aspirin/dipyridamole (Aggrenox)

Indications

• prophylaxis for ischemic stroke

Dosage

• 1 tab PO BID

dipyridamole* 200 mg + aspirin 25 mg.

* Extended-release dipyridamole (ER-dipyridmole)

Storage

• store in original container
• must be protected from moisture
• original container has a desiccant

Adverse effects

• headache*
• diarrhea*
• hemorrhage (5-10%)

* symptoms diminish with time

• drug adverse effects of antiplatelet agents
• drug adverse effects of antithrombotic agent(s)

Mechanism of action

• inhibition of platelet aggregation
  • aspirin & dipyridamole act by different mechanisms for synergistic effect
• allegedly twice as effective as aspirin for preventing recurrent stroke

More general terms

• pharmacologic combination
• antiplatelet agent

Additional terms

• ESPIRIT study
• ESPS-2 study

Components

• dipyridamole (Persantine)
• aspirin (Ecotrin, Empirin, Bayer aspirin, Vazalore, ASA)