What are the side effects of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel?
Side effects unique to ticagrelor include dyspnea (which occurs in up to 15% of patients within the first week of treatment but is rarely severe enough to cause discontinuation of treatment)293 and bradycardia. Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor has a more rapid and consistent onset of action and, because it is reversible, it has a faster recovery of platelet function. Although overall major bleeding was not increased with ticagrelor, a modest increase in major bleeding and non procedure-related bleeding occurred in the subgroup of patients who did not undergo CABG (major bleeding: 4.5% versus 2.3%; P=0.05); however, there was no difference in blood transfusion or fatal bleeding.305