Drug
Dipyridamole
Pronounced
"dye-peer-ID-ah-mole"
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: riociguat, other antiplatelet drugs (such as abciximab, ticlopidine).
If you are currently taking aspirin, talk to your doctor right away and ask if you should keep taking it with this medication. If you are not currently taking aspirin, talk to your doctor before starting it for any medical condition.
This medication is sometimes used together with other drugs that may increase your risk of bleeding. Examples are certain "blood thinners" (such as heparin, warfarin). Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and continue your medications as directed. Tell your doctor if you notice unusual bleeding. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This medication may interfere with certain medical/lab tests (such as chemical stress tests using adenosine/dipyridamole), possibly causing false test results. Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.
Negative Interactions
4- Potential Negative Interaction
Dipyridamole
Dan Shen
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
Dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a Chinese herb, was associated with increased warfarin activity in two cases. Although warfarin acts differently from ticlopidine, both affect parameters of bleeding. Until more is known, people taking ticlopidine should use dan shen only under close medical supervision. Sage (Salvia officinalis), a plant relative of dan shen found in the West, has not been not associated with interactions involving warfarin.
Dan ShenDipyridamole- Yu CM, Chan JCN, Sanderson JE. Chinese herbs and warfarin potentiation by “danshen.” J Intern Med 1997;241:337-9.
- Tam LS, Chan TYK, Leung WK, Critchley JAJH. Warfarin interactions with Chinese traditional medicines: Danshen and methyl salicylate medicated oil. Aust NZ J Med 1995;25:258.
- Potential Negative Interaction
Dipyridamole
Eleuthero
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
Ginseng (Panax ginseng) was associated with a decrease in warfarin activity in a case study. This report suggests that ginseng may affect parameters of bleeding. Therefore, people taking ticlopidine should consult with a physician knowledgeable about botanical medicines before taking Asian ginseng or eleuthero/Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus).
EleutheroDipyridamole- Janetzky K, Morreale AP. Probable interaction between warfarin and ginseng. Am J Health Syst Pharm 1997;54:692-3.
- Potential Negative Interaction
Dipyridamole
Foods with Caffeine
Taking dipyridamole can cause a reduction in the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart, resulting in a rare side effect known as angina pectoris. Because dipyridamole has this effect, it has sometimes been used in heart stress tests. One person who consumed coffee prior to the test failed to experience the expected reduction in blood flow caused by dipyridamole. Controlled studies are needed to determine whether consumption of beverages containing caffeine might reduce the likelihood of developing angina from the drug.
Foods with CaffeineDipyridamole- Smits P, Aengevaeren WR, Corstens FH, Thien T. Caffeine reduces dipyridamole-induced myocardial ischemia. J Nucl Med 1989;30:1723-6.
- Potential Negative Interaction
Dipyridamole
Reishi
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
As it may increase bleeding time, reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is not recommended for those taking anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications.
ReishiDipyridamole- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998,166-9.
Supportive Interactions
2- Replenish Depleted Nutrients
Dipyridamole
Iron
Some studies suggest the taking of too much iron by individuals who are not iron deficient can result in tissue damage that may contribute to heart disease. Test tube studies have shown dipyridamole blocks platelet clumping caused by iron, which might reduce the damage caused by this mineral. Controlled human studies are needed to test this possibility.
IronDipyridamole- Tzonou A, Lagiou P, Trichopoulou A, et al. Dietary iron and coronary heart disease risk: a study from Greece. Am J Epidemiol 1998;147:161-6.
- De la Cruz JP, Garcia PJ, Sanchez de la Cuesta F. Dipyridamole inhibits platelet aggregation induced by oxygen-derived free radicals. Thromb Res 1992;66:277-85.
- Support Medicine
Dipyridamole
Garlic
A test tube study has shown ajoene, a compound found in garlic that prevents platelet clumping, enhances the beneficial action of dipyridamole on human platelets. Controlled research is needed to determine whether taking garlic supplements together with dipyridamole might enhance the effectiveness of either compound taken alone.
GarlicDipyridamole- Apitz-Castro R, Escalante J, Vargas R, Jain MK. Ajoene, the antiplatelet principle of garlic, synergistically potentiates the antiaggregatory action of prostacyclin, forskolin, indomethacin and dipyridamole on human platelets. Thromb Res 1986;42:303-11.
Explanation Required
2- Needs Explanation
Dipyridamole
Bromelain
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
In theory, bromelain might enhance the action of anticoagulants. This theoretical concern has not been substantiated by human research, however.
BromelainDipyridamole- Harris JE. Interaction of dietary factors with oral anticoagulants: Review and application. J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95:580-4.
- Needs Explanation
Dipyridamole
Ginger
This interaction is based on this drug belonging to a drug class. While this drug may differ from the text and references below, drugs within this class work in a similar way and this interaction is applicable to drugs within the same class.
Ginger has been shown to reduce platelet stickiness in test tubes. Although there appear to be no reports of interactions with platelet inhibiting drugs, people should talk with a healthcare professional if they are taking a platelet inhibitor and wish to use ginger.
GingerDipyridamole- Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 135-7.