What is Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.

Dipyridamole keeps platelets in your blood from sticking together to form clots.

The combination of aspirin and dipyridamole is used to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had blood clots or a “mini-stroke” (also called a transient ischemic attack or TIA).

Aspirin and dipyridamole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Do not use any other over-the-counter pain medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin, salicylates, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain type of drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, magnesium and/or choline salicylate.

Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome in children.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. Symptoms include weakness or fainting, black, bloody, or tarry stools, and coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin and dipyridamole. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take aspirin and dipyridamole without your doctor’s advice.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or dipyridamole (Persantine), or if you have:

asthma
nasal polyps; or
a history of allergy to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others

Before taking aspirin and dipyridamole, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
heart disease, congestive heart failure, or recent heart attack
liver disease
kidney disease; or
low blood pressure

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use aspirin and dipyridamole without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Aspirin and dipyridamole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Aspirin Dipyridamole Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

weakness or fainting
black, bloody, or tarry stools
coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
fever lasting longer than 3 days
swelling, or pain lasting longer than 10 days; or
hearing problems, ringing in your ears

Less serious side effects may include:

upset stomach, mild heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
joint pain
drowsiness; or
headache

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Aspirin Dipyridamole Interactions

What other drugs affect Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Before taking aspirin and dipyridamole, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

acetazolamide (Diamox)
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
diabetes medications that you take by mouth
gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and others
Alzheimer medications such as donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl), or rivastigmine (Exelon)
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others
a diuretic (water pill) such as amiloride (Midamor, Moduretic), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), and others
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), and others

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with aspirin and dipyridamole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding.

Aspirin Dipyridamole Dosage

How should I take Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

You may take aspirin and dipyridamole with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Taking the combination of aspirin and dipyridamole (Aggrenox) is not equivalent to taking each of the medications separately. Take only the medication your doctor has prescribed.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking aspirin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store aspirin and dipyridamole at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include warmth or tingly feeling, sweating, restlessness, dizziness, weakness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What happens if I miss a dose of Aspirin Dipyridamole?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com

Aspirin Dipyridamole