Brilinta

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“I was scared leaving the hospital,” says Jones. “Can I be consistent? I’d never had a primary care physician before. Now I have a physician and a cardiologist, too. I had never taken medications before. Now I have to take medications every single day.”

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Heart attack Patient shares his experience in hopes of HELPING OTHERS

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Colin Jones believed he was invincible. He loved junk food and ate at buffets several times a week, rarely skipping dessert. And he avoided the doctor at all costs. He knew that his father had had a host of heart troubles and both his uncle and cousin had died of heart attacks. But Jones thought he was different. So, when Jones felt a severe burning in his chest following a cardio session at the gym, he initially shrugged it off. After vomiting twice in the locker room, Jones still left to pick up his son from swimming practice, as usual. The pain persisted, and he called his wife, who arranged to take him to the hospital. Even in the car on the way to the emergency room, Jones insisted that his symptoms were just heartburn and that maybe they should stop for some antacids. His wife refused.

But the fear of winding up back in the hospital—or worse—outweighed the trepidation about embarking upon a healthier lifestyle. A pastor, Jones dedicated himself monastically to a healthier way of life—and understanding why it was beneficial. He not only chose to cut red meat and dairy from his diet, but he also started studying nutrition. He took the doctor’s suggestion and attended cardiac rehabilitation, a customized outpatient program of exercise and education, designed to improve health and recover from a heart attack. “It was presented as an option, but it was mandatory for me,” says Jones. “I was going to do anything that was going to strengthen my heart.”

“I want to take this tragedy and turn it into a triumph,” says Jones. “I want my story to empower other people, so they don’t have to walk down this road.”

Jones was also lucky to have an avid support network – specifically his church, his wife, and his three children. And the strength he derived from those people drove him to want to help others. He wanted his experience to spark change for others, as well as for himself. He knew that, unlike his own family, which never talked about their shared history of and genetic predisposition towards heart problems, getting his story out could warn others and save lives.

“My job is not to change anyone’s mind, just present information and let people make the decision for themselves,” says Jones. “My job is to plant the seed.”

He has shared his story with the members of his church and is putting together a presentation called “Stack the Deck,” which he hopes to share with other churches and organizations, about how we can stack the odds in our favor to prevent heart disease. He was invited to talk to his cardiologist’s first-year medical students at the Ohio State University Medical School and the University of Texas in Dallas. Jones has also been interviewed on the radio to promote heart health. Jones doesn’t just want to reach people before they have a heart attack or are diagnosed with other cardiovascular diseases. He also wants to encourage fellow heart attack patients to dedicate themselves to recovery and continued health, and to embrace their future and live the rest of their lives to the fullest.

It wasn’t until Jones was scared and shivering in the emergency department that the doctor finally got through to him. “Sir, you’re having a heart attack.” Jones was shocked. He later learned that he had an 80% blockage in his left coronary artery and a 100% blockage in his right coronary artery. The doctor placed four stents in his heart to keep the blood flowing and save his life. He was only 41 years old. “My heart was actively dying,” says Jones.

But almost as shocking as the heart attack itself was Jones’s realization that his previous way of life was over. If he was going to get in shape, keep his heart healthy, and survive to take care of his family, Jones was going to have to completely change his lifestyle.

A New Way of Life

To stay on track, Jones also set reminders on his phone that nudged him to take his medications, including aspirin and BRILINTA (ticagrelor), a treatment option for people who have had a heart attack. It has been proven to lower the risk of having another heart attack or dying from one.

Turning Tragedy into Triumph

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BRILINTA (ticagrelor), INCLUDING BOXED WARNINGS, FOR 60-MG AND 90-MG TABLETS BRILINTA is used to lower your chance of having, or dying from, a heart attack or stroke, but BRILINTA (and similar drugs) can cause bleeding that can be serious and sometimes lead to death. Instances of serious bleeding, such as internal bleeding, may require blood transfusions or surgery. While you take BRILINTA, you may bruise and bleed more easily and be more likely to have nosebleeds. Bleeding will also take longer than usual to stop.

Call your doctor right away if you have any signs or symptoms of bleeding while taking BRILINTA, including: severe, uncontrollable bleeding; pink, red, or brown urine; vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds; red or black stool; or if you cough up blood or blood clots.

BRILINTA can cause serious side effects, including bleeding, shortness of breath, and irregular breathing.

are treated with a stent, and stop taking BRILINTA too soon, have a higher risk of getting a blood clot in the stent, having a heart attack, or dying. If you stop BRILINTA because of bleeding, or for other reasons, your risk of a heart attack or stroke may increase. Tell all your doctors and dentists that you are taking BRILINTA. To decrease your risk of bleeding, your doctor may instruct you to stop taking BRILINTA 5 days before you have surgery. Your doctor should tell you when to start taking BRILINTA again, as soon as possible after surgery. Take BRILINTA and aspirin exactly as instructed by your doctor. In most cases, you should not take a dose of aspirin higher than 100 mg daily because it can affect how well BRILINTA works. Tell your doctor if you take other medicines that contain aspirin. Do not take new medicines that contain aspirin. Do not take BRILINTA if you have a history of bleeding in the brain, are bleeding now, or are allergic to ticagrelor or any of the ingredients in BRILINTA. Slow heart rhythm has been reported with BRILINTA.

Do not stop taking BRILINTA without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you.

BRILINTA is a prescription medicine for adults used to: • decrease your risk of death, heart attack, and stroke in people with a blockage of blood flow to the heart (acute coronary syndrome or ACS) or a history of a heart attack. BRILINTA can also decrease your risk of blood clots in your stent in people who have received stents for the treatment of ACS • decrease your risk of a first heart attack or stroke in people who have a condition where the blood flow to the heart is decreased (coronary artery disease or CAD) who are at high risk for having a heart attack or stroke • decrease your risk of stroke in people who are having a stroke (acute ischemic stroke) or temporary stroke-like symptoms, known as a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack

APPROVED USE

Please read Medication Guide and Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, for BRILINTA, available at BRILINTAPI.com.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of AstraZeneca prescription drugs by calling 1-800-236-9933 or visiting https://www.contactazmedical.astrazeneca.com. If you prefer to report these to the FDA, either visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.