Aspirin and Extended-Release Dipyridamole

The combination of aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole is in a class of drugs called antiplatelet agents. It works by preventing excessive blood clotting. It is used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients who have had or are at risk of stroke.

The combination of aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day, one capsule in the morning and one in the evening. Aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole should be swallowed whole. Do not open, crush, break, or chew the capsules. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. The combination of aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole decreases the risk of having a stroke but does not eliminate that risk. Continue to take aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Side effects from aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
heartburn</li>
<li>
stomach pain</li>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
diarrhea</li>
<li>
muscle and joint pain</li>
<li>
tiredness</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
bleeding</li>
<li>
severe rash</li>
<li>
swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth</li>
<li>
difficulty breathing</li>
<li>
warm feeling</li>
<li>
flushing</li>
<li>
sweating</li>
<li>
restlessness</li>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
chest pain</li>
<li>
rapid heartbeat</li>
<li>
ringing in the ears</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to aspirin, celecoxib (Celebrex), choline salicylate (Arthropan), diclofenac (Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), dipyridamole (Persantine), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail), ketorolac (Toradol), magnesium salicylate (Nuprin Backache, Doan's), meclofenamate, mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), rofecoxib (Vioxx) (no longer available in the US), sulindac (Clinoril), tolmetin (Tolectin), or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetazolamide (Diamox); ambenonium (Mytelase); angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin; beta-blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne), metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard), penbutolol (Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), and timolol (Blocadren); diabetes medications such as acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), repaglinide (Prandin), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide (Orinase); diuretics ('water pills') such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Zaroxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium); methotrexate (Folex, Mexate, Rheumatrex); neostigmine (Prostigmin); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as celecoxib (Celebrex), choline salicylate (Arthropan), diclofenac (Cataflam), diflunisal (Dolobid), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, others), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail), ketorolac (Toradol), magnesium salicylate (Nuprin Backache, Doan's), meclofenamate, mefenamic acid (Ponstel), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), and tolmetin (Tolectin); phenytoin (Dilantin); probenecid (Benemid); pyridostigmine (Mestinon); sulfinpyrazone (Anturane); and valproic acid and related drugs (Depakene, Depakote). tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, or heart disease; a recent heart attack; bleeding disorders; low blood pressure; vitamin K deficiency; ulcers; the syndrome of asthma, rhinitis, and nasal polyps; or if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole before surgery.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.