Clopidogrel vs Ticagrelor: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Clopidogrel | Ticagrelor | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | – | P2Y12 Platelet Inhibitor |
| Brand names | – | – |
| FAERS reports | 197,000 | 31,704 |
| Serious | 81% | 76% |
| Death outcome | 21,779 | 3,436 |
| Boxed warning | Yes DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS IN POOR METABOLIZERS The effectiveness of clopidogrel is dependent on its activation to an active metabolite by the cytochrome P450 (CY | Yes BLEEDING RISK Ticagrelor tablets, like other antiplatelet agents, can cause significant, sometimes fatal bleeding ( 5.1 , 6.1 ). Do not use ticagrelor tablets i |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Clopidogrel | Ticagrelor | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute coronary syndrome | 774 · PRR 10.8 | 204 · PRR 16.6 | Labeled — boxed warning / Likely indication confounding |
| Retroperitoneal haematoma | 229 · PRR 12.3 | 45 · PRR 13.8 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Acute myocardial infarction | 3,083 · PRR 12.3 | 720 · PRR 16.5 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Coronary artery occlusion | 1,659 · PRR 14.4 | 596 · PRR 29.9 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Vascular stent thrombosis | 642 · PRR 48.9 | 723 · PRR 366.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Likely indication confounding |
| Angina unstable | 820 · PRR 15.1 | 258 · PRR 27.0 | Likely indication confounding / Not in label — unassessed |
| Thrombosis in device | 544 · PRR 20.8 | 335 · PRR 74.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Coronary artery stenosis | 700 · PRR 17.0 | 174 · PRR 23.6 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Coronary artery thrombosis | 258 · PRR 15.4 | 79 · PRR 26.8 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Coronary artery restenosis | 173 · PRR 42.7 | 52 · PRR 62.5 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
Labeled signals distinctive to Clopidogrel
- Gastrointestinal haemorrhage — n=8,285, PRR 11.5 Labeled adverse reaction
- Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage — n=1,605, PRR 11.1 Labeled (related wording)
- Ulcer haemorrhage — n=998, PRR 18.3 Labeled (related wording)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura — n=456, PRR 15.7 Labeled — boxed warning
- Retroperitoneal haemorrhage — n=253, PRR 12.0 Labeled adverse reaction
- Diverticulum intestinal haemorrhagic — n=249, PRR 13.0 Labeled (related wording)
- Blood loss anaemia — n=216, PRR 11.3 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Ticagrelor
- Cardiac ventricular thrombosis — n=53, PRR 28.9 Labeled (related wording)
- Bradyarrhythmia — n=34, PRR 14.0 Labeled adverse reaction
- Cheyne-stokes respiration — n=14, PRR 39.1 Labeled adverse reaction
- Platelet aggregation inhibition — n=13, PRR 108.6 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor?
Clopidogrel has 197,000 FAERS reports and Ticagrelor 31,704. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (81% vs 76%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Clopidogrel and Ticagrelor share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for acute coronary syndrome, retroperitoneal haematoma, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery occlusion, vascular stent thrombosis. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.