Plavix (clopidogrel) is a drug from the antiplatelet family that is used in the prevention of blood clots. Clopidogrel prevents platelets from clumping together to form a clot in your blood. Blood clots cause about 90% of heart attacks and more than 85% of strokes. Plavix has been proven to be effective in keeping the platelets from sticking together and forming clots. Once you've had a clot-related condition, your risk for another never goes away. Plavix can protect you if you've had a recent heart attack or stroke, or are experiencing pain in your legs due to poor circulation.

Plavix benefits in:

* Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg further heart attacks) in people who have had a heart attack.

* Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg further strokes) in people who have had a stroke caused by a blood clot (ischaemic stroke).

* Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events in peripheral arterial disease.

* Reducing risk of atherothrombotic events (eg heart attack, stroke, further heart attacks or death) in people having severe chest pain caused by unstable angina or a heart attack (in this case the medicine is given in combination with aspirin as part of other emergency treatment).