March 30, 2015 — AstraZeneca announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new administration option for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who are unable to swallow ticagrelor (Brilinta) 90 mg tablets whole. Unlike other P2Y12 inhibitors, ticagrelor has FDA approval to be crushed and administered in water by swallowing or via nasogastric tube.
In the general population, survey data show that 40 percent of adults experience problems swallowing pills. This difficulty may increase with age. Moreover, some patients who experience a heart attack have difficulty swallowing medications in the emergency setting. This new administration option for ticagrelor gives healthcare professionals flexibility in treating their ACS patients.
Ticagrelor is indicated to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with ACS (unstable angina [UA], non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI], or ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI]). Ticagrelor has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined end point of CV death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke compared to clopidogrel. The difference between treatments was driven by CV death and MI with no difference in stroke. In patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it also reduces the rate of stent thrombosis.
Ticagrelor has been studied in ACS in combination with aspirin. Maintenance doses of aspirin >100 mg decreased the effectiveness of ticagrelor. Avoid maintenance doses of aspirin >100 mg daily.
For more information: www.astrazeneca-us.com
August 28, 2023 
