Frequently asked
questions about
treatment with ZONTIVITY®
(vorapaxar) and glossary
When you begin a new treatment, you want to be fully informed. To help you feel confident that you’re making the best choice for your health, refer to these commonly asked questions about ZONTIVITY, and refer to the glossary for definitions on terms used on this site.
Note: The following information does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. For more information about ZONTIVITY, you can also read the Medication Guide available on this site.
Q: What makes ZONTIVITY different? 
As someone who has had a heart attack or has PAD, it’s important to lower your risk of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels. While you may already be taking aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix®), or both aspirin and clopidogrel to reduce your chance of developing blood clots, ZONTIVITY works in a different way to reduce your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels. 
Q: How should I take ZONTIVITY?
Take ZONTIVITY exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Take ZONTIVITY:
- 1 time each day
- with or without food
- with aspirin, clopidogrel, or both aspirin and clopidogrel, as prescribed by your doctor
Do not stop taking ZONTIVITY without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it for you.
If you take too much ZONTIVITY, call your doctor, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Q: What is the most important side effect I should be aware of with ZONTIVITY?
ZONTIVITY (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and lead to death. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding while taking ZONTIVITY:
- Bleeding that is severe or that you cannot control
- Pink, red, or brown urine
- Vomiting blood or your vomit looks like “coffee grounds”
- Red or black stools (looks like tar)
- Coughing up blood or blood clots
While you take ZONTIVITY and for about 4 weeks after your treatment with ZONTIVITY is stopped:
- You may bruise and bleed more easily (nose bleeds may be common)
- It will take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop
Q: Does ZONTIVITY have to be taken with aspirin, clopidogrel (also known as Plavix®), or both aspirin and clopidogrel?
Patients in the study were given ZONTIVITY with:
- aspirin alone –OR–
- clopidogrel alone –OR–
- both aspirin and clopidogrel
Take ZONTIVITY exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Q: Is it safe to take ZONTIVITY with other medicines?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary or herbal supplements. Taking ZONTIVITY with certain other medicines may increase your risk of bleeding and may affect how ZONTIVITY works.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
Q: Do I need to stop taking ZONTIVITY if I plan to undergo surgery?
Tell your doctor if you plan to have surgery or a dental procedure. You should tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking ZONTIVITY, and they should talk to the doctor who prescribed ZONTIVITY for you before you have any surgery or dental procedure.
Q: Will ZONTIVITY help relieve my PAD symptoms?
Improvement of PAD symptoms (such as trouble walking or pain in the legs) with ZONTIVITY treatment was not evaluated in the study.
Glossary
Arteries: Tube-shaped, branching muscular-walled and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart to all parts of the body
Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints
Blood clots: A thick and sticky clump of blood that stops blood from flowing through a blood vessel
Blood vessels: Any of the vessels through which blood circulates in the body
Cardiovascular: Of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
Cholesterol: A waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body
Diabetes: A disease that affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose)
Diabetic neuropathy: A type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes
Erectile dysfunction: The inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex
Heart disease: An abnormal condition of the heart or of the heart and blood circulation
High blood pressure: A condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is too high
Obesity: A condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body
Plaque: Fatty deposits of a substance that can accumulate in arteries and cause them to harden or narrow, restricting blood flow
Platelets: Very small cells in your blood that assist in blood clotting
Indication
ZONTIVITY is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have
- had a heart attack or
- reduced blood flow in their legs (peripheral arterial disease).
ZONTIVITY is used with aspirin and/or clopidogrel to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke, or death
Important Safety Information
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ZONTIVITY?
ZONTIVITY is used to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels, but ZONTIVITY (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and lead to death.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding while taking ZONTIVITY:
- bleeding that is severe or that you cannot control
- pink, red, or brown urine
- vomiting blood or your vomit looks like "coffee grounds"
- red or black stools (looks like tar)
- coughing up blood or blood clots.
While you take ZONTIVITY and for about 4 weeks after your treatment with ZONTIVITY is stopped:
- you may bruise and bleed more easily (nose bleeds may be common)
- it will take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop.
Do not take ZONTIVITY if you:
- have had a stroke or "mini stroke" (also known as transient ischemic attack or TIA)
- have had bleeding in your brain
- currently have unusual bleeding, such as bleeding in your head, stomach or intestines (an ulcer).
