Aggrenox
- Generic Name: aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole capsules
- Brand Name: Aggrenox
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Aggrenox Side Effects Center
What Is Aggrenox?
Aggrenox (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) is a combination of a salicylate and a platelet aggregation inhibitor 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). Aggrenox may be available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Aggrenox?
Common side effects of Aggrenox include:
- headache,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- upset stomach,
- heartburn,
- diarrhea,
- joint pain, or
- drowsiness.
Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Aggrenox including:
- easy bleeding or bruising,
- uncontrolled bleeding from gums or nose,
- fast/slow/irregular heartbeat,
- loss of appetite,
- dark urine,
- yellowing eyes or skin,
- unusual tiredness, or
- unusual weakness.
Dosage for Aggrenox
The recommended dose of Aggrenox is one 25 mg/200 mg capsule given orally twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Aggrenox?
Aggrenox may interact with acetazolamide, methotrexate, diabetes medications taken orally, gout medications, ACE inhibitors, Alzheimer medications, beta-blockers, diuretics (water pills), seizure medication, aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.
Aggrenox During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Aspirin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. This medication should be used only when prescribed during the first 6 months of pregnancy. Do not use this medication during the last 3 months of pregnancy because of possible harm to the fetus or problems during delivery. This medication passes into breast milk. Breastfeeding while using this drug is not recommended.
Additional Information
Our Aggrenox (aspirin, extended-release dipyridamole) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Aggrenox Consumer Information
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
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 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.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Aggrenox (Aspirin, Extended-Release Dipyridamole Capsules)
Aggrenox Professional Information
SIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:
- Hypersensitivity [see CONTRAINDICATIONS]
- Allergy [see CONTRAINDICATIONS]
- Risk of Bleeding [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The efficacy and safety of AGGRENOX was established in the European Stroke Prevention Study-2 (ESPS2). ESPS2 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that evaluated 6602 patients over the age of 18 years who had a previous ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack within ninety days prior to entry. Patients were randomized to either AGGRENOX, aspirin, ER-DP, or placebo [see Clinical Studies]; primary endpoints included stroke (fatal or nonfatal) and death from all causes.
This 24-month, multicenter, double-blind, randomized study (ESPS2) was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of AGGRENOX with placebo, extended-release dipyridamole alone and aspirin alone. The study was conducted in a total of 6602 male and female patients who had experienced a previous ischemic stroke or transient ischemia of the brain within three months prior to randomization.
Table 1 presents the annualized event rate for adverse events that occurred in 1%/year or more of patients treated with AGGRENOX where the incidence was also at least 1%/year greater than in those patients treated with placebo. There is no clear benefit of the dipyridamole/aspirin combination over aspirin with respect to safety.
Table 1 : Incidence of Adverse Events in ESPS2a
| Body System/Preferred Term | Individual Treatment Group | |||
| AGGRENOX n (%/year)b | ER-DP Alone n (%/year)b | ASA Alone n (%/year)b | Placebo n (%/year)b | |
| Total Number of Patients | 1650 | 1654 | 1649 | 1649 |
| Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | ||||
| Headache | 647 (28.25) | 634 (27.91) | 558 (22.10) | 543 (22.29) |
| Gastrointestinal System Disorders | ||||
| Dyspepsia | 303(13.23) | 288(12.68) | 299(11.84) | 275(11.29) |
| Abdominal Pain | 289(12.62) | 255(11.22) | 262(10.38) | 239(9.81) |
| Nausea | 264(11.53) | 254(11.18) | 210(8.32) | 232(9.53) |
| Diarrhea | 210(9.17) | 257(1131) | 112(4.44) | 161(6.61) |
| Vomiting | 138(6.03) | 129(5.68) | 101(4.00) | 118(4.84) |
| Platelet, Bleeding and Clotting Disorders | ||||
| Hemorrhage NOS | 52(2.27) | 24(1.06) | 46(182) | 24(0.99) |
| aReported by ≥1%/year of patients during AGGRENOX treatment where the incidence was at least 1%/year greater than in those treated with placebo. bAnnual event rate per 100 pt-years = 100* number of subjects with event/subject-years. Subject-years is defined as cumulative number of days on treatment divided by 365.25. Note: ER-DP = extended-release dipyridamole 200 mg; ASA = aspirin 25 mg. The dosage regimen for all treatment groups is BID. NOS = not otherwise specified. |
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Discontinuation due to adverse events in ESPS2 was 25% for AGGRENOX, 25% for extended-release dipyridamole, 19% for aspirin, and 21% for placebo (refer to Table 2).
Table 2 : Incidence of Adverse Events that Led to the Discontinuation of Treatmenta
| Treatment Groups | ||||
| AGGRENOX n (%/year)b | ER-DP n (%/year)b | ASA n (%/year)b | Placebo n (%/year)b | |
| Total Number of Patients | 1650 | 1654 | 1649 | 1649 |
| Patients with at least one Adverse Event that led to treatment discontinuation | 417(18.21) | 419(18.44) | 318(12.59) | 352(14.45) |
| Headache | 165(7.20) | 166(7.31) | 57(2.26) | 69(2.83) |
| Nausea | 91(3.97) | 95(4.18) | 51(2.02) | 53(2.18) |
| Abdominal Pain | 74(3.23) | 64(2.82) | 56(2.22) | 52(2.13) |
| Vomiting | 53(2.31) | 52(2.29) | 28(111) | 24(0.99) |
| aReported by ≥1%/year of patients during AGGRENOX treatment where the incidence was at least 1%/year greater than in those treated with placebo. bAnnual event rate per 100 pt-years = 100* number of subjects with event/subject-years. Subject-years is defined as cumulative number of days on treatment divided by 365.25. Note: ER-DP = extended-release dipyridamole 200 mg; ASA = aspirin 25 mg. The dosage regimen for all treatment groups is BID. |
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Headache was most notable in the first month of treatment.
