Dipyridamole

Dipyridamole is a prescription medication used for preventing blood clots after heart valve replacement surgery.

• Dipyridamole is available under the following different brand names: Persantine

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injectable solution

• 5mg/mL
• Tablet
• 25mg
• 50mg
• 75mg

Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Post-Cardiac Valve Replacement

Adult and geriatric dosage

• 75-100 mg orally every 6 hours as an adjunct to warfarin

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

Common side effects of Dipyridamole include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• rash, or
• upset stomach.

Serious side effects of Dipyridamole include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• a light-headed feeling, 
• chest pain; or
• liver problems--upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Rare side effects of Dipyridamole include:

• none 

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Dipyridamole has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • abrocitinib
  • riociguat
  • theophylline
• Dipyridamole has serious interactions with at least 28 other drugs.
• Dipyridamole has moderate interactions with at least 46 other drugs.
• Dipyridamole has minor interactions with at least 21 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Thrombocytopenia

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dipyridamole?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dipyridamole?”

Cautions

• FDA approval for chronic angina withdrawn (not useful according to most experts)
• Dipyridamole has a vasodilatory effect and should be used with caution in patients with severe coronary artery disease (eg, unstable angina or recently sustained myocardial infarction); chest pain may be aggravated in patients with underlying coronary artery disease who are receiving the drug
• Elevations of hepatic enzymes and hepatic failure were reported in association with therapy administration
• The drug should be used with caution in patients with hypotension since it can produce peripheral vasodilation

Stress Testing

• Clinical experience suggests that patients being treated who also require pharmacological stress testing with intravenous dipyridamole or other adenosinergic agents (e.g. adenosine, regadenoson) should interrupt therapy for 48 hours before stress testing
• Intake of drug within 48 hours before stress testing with intravenous dipyridamole or other adenosinergic agents may increase the risk for cardiovascular side effects of these agents and may impair the sensitivity of the test

Pregnancy and Lactation

• It may be acceptable during pregnancy

Lactation

• Enters breast milk; use with caution