Clopidogrel

DRUG INFORMATION

  ADULT
    - Initiate aspirin (75 to 325 mg once daily) and continue in combination with
      clopidogrel tablets [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 ) ]. • For patients with STEMI,
      the recommended dose of clopidogrel tablets is 75 mg once daily orally,
      administered in combination with aspirin (75 to 325 mg once daily), with or
      without thrombolytics.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Clopidogrel tablets may be initiated with or without a loading dose [ see Clinical
      Studies ( 14.1 ) ]. 2.2 Recent MI, Recent Stroke, or Established Peripheral
      Arterial Disease The recommended daily dose of clopidogrel tablets is 75 mg once
      daily orally, with or without food [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ]. 2.3
      CYP2C19 Poor Metabolizers CYP2C19 poor metabolizer status is associated with
      diminished antiplatelet response to clopidogrel.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'dosage and
      administration', retrieved 2026-08-29

  CHILD
    - Safety and effectiveness in pediatric populations have not been established. A
      randomized, placebo-controlled trial (CLARINET) did not demonstrate a clinical
      benefit of clopidogrel in neonates and infants with cyanotic congenital heart
      disease palliated with a systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunt.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'pediatric use',
      retrieved 2026-08-29

  RENAL IMPAIRMENT
    - No dosage adjustment is necessary in elderly patients. 8.6 Renal Impairment
      Experience is limited in patients with severe and moderate renal impairment [ see
      Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 ) ]. 8.7 Hepatic Impairment No dosage adjustment is
      necessary in patients with hepatic impairment [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 )
      ].
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'use in specific
      populations', retrieved 2026-08-29

  HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT
    - No dosage adjustment is necessary in elderly patients. 8.6 Renal Impairment
      Experience is limited in patients with severe and moderate renal impairment [ see
      Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 ) ]. 8.7 Hepatic Impairment No dosage adjustment is
      necessary in patients with hepatic impairment [ see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 )
      ].
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'use in specific
      populations', retrieved 2026-08-29

  PREGNANCY   [ CAUTION ]
    The label allows it only when the benefit is judged to outweigh the risk. Read the
      quote below.
    - Teratogenic Effects Pregnancy Category B Reproduction studies performed in rats
      and rabbits at doses up to 500 and 300 mg/kg/day, respectively (65 and 78 times
      the recommended daily human dose, respectively, on a mg/m 2 basis), revealed no
      evidence of impaired fertility or fetotoxicity due to clopidogrel.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'pregnancy', retrieved
      2026-08-29
    - There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'pregnancy', retrieved
      2026-08-29
    - Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of a human response,
      clopidogrel should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'pregnancy', retrieved
      2026-08-29

  BREASTFEEDING
    - Studies in rats have shown that clopidogrel and/or its metabolites are excreted in
      the milk.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'nursing mothers',
      retrieved 2026-08-29
    - It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'nursing mothers',
      retrieved 2026-08-29
    - Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for
      serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from clopidogrel, a decision should
      be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into
      account the importance of the drug to the mother.
      Source: US FDA label for clopidogrel (Clopidogrel), section 'nursing mothers',
      retrieved 2026-08-29