Aspirin and dipyridamole is a combination medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had blood clots or a "mini-stroke" (also called a transient ischemic attack or TIA).

Aspirin and dipyridamole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use aspirin and dipyridamole if you have asthma and also have polyps in your nose, or if you are allergic to aspirin or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Aspirin and dipyridamole can increase your risk of bleeding, which can be severe or life-threatening. Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have bleeding that will not stop, if you have black or bloody stools, or if you cough up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

You may take aspirin and dipyridamole with or without food.

Do not chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow it whole.

Aspirin and dipyridamole may cause headaches when you first start taking it. Call your doctor at if these headaches are severe.

aspirin and dipyridamole can make it easier for you to bleed, even from a minor injury such as a fall or a bump on the head. Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you fall or hit your head, or have any bleeding that will not stop.

If you need surgery or dental work, tell the surgeon or dentist ahead of time that you are using aspirin and dipyridamole. You may need to stop for a short time to prevent excessive bleeding.

If you need a stress test for your heart, tell your healthcare provider you are taking aspirin and dipyridamole. You may need to stop taking aspirin and dipyridamole 48 hours before your test.

Do not stop taking aspirin and dipyridamole unless your doctor tells you to.

Store this medicine in its original container at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

Taking the combination of aspirin and dipyridamole (Aggrenox) is not equivalent to taking each of the medications separately. Take only the medication your doctor has prescribed.

Usual Adult Dose for Ischemic Stroke -- Prophylaxis:

Aspirin 25 mg-Dipyridamole 200 mg orally twice a day

Comments: If intolerable headaches occur during initial treatment, switch to aspirin 25 mg-dipyridamole 200 mg orally at bedtime and low-dose aspirin in the morning; return to usual regimen as soon as possible, usually within 1 week.

Use: To reduce the risk of stroke in patients who have had transient ischemia of the brain or complete ischemic stroke due to thrombosis.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to aspirin or dipyridamole, or if you have:

• asthma in combination with polyps in your nose; or

• if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking aspirin or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

Do not give this medicine to a child or teenager with a fever, flu symptoms, or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stomach ulcer or bleeding;

• bleeding problems;

• heart problems;

• low blood pressure; or

• myasthenia gravis.

Taking aspirin during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the baby during delivery. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include warmth or tingly feeling, sweating, restlessness, dizziness, weakness, fast heartbeats, or ringing in your ears.

Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin and dipyridamole can increase your risk of bleeding.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using other medicines for pain, fever, swelling, or cold/flu symptoms. They may contain ingredients similar to aspirin (such as magnesium salicylate, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Aspirin and dipyridamole may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• new or worsening chest pain;

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

• hearing problems, ringing in your ears;

• liver problems--upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• signs of stomach bleeding--stomach pain, severe heartburn, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or

• signs of bleeding in the brain--confusion, memory problems, severe headache, fainting.

Common side effects of aspirin and dipyridamole may include:

• headache;

• heartburn, upset stomach;

• nausea, stomach pain; or

• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• acetazolamide;

• methotrexate;

• probenecid;

• heart or blood pressure medication, including a diuretic or "water pill";

• medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease;

• medicines used to treat or prevent blood clots, such as anagrelide, heparin, or warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

• oral diabetes medicine;

• seizure medication; or

• an NSAID--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect aspirin and dipyridamole, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.