What Is Aggrenox Medication?

Aggrenox is prescribed to prevent a stroke in people who have experienced either a transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke), or a full-scale stroke resulting from a blood clot blocking a brain artery. Aggrenox includes two active ingredients to prevent clots: 200mg of dipyridamole in an extended-release form, and a low dose of aspirin at 25mg. Both are anti-platelet agents that make blood less sticky, thus interfering with the tendency of blood platelets to clump together.

Expert Insight

Clinical studies have determined that the combination of aspirin and dipyridamole is more effective in preventing recurrent strokes than either ingredient by itself. Approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1999 was based on results of a large study called the European Stroke Prevention Study 2. Another large study published in The Lancet in 2006 confirmed that the combination is more effective than aspirin alone.

Dosage

The recommended dosage is one capsule twice a day. People shouldn't crush or chew the capsule because that won't allow the slow release won't work, and the risk of side effects is then higher. Aggrenox should be taken with 8 oz. water, and taking the medication with food can decrease any gastrointestinal side effects.

Side Effects

In clinical trials, the most common side effect prompting people to drop out of the studies was headaches, caused by blood vessels in the brain expanding. Nearly 40 percent of participants experienced headaches with Aggrenox. Another somewhat common side effect involved gastrointestinal complaints including heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea and nausea, from 12 percent to 19 percent of participants.

Considerations

People who are allergic to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen shouldn't take Aggrenox. Aggrenox also should be avoided by people with a stomach ulcer, liver disease, bleeding disorders or who experience asthma attacks after taking aspirin. Additionally, because dipyridamole causes blood vessels to expand, people with heart disease may need to avoid taking Aggrenox.

Caution

Aggrenox is not sold in generic form. The only way people can attempt to duplicate the medication is to take 25mg of aspirin along with generic dypiridamole. However, dypiridamole is not available in a slow-acting form. Because taking the medication this way is not as effective, physicians advise against doing so.