Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. 

This is Effient, and you should take your dose exactly as directed. Effient is usually taken with aspirin, so ask your doctor what dose of aspirin is right for you.  However, do not take any additional aspirin.

Effient reduces your risk of dangerous blood clots. This lowers your chance of having a heart attack or other serious problems with your blood vessels. 

Mild side effects are expected, like easy bruising or bleeding. It may also take longer for bleeding to stop. If these or other reasons make you want to stop taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. But, don't stop taking it unless the doctor who prescribed it says it's okay. 

You should call your doctor right away if you have bleeding that is unexpected, prolonged or excessive, or if you have blood in your urine or stool. In rare cases, other serious side effects can occur. Call your doctor right away if you notice unusual changes to your body, like fever, weakness, purple skin patches, yellow eyes or skin, or allergic reactions like a rash or breathing problems. 

To reduce side effects and interactions, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all of the medicines you take, even if they don't require a prescription. 

Also, tell your dentists and other doctors that you take Effient. If you need to stop taking it for surgery, check with your prescribing doctor first. 

For best results, continue taking Effient to lower your chance of a heart attack, and read the medication guide for full information.