Antiplatelet drug - Definition and Overview

An antiplatelet drug is a member of a class of pharmaceuticals that decreases platelet aggregation and inhibits thrombus formation. They are effective in the arterial circulation, where anticoagulants have little effect.

They are widely used in primary and secondary prevention of thrombotic cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease.

The most important antiplatelet drugs are :

• cyclooxygenase inhibitors
  • aspirin
• adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors
  • clopidogrel (Plavix)
  • ticlopidine (Ticlid)
• phosphodiesterase inhibitors
  • cilostazol (Pletal)
• glycoptrotein IIB/IIIA inhibitors (intravenous use only)
  • abciximab (ReoPro)
  • eptifibatide (Integrilin)
  • tirofiban (Aggrastat)
• adenosine reuptake inhibitors
  • dipyridamole (Persantine)

See also: anticoagulant drug, thrombolytic drug