Clopidogrel Bisulfate
Brand names: Clopidogrel, Plavix
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 12,527,027
- Medicare drug cost
- $143.6M
- Average cost per prescription
- $11.46
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 209,112
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Clopidogrel tablets is a P2Y 12 platelet inhibitor indicated for: • Acute coronary syndrome - For patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS(unstable angina [UA]/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), clopidogrel tablets has been shown to reduce the rate of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. - For patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), clopidogrel tablets has been shown to reduce the rate of MI and stroke. • Recent MI, recent stroke, or established peripheral arterial disease. Clopidogrel tablets has been shown to reduce the rate of MI and stroke. 1.1 Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated May 2026). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
WARNING: DIMINISHED ANTIPLATELET EFFECT IN PATIENTS WITH TWO LOSS-OF-FUNCTION ALLELES OF THE CYP2C19 GENE The effectiveness of clopidogrel tablets results from its antiplatelet activity, which is dependent on its conversion to an active metabolite by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, principally CYP2C19. Clopidogrel tablets at recommended doses forms less of the active metabolite and so has a reduced effect on platelet activity in patients who are homozygous for nonfunctional alleles of the CYP2C19 gene, (termed “CYP2C19 poor metabolizers”). Tests are available to identify patients who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers. Consider use of another platelet P2Y12 inhibitor in patients identified as CYP2C19 poor metabolizers.
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 22.5%
- Internal Medicine 20.9%
- Nurse Practitioners 16.7%
- Cardiology 15.1%
- Interventional Cardiology 8.9%
- Physician Assistants 5.4%
- General Practice 1.9%
- Vascular Surgery 1.8%
- Geriatric Medicine 1.4%
- Neurology 1.1%
- Hospitalist 0.9%
- Cardiac Electrophysiology 0.7%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions fell 1% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Utah +25%
- Alaska +12%
- Arizona +9%
- Florida +9%
- Wyoming +7%
- Rhode Island (smallest change) −21%
- New York (smallest change) −11%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 4 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mg | pink round tablet, 9 mm | CL75 |
Bryant Ranch Prepack
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mg | pink round tablet, 9 mm | MC5 |
Pd-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mg | pink round tablet, 9 mm | 41 |
Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 75 mg | pink round tablet, 9 mm | C7 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
No industry payments to clinicians named this drug in 2025.
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
1 recall since 2020
- Aug 2021 · Macleods Pharma Usa Inc · Class II
Presence of foreign matter
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.