Abramson, Brown & Dugan Attorneys

The FDA is warning consumers not to mix certain heartburn drugs like Prilosec with Plavix, an anti-clotting drug.  Tests have shown that Prilosec (available over the counter) and Nexium (available by prescription) interfere with Plavix's ability to block platelet aggregation (it's anti-clotting effect).  Studies have shown that the drug interaction may cause Plavix's effectiveness to be reduced by 50%.  Plavix, an anti-clotting drug, is used to prevent the blood clots that typically lead to heart attacks and strokes.

The FDA noted that Plavix does not have anti-clotting effects until it is converted or metabolized into its active form with the help of a liver enzyme. Prilosec, which is a proton pump inhibitor designed to block acid build-up in the stomach, blocks that enzyme, thereby reducing the effectiveness of Plavix.