What Is Ticagrelor?

Ticagrelor is a prescription antiplatelet medication that prevents blood clots by stopping platelets from sticking together, reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.

Sold under the brand name Brilinta (and Brilique outside the U.S.), Ticagrelor belongs to a class of drugs called P2Y12 platelet inhibitors. It was developed by AstraZeneca and first approved by the FDA in 2011. Ticagrelor is not a controlled substance. Generic versions have been available since 2023, making it significantly more affordable for most patients.

What Is Ticagrelor Used For?

Ticagrelor is FDA-approved for three main uses:

1. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) — To reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in patients who have had a heart attack or unstable angina. This is the most common use.
2. Coronary artery disease (CAD) — To reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke in high-risk patients with established coronary artery disease.
3. Ischemic stroke or TIA — To reduce the risk of stroke in patients who have had an acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Ticagrelor is also sometimes used off-label for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and for patients who cannot tolerate other antiplatelet medications like Clopidogrel (Plavix).

How Is Ticagrelor Taken?

Ticagrelor comes in two tablet strengths:

• 90 mg tablets — typically used for the first year after a heart attack or ACS event (taken twice daily)
• 60 mg tablets — often used for long-term maintenance therapy (taken twice daily)

Key dosing instructions:

• Take one tablet twice daily, about 12 hours apart
• Take it with or without food
• Always take it with low-dose aspirin (75–100 mg daily) — this is essential for the medication to work properly
• Do not take aspirin doses above 100 mg/day — higher aspirin doses actually reduce Ticagrelor's effectiveness (this is an FDA boxed warning)
• If you can't swallow tablets, they can be crushed and mixed with water
• Never stop taking Ticagrelor without talking to your doctor — stopping suddenly increases your risk of heart attack and stroke

For more on how Ticagrelor works in your body, see our guide: How Does Ticagrelor Work?

Who Should Not Take Ticagrelor?

Ticagrelor is not right for everyone. You should not take Ticagrelor if you have:

• Active bleeding — such as a stomach ulcer or recent surgery with ongoing bleeding
• History of intracranial hemorrhage — bleeding in the brain at any point
• Moderate to severe liver disease — impaired liver function increases bleeding risk and drug levels
• Allergy to Ticagrelor — or any ingredient in the formulation

You should also tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Clarithromycin, or Ritonavir (these are contraindicated with Ticagrelor)
• Have asthma or COPD (Ticagrelor can cause shortness of breath)
• Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• Have upcoming surgery — your doctor may need to pause Ticagrelor temporarily

For a complete list of medications to watch out for, read our Ticagrelor drug interactions guide.

How Much Does Ticagrelor Cost?

Ticagrelor costs vary significantly depending on whether you use brand or generic, and whether you have insurance:

• Brand Brilinta: approximately $400–$500 for a 30-day supply (60 tablets) without insurance
• Generic Ticagrelor: approximately $31 for a 30-day supply with a SingleCare or similar discount coupon
• Generic without coupon: approximately $444 retail
• With insurance: generic Ticagrelor is typically covered as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 drug on most commercial plans and Medicare Part D

AstraZeneca offers a Brilinta Savings Card for commercially insured patients that may reduce your copay to as low as $18/month. For uninsured or underinsured patients, the AZ&Me patient assistance program may provide Ticagrelor for free (call 1-800-292-6363 or visit azandmeapp.com).

Want more ways to save? Check out our complete guide on how to save money on Ticagrelor.

Final Thoughts

Ticagrelor is a proven, widely used medication that helps protect people with heart disease and stroke from future cardiovascular events. With generic options now available, it's more accessible and affordable than ever. The most important things to remember are: take it exactly as prescribed, always pair it with low-dose aspirin, and never stop taking it without your doctor's approval.

If you need to fill your Ticagrelor prescription, use Medfinder to find pharmacies near you with availability and compare prices instantly.