aspirin/dipyridamole sustained-release - oral, Aggrenox

BRAND NAME(S): Aggrenox

Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

USES: This medication is used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients who have had "mini-strokes" (transient ischemic attacks) or a previous stroke due to a blood clot and are at high risk for another stroke. It contains two medications: a very low dose of aspirin (25 milligrams per tablet) and dipyridamole in a slow-release form.Low-dose aspirin and dipyridamole are anti-platelet drugs that work to keep blood flowing to the brain by stopping platelets from clumping together. This helps prevent the platelets from forming blood clots, which can lodge in the brain and cause a certain type of stroke (ischemic stroke).

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking this product and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, with or without food, usually 1 capsule twice a day (morning and evening). Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush or chew the capsule because this will destroy the slow release of the drug and may increase the risk of side effects.Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise.Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.This capsule is not interchangeable with doses of aspirin and dipyridamole given as separate tablets since the same strength and slow-release dosage form are not available as individual products. Consult your pharmacist for more information.

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, nausea, and heartburn may occur. Talk with your doctor if you have a severe headache when you first start taking this medication. Your doctor may change your dose for the first week to lessen headache. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, uncontrolled bleeding from gums or nose, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin.This drug may infrequently cause serious bleeding (especially from the stomach or intestines). If you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking this medication and consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately: bloody/black/tarry stools, fainting, pale/bluish skin color, unusual weakness, vomit with blood or that looks like coffee grounds, persistent stomach/abdominal pain.Get medical help right away if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: symptoms of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, unusual sweating), signs of bleeding in the brain or stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden vision changes, confusion).A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: severe rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS: Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to dipyridamole; or to aspirin; or to other salicylates (such as choline salicylate); or to NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs), bleeding problems (such as hemophilia, vitamin K deficiency, low platelets), low blood pressure (hypotension), heart problems (such as angina, heart attack), stomach problems (such as ulcers, heartburn), kidney disease, liver disease, a certain muscle problem (myasthenia gravis), growths in the nose (nasal polyps), bleeding in the brain.This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Limit alcohol and stop smoking. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Your doctor may instruct you to stop aspirin/dipyridamole 7-10 days before surgery. Do not stop taking this medication without first talking with the doctor who prescribed it.The amount of aspirin in this medication may not be enough to prevent heart attack. If you need aspirin to prevent heart attack, consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.This drug contains aspirin. Children and teenagers less than 18 years old should not take aspirin if they have chickenpox, flu, or any undiagnosed illness or if they have recently received a vaccine. In these cases, taking aspirin increases the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug such as bleeding.Aspirin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. Do not use this medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy because of possible harm to the unborn baby or problems during delivery. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.Aspirin and dipyridamole passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain antidepressants that affect serotonin (such as amitriptyline, SSRIs and SNRIs including paroxetine/venlafaxine), corticosteroids (such as prednisone), live viral vaccine (such as influenza given in nose, varicella-chicken pox/shingles), mifepristone, ginkgo biloba, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as warfarin/dabigatran), riociguat.Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (aspirin, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen/naproxen) that are similar to this drug and may increase your risk of side effects (such as bleeding/bruising) if taken together. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), ask your doctor if you should continue taking the aspirin. The low dose of aspirin in this product may not be enough to protect against heart attack.This medication may interfere with certain laboratory/medical tests possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

QUESTION

What is a stroke? See Answer

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: ringing in the ears, flushing, sweating, restlessness, weakness, dizziness, fast heartbeat.

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as bleeding times, blood counts, kidney and liver function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised October 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.