Aggrenox contains a combination of aspirin and 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.
Aggrenox is a capsule containing 25 mg aspirin and 200 mg dipyridamole.
Aggrenox 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).
Aggrenox may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use Aggrenox 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 Aggrenox 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 Aggrenox. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, do not take Aggrenox without your doctor"s advice.
Before taking this medicine
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. Do not use Aggrenox if you are allergic to aspirin or dipyridamole (Persantine), or if you have:
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asthma;
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nasal polyps; or
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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 Aggrenox, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
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a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding;
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a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
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heart disease, congestive heart failure, or recent heart attack;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease; or
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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 Aggrenox 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. Aggrenox can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Aggrenox without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Aggrenox?
Take Aggrenox 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 Aggrenox 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 Aggrenox at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much Aggrenox. Overdose symptoms may include warmth or tingly feeling, sweating, restlessness, dizziness, weakness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid?
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking aspirin. Alcohol may increase your risk of stomach bleeding. 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.
What are the possible side effects of Aggrenox?
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 Aggrenox and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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weakness or fainting;
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black, bloody, or tarry stools;
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coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
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severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain;
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fever lasting longer than 3 days;
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swelling, or pain lasting longer than 10 days; or
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hearing problems, ringing in your ears.
Keep taking Aggrenox and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
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upset stomach, mild heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
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joint pain;
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drowsiness; or
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headache.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Aggrenox?
Before taking Aggrenox, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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acetazolamide (Diamox);
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methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
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diabetes medications that you take by mouth;
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gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane);
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an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and others;
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Alzheimer medications such as donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Reminyl), or rivastigmine (Exelon);
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a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), esmolol (Brevibloc), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others;
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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;
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seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
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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.
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take aspirin, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect aspirin. 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.