Post-Marketing Experience
The following is a list of additional adverse reactions that have been reported either in the literature or are from post-marketing spontaneous reports for either dipyridamole or aspirin. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate reliably their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Decisions to include these reactions in labeling are typically based on one or more of the following factors: (1) seriousness of the reaction, (2) frequency of reporting, or (3) strength of causal connection to AGGRENOX.
Body as a Whole: Hypothermia, chest pain, allergic reaction, syncope
Cardiovascular: Angina pectoris, hypotension
Central Nervous System: Cerebral edema, dizziness, cerebral hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage
Fluid and Electrolyte: Hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, hypokalemia
Gastrointestinal: Pancreatitis, Reye syndrome, hematemesis, gastritis, ulceration and perforation, hemorrhage rectum, melena, GI hemorrhage
Hearing and Vestibular Disorders: Hearing loss
Heart Rate and Rhythm Disorders: Tachycardia, palpitation
Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity, acute anaphylaxis, laryngeal edema
Liver and Biliary System Disorders: Hepatitis, hepatic failure, cholelithiasis, jaundice, hepatic function abnormal
Musculoskeletal: Rhabdomyolysis, myalgia
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: Hypoglycemia, dehydration
Platelet, Bleeding and Clotting Disorders: Prolongation of the prothrombin time, disseminated intravascular coagulation, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, hematoma, gingival bleeding, epistaxis, purpura
Psychiatric Disorders: Confusion, agitation
Respiratory: Tachypnea, dyspnea, hemoptysis
Skin and Appendages Disorders: Rash, alopecia, angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, skin hemorrhages such as bruising, ecchymosis, and hematoma, pruritus, urticaria, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
Urogenital: Interstitial nephritis, papillary necrosis, proteinuria, renal insufficiency and failure, hematuria
Vascular (Extracardiac) Disorders: Allergic vasculitis, flushing
Other Adverse Events: Anorexia, aplastic anemia, migraine, pancytopenia, thrombocytosis.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drug Interaction Study Information Obtained From Literature
Adenosinergic agents (e.g. adenosine, regadenoson)
Dipyridamole has been reported to increase the plasma levels and cardiovascular effects of adenosine. Adjustment of adenosine dosage may be necessary. Dipyridamole also increases the cardiovascular effects of regadenoson, an adenosine AA2 -receptor agonist. The potential risk of cardiovascular side effects with intravenous adenosinergic agents may be increased during the testing period when dipyridamole is not held 48 hours prior to stress testing.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
Because of the indirect effect of aspirin on the renin-angiotensin conversion pathway, the hyponatremic and hypotensive effects of ACE inhibitors may be diminished by concomitant administration of aspirin.
Acetazolamide
Concurrent use of aspirin and acetazolamide can lead to high serum concentrations of acetazolamide (and toxicity) due to competition at the renal tubule for secretion.
Anticoagulants And Antiplatelets
Patients taking AGGRENOX in combination with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or any substance impacting coagulation are at increased risk for bleeding. Aspirin can displace warfarin from protein binding sites, leading to prolongation of both the prothrombin time and the bleeding time. Aspirin can increase the anticoagulant activity of heparin, increasing bleeding risk.
Anagrelide
Patients taking aspirin in combination with anagrelide are at an increased risk of bleeding.
Anticonvulsants
Salicylic acid can displace protein-bound phenytoin and valproic acid, leading to a decrease in the total concentration of phenytoin and an increase in serum valproic acid levels.
Beta Blockers
The hypotensive effects of beta blockers may be diminished by the concomitant administration of aspirin due to inhibition of renal prostaglandins, leading to decreased renal blood flow and salt and fluid retention.
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Dipyridamole may counteract the anticholinesterase effect of cholinesterase inhibitors, thereby potentially aggravating myasthenia gravis.
Diuretics
The effectiveness of diuretics in patients with underlying renal or cardiovascular disease may be diminished by the concomitant administration of aspirin due to inhibition of renal prostaglandins, leading to decreased renal blood flow and salt and fluid retention.
Methotrexate
Salicylate can inhibit renal clearance of methotrexate, leading to bone marrow toxicity, especially in the elderly or renal impaired.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
The concurrent use of aspirin with other NSAIDs may increase bleeding or lead to decreased renal function.
Oral Hypoglycemics
Moderate doses of aspirin may increase the effectiveness of oral hypoglycemic drugs, leading to hypoglycemia.
Uricosuric Agents (probenecid and sulfinpyrazone)
Salicylates antagonize the uricosuric action of uricosuric agents.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Aggrenox (Aspirin, Extended-Release Dipyridamole Capsules)
© Aggrenox Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Aggrenox Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.