Brilinta (ticagrelor) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with certain cardiovascular conditions.
Brilinta belongs to a class of drugs called antiplatelet agents. For some conditions, it’s prescribed together with aspirin.*
Brilinta comes as an oral tablet. It’s not available as a generic drug.
For information about the dosage of Brilinta, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Brilinta, see this article.
* Brilinta has a
This article describes typical dosages for Brilinta provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Brilinta, always follow the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Brilinta’s typical dosages are described below.
Brilinta form
Brilinta comes as a tablet that you swallow.
Brilinta strengths
Brilinta tablets come in the following strengths:
- 60 milligrams (mg)
- 90 mg
Typical dosages
Your doctor will prescribe the Brilinta dosage that’s recommended for the condition being treated.
The following information describes Brilinta dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for preventing serious cardiovascular events
Brilinta is used to help prevent stroke and heart attack in adults with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The drug is also used to help prevent these events in people who had a heart attack in the last 12 months.
The typical Brilinta dosing schedule is as follows:
- Loading dose: 180 milligrams (mg) on the first day of treatment*
- Maintenance dosage: 90 mg twice per day for 1 year, then 60 mg twice per day
* A loading dose is a higher dose of medication at the beginning of treatment so that the drug can start working more quickly.
Dosage for preventing blood clots following stent placement
Brilinta is used to help prevent blood clots in adults who have had stent placement to treat ACS. This procedure helps increase blood flow to the heart.
The typical Brilinta dosing schedule is as follows:
- Loading dose: 180 mg on the first day of treatment
- Maintenance dosage: 90 mg twice per day for 1 year, then 60 mg twice per day
Dosage for preventing heart attack and stroke
Brilinta is used to help prevent a first heart attack or stroke in certain adults with coronary artery disease.
For this use, your doctor will prescribe Brilinta in combination with aspirin.*
The table below shows the typical dosages for Brilinta and aspirin when taken together.
| Medication | Dose | Frequency |
| Brilinta | 60 mg | twice per day |
| aspirin | 75 mg to 100 mg | once per day |
* Brilinta has a
Dosage for preventing stroke from a blood clot
Brilinta is used to help prevent a stroke from a blood clot in adults who have had a stroke in the past.
For this use, your doctor will prescribe a loading dose of aspirin.* You’ll take this in combination with Brilinta’s loading dose.
The table below shows the typical dosages for Brilinta and aspirin when taken together.
| Medication | Loading dose on the first day of treatment | Maintenance dosage for up to 30 days |
| Brilinta | 180 mg | 90 mg twice per day |
| aspirin | 300 mg to 325 mg | 75 mg to 100 mg once per day |
* Brilinta has a
Long-term treatment
Brilinta is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment for some of its approved uses. If you and your doctor determine that Brilinta is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
If you have questions about your treatment plan or how long you’ll be taking Brilinta, talk with your doctor.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Brilinta.
Is there a loading dose for Brilinta?
Yes, there’s a Brilinta loading dose for certain conditions, such as acute coronary syndrome (a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart).
A loading dose is a first dose that’s higher than the next dose. It‘s used to quickly increase the level of Brilinta in your blood to a level where it can start working right away. Brilinta’s typical loading dose is 180 milligrams (mg). You’ll take it on the first day of treatment. Then, your doctor will lower your dose to maintain a steady level of Brilinta in your body.
To learn more about Brilinta’s dosages, see the “Brilinta dosage” section above. If you have questions about Brilinta’s loading dose, talk with your doctor.
Does Brilinta have once-daily dosing?
No, Brilinta doesn’t have once-daily dosing. The recommended Brilinta dose is taken twice per day.
However, for certain conditions, there’s a one-time loading dose of Brilinta. A loading dose is a first dose that’s higher than the next dose. This is so the drug can start working more quickly. Brilinta’s loading dose is taken only at the start of treatment for certain conditions.
Also, if your doctor prescribes aspirin in combination with Brilinta, you’ll take the aspirin once per day.*
To learn more about Brilinta’s dosages, see the “Brilinta dosage” section above. If you have more questions about Brilinta’s dosing schedule, talk with your doctor.
* Brilinta has a
How can I be sure I don’t take too much aspirin with my Brilinta dose?
It’s possible to accidentally take too much aspirin with your Brilinta dose. Be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes. If you have questions about it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Keep in mind that Brilinta has a
Also, several over-the-counter (OTC) medications contain aspirin. So before taking any OTC medications, be sure to read the package label to check whether it contains aspirin. For example, Excedrin and Kaopectate contain aspirin.
If you’re unsure about what OTC medications are safe for you to take with Brilinta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can also help you find other ways to make sure you do not take too much aspirin with Brilinta. You can read more about aspirin in this article.
* A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. To learn more, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.
If you miss a dose of Brilinta, take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not double the dose to make up for the one you missed. Even if you miss two doses of Brilinta, be sure to take only one dose at your next scheduled time. Doubling doses will increase your risk of mild and severe side effects. (To view Brilinta’s possible side effects, you can read this article.)
If you have questions about missed doses of Brilinta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
The Brilinta dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Brilinta to treat
- your age
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Brilinta dosage.
If you have questions about how your health or age affects your dosage, talk with your doctor.
Brilinta comes as a tablet that you’ll swallow. You’ll typically take it twice per day. You can take Brilinta with or without food.
You should take your Brilinta doses about 12 hours apart. It may be helpful to take your doses around the same times every day, such as morning and evening. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Brilinta can work effectively.
If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Brilinta in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
It’s important that you do not take more Brilinta than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose. To view Brilinta’s possible side effects, see this article.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Brilinta
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Brilinta. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Brilinta for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Brilinta without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Brilinta that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Brilinta. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Brilinta. For information about other aspects of Brilinta, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. Learn how Brilinta compares with Plavix and Effient.
- Cost. To learn about Brilinta and cost, see this article.
- Details about your condition. For details about heart attack, stroke, and blood clots, see our cardiovascular health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
