This prescription medication is used to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have already had a transient ischemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke") or a stroke due to a blood clot.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 140,000 people die each year from a stroke.
Aggrenox is in a class of drugs known as antiplatelet agents. It works by preventing blood from clotting.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aggrenox in 1999. It's manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aggrenox Warnings
Aggrenox may increase your risk of bleeding, including bleeding into the brain, stomach, or intestines.Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you experience any symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines.
These symptoms may include:
- Black, bloody, or tarry stools
- Weakness or fainting
- Coughing up blood
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
The drug can be especially harmful to kids or teens who have a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox.
Tell your healthcare provider if you're allergic to any other medications, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), nabumetone (Relafen), ketoprofen (Orudis), etodolac (Lodine), ketorolac (Toradol), meloxicam (Mobic), indomethacin (Indocin), piroxicam (Feldene), or others.
Don't use any over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription pain medicines while taking Aggrenox without first talking to your doctor. You could accidentally consume too much of a certain drug.
Before taking Aggrenox, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:
- Asthma
- Nasal polyps
- Stomach ulcers or bleeding
- A bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
- Liver or kidney disease
- Heart disease or congestive heart failure
- A heart attack
- Vitamin K deficiency
- Low blood pressure
Continue to take Aggrenox even if you feel well. Don't stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.
Pregnancy and Aggrenox
Aggrenox can cause harm to an unborn baby. Don't take this medicine if you're pregnant, and be sure to use an effective method of birth control.The drug can also pass into breast milk and may hurt a breastfeeding baby. Don't use Aggrenox if you're breastfeeding without talking with your doctor.
Aggrenox (Aspirin Dipyridamole) Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Aggrenox
Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects become severe or don't go away:- Headache
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Muscle or joint pain
- Tiredness
Serious Side Effects of Aggrenox
Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the symptoms listed in the Aggrenox Warnings section above, or any of the following serious side effects:- Severe rash
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
- Fever that lasts longer than three days
- Swelling of the tongue, lips, or mouth
- Warm feeling
- Flushing
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Restlessness
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Ringing in the ears
- Swelling or pain that lasts longer than 10 days
Aggrenox (Aspirin Dipyridamole) Interactions
- Acetazolamide (Diamox)
- Ambenonium (Mytelase)
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 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)
- Valproic acid and related drugs (Depakene, Depakote)
Aggrenox and Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Aggrenox, as it can increase your risk of stomach bleeding.Don't take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you consume more than three alcoholic beverages a day.
Aggrenox and Other Interactions
Aggrenox may make you dizzy. Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.Aggrenox (Aspirin Dipyridamole) Dosage
The medicine is typically taken twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Use Aggrenox exactly as your doctor prescribes. Don't take more or less of the drug than is recommended.
Don't crush, break, chew, or open the extended-release capsule. Swallow it whole.
Take each dose of Aggrenox with a full glass of water. You can take the capsule with or without food.
Aggrenox Overdose
Symptoms of overdose may include:- Sweating
- Warmth or tingly feeling
- Restlessness
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Weakness
- Fainting
You can get in touch with a poison control center at (800) 222-1222.
Missed Dose of Aggrenox
If you miss a dose of Aggrenox, take it as soon as you remember.However, if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule.
Don't double up on doses to make up for a missed one.
Aggrenox Pictures
