Vorapaxar (Zontivity) – Side Effects, Interactions, Uses, Dosage, Warnings

You should not use vorapaxar if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• active bleeding;
• stomach or intestinal bleeding;
• a head injury or bleeding in your head;
• a history of stroke;
• a history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or "mini-stroke"; or
• a history of bleeding in your brain or increased pressure inside the skull.

Vorapaxar increases your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening, especially if:

• you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
• you are an older adult;
• you are underweight;
• you have liver or kidney disease;
• you take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven);
• you take certain antidepressants (Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Effexor, and others); or
• you take an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any heart procedures, such as:

• heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft, or CABG);
• angioplasty (a catheter is inserted to place a "stent" in a blood vessel to open up a blocked or narrowed artery); or
• coronary angiography (a special dye is injected into a blood vessel that allows your coronary arteries to be easily seen on an x-ray).

Vorapaxar may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using vorapaxar.