Description: Ticagrelor is an oral antiplatelet agent. It is a blood thinner that prevents platelets from clumping together to form dangerous blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Unlike some other antiplatelet drugs, Ticagrelor is a direct-acting drug that does not need to be metabolized to be active. It is often used in combination with aspirin.

Indication: Ticagrelor is indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke in patients with:

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) or a history of myocardial infarction.
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) who are at high risk for a first heart attack or stroke.
• Acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Mechanism of Action: Ticagrelor is a selective and reversible P2Y12 receptor antagonist. The P2Y12 receptor is located on the surface of platelets. When adenosine diphosphate (ADP) binds to this receptor, it causes platelets to activate and aggregate, leading to the formation of a blood clot. Ticagrelor works by binding to this receptor, preventing ADP from binding and thus inhibiting platelet activation and aggregation. It also weakly inhibits the uptake of adenosine, which further contributes to its antiplatelet effect.