy with anticoagulants, other antiplatelets, NSAIDs, or certain antidepressants can increase bleeding risk. Strong CYP3A inhibitors or inducers can change ticagrelor levels, and some medicines may raise levels of other drugs (for example, certain statins or digoxin) when taken together. Always share a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements.

Aspirin use deserves special attention. Maintenance aspirin doses above what the label recommends may reduce benefit and increase harm, so confirm the aspirin dose on your regimen. If you are managing multiple cardiovascular risk factors, related reading includes Diabetes And High Blood Pressure, Bad Cholesterol And Diabetes, and Peripheral Artery Disease Pad. For broader context on vascular risk, see Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease.

Compare With Alternatives

Brilinta 90 mg is one of several antiplatelet options used to lower clot-related risk after specific cardiovascular events. Other P2Y12 inhibitors include clopidogrel and prasugrel, and some regimens use aspirin alone or in combination based on indication, stent history, genetics, and bleeding risk. These medicines are not interchangeable without clinician input, and switching can require careful planning to avoid gaps in antiplatelet effect.

It also helps to distinguish antiplatelets from medicines that treat other symptoms. For example, anti-inflammatory pain relievers may affect bleeding risk when combined with antiplatelet therapy. If you are also reviewing another prescription such as Celebrex, ask your pharmacist to screen the full regimen for additive bleeding risk and procedure-related precautions. For lifestyle and risk-reduction context, see Heart Health With Diabetes.

Pricing and Access

Coverage and out-of-pocket amounts vary by plan, region, and the indication listed on the prescription. The availability of generic ticagrelor, formulary rules, and prior authorization requirements can all affect what a patient pays at the pharmacy. Dispensing is handled by licensed third-party pharmacies where permitted, which can influence which programs or billing pathways apply.

For people paying cash or managing gaps in coverage, documentation needs may include a current prescription, prescriber contact details, and confirmation of the intended therapy. If you are comparing options without insurance, it can help to ask about generic availability, tablet strength selection, and whether additional clinical notes are required for coverage review. A stable overview of site-wide program updates is available on the Promotions Page, though eligibility and terms can vary by jurisdiction.

Cross-border fulfilment may be an option depending on eligibility and jurisdiction, and medication selection must follow local rules. If you use multiple pharmacies, keep one reconciled medication list and share it at every visit to reduce duplication and interaction risk.

Authoritative Sources

For prescribing details and boxed warnings, refer to the official label on DailyMed for Brilinta.

For antiplatelet therapy background in heart disease care, review American Heart Association resources.

For general drug safety communications and approvals, see FDA Drugs information.

When fulfilment is permitted, medications are typically transported using prompt, express, cold-chain shipping as clinically appropriate.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.