home > drugs a-z list > aggrenox (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) drug center > aggrenox (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) drug - medication guide and patient information

Aggrenox®
(AG-reh-nox)
(aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole) Capsules

Read this Patient Information before you start taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

What is AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) is a prescription medicine that contains aspirin and a medicine that is slowly released in your body, called dipyridamole. AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) is used to lower the risk of stroke in people who have had a “mini-stroke” (transient ischemia attack or TIA) or stroke due to a blood clot.

It is not known if AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) is safe and effective in children. See “Who should not take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?”

Who should not take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

Do not take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) if you:

• are allergic to any of the ingredients in AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) . See the end of this leaflet for a list of ingredients in AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) .
• are allergic to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
• have asthma in combination with runny nose and nasal polyps

Do not give AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) to a child or teenager with a viral illness. Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition, can happen when aspirin (an ingredient in AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ) is used in children and teenagers who have certain viral illnesses.

What should I tell my doctor before using AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

Before taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) , tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have stomach ulcers
• have a history of bleeding problems
• have heart problems
• have kidney or liver problems
• have low blood pressure
• have myasthenia gravis
• have any other medical conditions
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) can harm your unborn baby, especially if you take it in the last (third) trimester of pregnancy. You should not take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) during pregnancy without first talking to your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) .
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) .

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including, prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) works.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

• a medicine for high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, or heart failure
• acetazolamide [Diamox®]
• the blood thinner medicine warfarin sodium [Coumadin®, Jantoven®] or a heparin medicine
• a seizure medicine
• a medicine for Alzheimer's disease
• a water pill
• methotrexate sodium [Trexall®]
• aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS). You should not take NSAIDS during treatment with AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) . Using these medicines with AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) can increase your risk of bleeding.
• a medicine for diabetes
• probenecid [Probalan®, Col-Probenecid®]

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

• Take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how many AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) to take and when to take them.
• Headaches are not uncommon when you first start taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) , but often lessen as treatment continues. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a severe headache. Your healthcare provider may change the instructions for taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) .
• Swallow AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) whole. Do not crush or chew the capsules.
• You can take AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) with or without food.
• If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses at one time.
• If you take more AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) (overdose) than prescribed, call your healthcare provider or Poison Control Center, or get emergency help right away.

Symptoms of an overdose of AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) include:

• a warm feeling or flushing
• sweating
• restlessness
• weakness or dizziness
• a fast heart rate
• ringing in the ears

What should I avoid while using AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

• heavy alcohol use. People who drink three or more alcoholic drinks every day have a higher risk of bleeding during treatment with AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) , because it contains aspirin.

What are the possible side effects of AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) may cause serious side effects, including:

• increased risk of bleeding. You may bleed more easily during AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) treatment, and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. This can include:
• bleeding into your brain (intracranial hemorrhage). This can be a medical emergency. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms while taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) :
  • severe headache with drowsiness
  • confusion or memory change
  • pass out (become unconscious)
• bleeding in your stomach or intestine.
  • stomach pain
  • heartburn or nausea
  • vomiting blood or vomit looks like “coffee grounds”
  • red or bloody stools
  • black stools that look like tar
• new or worsening chest pain in some people with heart disease. Tell your healthcare provider if you have new chest pain or have any change in your chest pain during treatment with AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) .
• liver problems, including increased liver function tests and liver failure. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms of a liver problem while taking AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) :
  • loss of appetite
  • pale colored stool
  • stomach area (abdomen) pain
  • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes
  • dark urine
  • itching

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

The most common side effects of AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) include:

• headache
• upset stomach
• diarrhea

These are not all the possible side effects of AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) . Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

• Store AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) at 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
• Keep AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) capsules dry.
• Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed.

Keep AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole)

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Package Insert. Do not use AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Patient Information summarizes the most important information about AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) . If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) that is written for health professionals. For more information, call Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-542-6257, or (TTY) 1-800-459-9906.

What are the ingredients in AGGRENOX (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) ?

Active Ingredients: dipyridamole in an extended-release form and aspirin

Inactive Ingredients: acacia, aluminum stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, dimethicone, hypromellose, hypromellose phthalate, lactose monohydrate, methacrylic acid copolymer, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, stearic acid, sucrose, talc, tartaric acid, titanium dioxide and triacetin. Each capsule shell contains gelatin, red iron oxide and yellow iron oxide, titanium dioxide, and water.

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/27/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.