New Delhi. Clopidogrel is an important antiplatelet (anti clotting) drug that is effective in preventing thrombotic (heart attack) events, especially for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (balloon angioplasty) said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India.

A study from the Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, and published in J Clin Pharm Ther has concluded that smoking is a significant factor affecting the pharmacokinetics of clopidogrel, following administration of a single 75 mg dose in healthy young volunteers. The study supports smoking-cessation recommendations in all patients on clopidogrel.

In the study, 76 healthy adult male volunteers were selected randomly. Each subject received a single 75 mg oral dose of clopidogrel after overnight fast. Clopidogrel carboxylate plasma levels were measured.

One-third of volunteers were smokers (n = 27). Smokers had lower area under the curve (smokers: 6.24 ± 2.32 microg/h/mL vs. non-smokers: 8.93 ± 3.80 microg/h/mL, P < 0.001) and shorter half-life (smokers: 5.46 ± 2.99 vs. non-smokers: 8.43 ± 4.26, P = 0.001).

Earlier studies have also shown that BP drugs are not effective in patients who continue to smoke. This study gives one more reason for smoker heart patients to quit.