Details

Dipyridamole helps to prevent platelets in your blood from sticking together and forming a blood clot on or around an artificial heart valve. Dipyridamole is used to prevent blood clots after heart valve replacement surgery. To make sure dipyridamole is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have coronary artery disease (hardened arteries) liver disease low blood pressure uncontrolled chest pain (angina) or if you have recently had a heart attack. Dipyridamole should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

Typical Uses

Dipyridamole is used in combination with "blood thinners" such as warfarin to keep clots from forming after heart valve replacements. Clots are a serious complication that can cause strokes, heart attacks, or blocked blood vessels in the lungs (pulmonary embolisms). Dipyridamole is an anti-platelet drug. It helps to keep blood flowing by stopping platelets from clumping together and by keeping heart blood vessels open.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of dipyridamole include a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out chest pain or liver problems-nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Older adults may be more likely to feel light-headed while taking dipyridamole.

Drug Interactions

• Dipyridamole+abciximab- Ask your doctor before using abciximab together with dipyridamole. This can cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment in addition to special testing of your blood. Call your doctor promptly if you have any unusual bleeding or bruising, vomiting, blood in your urine or stools, headache, dizziness, or weakness.

• Dipyridamole+ardeparin- Using dipyridamole together with ardeparin may increase the risk of bleeding, including severe and sometimes fatal haemorrhage. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

• Dipyridamole+cangrelor- Using cangrelor together with dipyridamole may increase the risk of bleeding, including severe and life-threatening haemorrhage. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

• Dipyridamole+dasatinib- Using dasatinib together with dipyridamole may increase the risk of bleeding. The interaction may be more likely if you are elderly or have kidney or liver disease. In clinical studies, treatment with dasatinib alone has been associated with severe and sometimes fatal haemorrhage. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.<

Mechanism of action

Dipyridamole belongs to a class of drugs called antithrombotic (anticoagulant) drugs with anti-platelet activity. It reduces clot formation by interfering with the activation of platelets that is essential in clot formation.

Pregnancy Category : B