What is the drug dipyridamole used for?

What is the drug dipyridamole used for?

Dipyridamole is an antiplatelet medicine. It prevents a type of blood cell (platelets) sticking together and forming a dangerous blood clot. Taking dipyridamole helps to prevent blood clots if you have an increased risk of having them.

What class of drugs is 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.

What is the generic name for dipyridamole?

What is Persantine and how is it used? Persantine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of prophylaxis against blood clots after heart valve replacement surgery (Thromboembolism Post-Cardiac Valve Replacement). Persantine may be used alone or with other medications.

Is dipyridamole the same as aspirin?

Aggrenox (aspirin / dipyridamole) contains aspirin as well as a second medication called dipyridamole. People with a history of stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke) usually have to take aspirin or Aggrenox (aspirin / dipyridamole), but not both.

Is dipyridamole still used?

Nevertheless, based on evidence from this study, dipyridamole is still officially licenced for use as an adjunct to oral anticoagulation for the prophylaxis of thromboembolism associated with prosthetic heart valves.

Is dipyridamole discontinued?

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals has announced the permanent discontinuation of Persantine (dipyridamole) tablets and its authorized generics. The decision to discontinue the product is business-related and not due to product safety or efficacy.

What are the contraindications of dipyridamole?

The main contraindications for the application of dipyridamole are previous hypersensitivity reactions and thrombocytopenia.

Does dipyridamole lower blood pressure?

One of the pharmacological effects of dipyridamole is vasodilatation, which in turn may result in lowering blood pressure. 7,8 Dipyridamole is a nucleoside transport inhibitor, which increases adenosine release by the myocardium and raises the interstitial fluid levels of adenosine, resulting in a vasodilator effect.

Why is dipyridamole discontinued?

Why dipyridamole is not used?

Dipyridamole can cause gastric upset, dizziness, headache, hypotension, tachycardia, and worsening of coronary heart disease. It is contraindicated after recent myocardial infarction and in rapidly worsening angina.

What is the difference between dipyridamole and clopidogrel?

Clopidogrel monotherapy is an alternate to aspirin plus dipyridamole, with a similar risk of bleeding [8, 41–44], while dipyridamole reduces the risk of recurrent stroke without excess bleeding [23]. No previous studies have evaluated the hemorrhagic complications of the clopidogrel–dipyridamole combination.

Is dipyridamole still available?

Teva’s dipyridamole injection has been unavailable since 2010 and the company has no current plans to return the product to market. There are no other manufacturers of dipyridamole injection.

What is the mechanism of action of dipyridamole?

Mechanism of Action

Dipyridamole functions predominantly by inhibiting the function of phosphodiesterase and adenosine deaminase. [11] Phosphodiesterase is useful for the conversion of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP) to their non-cyclic equivalent.

Why is aspirin and clopidogrel used together?

Aspirin combined with clopidogrel has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events in patients at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as in those with acute coronary syndrome.

Which is safer aspirin or clopidogrel?

Aspirin combined with the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel is no better than aspirin alone for stroke prevention in people with a history of lacunar strokes, and the combination carries a greater risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to results of a trial funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Can you have a stroke while on clopidogrel?

If you stop taking clopidogrel, your blood will start clotting at the same rate as before you started taking it, usually within 5 days of stopping the medicine. This means you may be at increased risk of serious problems like heart attacks or strokes.

Can you take clopidogrel for life?

Clopidogrel is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best if you take it for many months or even years. If you’re at risk of getting a stomach ulcer, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach while you’re taking clopidogrel.

When Should clopidogrel be stopped?

While current guidelines recommend cessation of clopidogrel 5 to 7 days before an operative procedure, our data demonstrate that timing of clopidogrel cessation within 7 days of an operative procedure does not affect the prevalence of postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion or mortality.

Is clopidogrel lifelong after stroke?

Currently, the uses of aspirin, clopidogrel, or aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole are valid alternatives for stroke or transient ischemic attack patients. To maximize the beneficial effects of these agents, the treatment should be initiated as early as possible and continue on a lifelong basis.

Will I be on clopidogrel for life?

Treatment with clopidogrel is usually for life, unless there are any reported problems. In the UK, medicines must have a licence, also called a Marketing Authorisation (MA), before they are approved for treating patients.

What is the most serious adverse effect of clopidogrel?

These maybe symptoms of a rare and serious condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). This medicine may cause allergic reactions, including angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require medical attention.

Is long term use of clopidogrel safe?

Safety Announcement
[ 11-06-2015 ] A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review has determined that long-term use of the blood-thinning drug Plavix (clopidogrel) does not increase or decrease overall risk of death in patients with, or at risk for, heart disease.

Can you have a stroke while on blood thinners?

Unfortunately, the blood thinners used to prevent such blood clots can increase the risk of bleeding in the brain, a cause of hemorrhagic stroke.

Does clopidogrel affect sleep?

The organic nitrates (isosorbide) and the antiplatelet agents (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel) are among the most prescribed drugs in cardiology and are not cited as causing insomnia or sleepiness.

What drugs should not be taken with clopidogrel?

Clopidogrel may interact with other medications

  • Diabetes drug. In most cases, repaglinide should not be taken with clopidogrel.
  • Stomach acid drugs (proton pump inhibitors)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Blood thinners.
  • Drugs used to treat depression.
  • Salicylates (aspirin)
  • Opioids.