If you have a stroke, TIA, or bleeding in your brain while taking ZONTIVITY your doctor should stop your treatment with ZONTIVITY. Follow your doctor's instructions about stopping ZONTIVITY.
Take ZONTIVITY exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking ZONTIVITY without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it for you.
Before you take ZONTIVITY, tell your doctor if you:
- have had bleeding problems or history of stomach ulcers
- have had a stroke or "mini-stroke" (also known as transient ischemic attack or TIA)
- have had bleeding (hemorrhage) in your brain
- have had any recent serious injury or surgery
- plan to have surgery or a dental procedure
- have kidney problems or severe liver problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ZONTIVITY will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZONTIVITY passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take ZONTIVITY or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking ZONTIVITY with aspirin, with clopidogrel (Plavix®), or with aspirin and clopidogrel. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed ZONTIVITY for you before you have any surgery or dental procedure.
The possible side effects of ZONTIVITY include:
- Bleeding that can be serious and lead to death (see above)
- Anemia (low level of red blood cells)
- Depression
- Rash
These are not all the possible side effects of ZONTIVITY.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary or herbal supplements. Taking ZONTIVITY with certain other medicines may increase your risk of bleeding and may affect how ZONTIVITY works.
The risk information provided here is not comprehensive. To learn more, talk about ZONTIVITY with your pharmacist or other health care providers. The product information can be found at www.zontivity.com or call at 1-800-988-6115.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click here for Medication Guide, including Important Warning about bleeding risk.
Indication
ZONTIVITY is a prescription medicine used to treat people who have
- had a heart attack or
- reduced blood flow in their legs (peripheral arterial disease).
ZONTIVITY is used with aspirin and/or clopidogrel to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels, such as heart attack, stroke, or death
Important Safety Information
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ZONTIVITY?
ZONTIVITY is used to lower your chance of having another serious problem with your heart or blood vessels, but ZONTIVITY (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and lead to death.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms of bleeding while taking ZONTIVITY:
- bleeding that is severe or that you cannot control
- pink, red, or brown urine
- vomiting blood or your vomit looks like "coffee grounds"
- red or black stools (looks like tar)
- coughing up blood or blood clots.
While you take ZONTIVITY and for about 4 weeks after your treatment with ZONTIVITY is stopped:
- you may bruise and bleed more easily (nose bleeds may be common)
- it will take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop.
Do not take ZONTIVITY if you:
- have had a stroke or "mini stroke" (also known as transient ischemic attack or TIA)
- have had bleeding in your brain
- currently have unusual bleeding, such as bleeding in your head, stomach or intestines (an ulcer).
If you have a stroke, TIA, or bleeding in your brain while taking ZONTIVITY your doctor should stop your treatment with ZONTIVITY. Follow your doctor's instructions about stopping ZONTIVITY.
Take ZONTIVITY exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking ZONTIVITY without first talking to the doctor who prescribed it for you.
Before you take ZONTIVITY, tell your doctor if you:
- have had bleeding problems or history of stomach ulcers
- have had a stroke or "mini-stroke" (also known as transient ischemic attack or TIA)
- have had bleeding (hemorrhage) in your brain
- have had any recent serious injury or surgery
- plan to have surgery or a dental procedure
- have kidney problems or severe liver problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ZONTIVITY will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZONTIVITY passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take ZONTIVITY or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell all of your doctors and dentists that you are taking ZONTIVITY with aspirin, with clopidogrel (Plavix®), or with aspirin and clopidogrel. They should talk to the doctor who prescribed ZONTIVITY for you before you have any surgery or dental procedure.
The possible side effects of ZONTIVITY include:
- Bleeding that can be serious and lead to death (see above)
- Anemia (low level of red blood cells)
- Depression
- Rash
These are not all the possible side effects of ZONTIVITY.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary or herbal supplements. Taking ZONTIVITY with certain other medicines may increase your risk of bleeding and may affect how ZONTIVITY works.
The risk information provided here is not comprehensive. To learn more, talk about ZONTIVITY with your pharmacist or other health care providers. The product information can be found at www.zontivity.com or call at 1-800-988-6115.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click here for Medication Guide, including Important Warning about bleeding risk.