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Drug Profile

Do NOT stop taking this or any drug without the advice of your physician. Some drugs can cause severe adverse effects when they are stopped suddenly.

Do Not Use Except After Valve Replacement [what does this mean?]
Generic drug name: dipyridamole (dye peer ID a mole)
Brand name(s): PERSANTINE
GENERIC: not available FAMILY: Blood-clotting Inhibitors
Find the drug label by searching at DailyMed.

Alternative Treatment [top]

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR ANGINA: See  propranolol.

Pregnancy and Breast-feeding Warnings [top]

Pregnancy Warning

No valid data are available for dipyridamole, as it was not tested properly in animal studies. Because of the lack of health benefit to the mother, there is no reason to use dipyridamole during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding Warning

Dipyridamole is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects in nursing infants, you should not take this drug while nursing.

Facts About This Drug [top]

Dipyridamole is approved by the FDA for use in combination with  warfarin (COUMADIN) after heart valve replacement to prevent blood clots.[1]

This drug has not been proven to have any health benefit except in one study involving a certain type of heart surgery—heart valve replacement. It is also sometimes given in combination with aspirin to prevent a stroke, but there is no proof that this combination works any better than aspirin alone. There is no convincing evidence that dipyridamole...

Dipyridamole is approved by the FDA for use in combination with  warfarin (COUMADIN) after heart valve replacement to prevent blood clots.[1]

This drug has not been proven to have any health benefit except in one study involving a certain type of heart surgery—heart valve replacement. It is also sometimes given in combination with aspirin to prevent a stroke, but there is no proof that this combination works any better than aspirin alone. There is no convincing evidence that dipyridamole will prevent or relieve any disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain, decrease the severity or frequency of chest pain (angina), or improve the mental or physical state of older or senile people.

Dipyridamole remains on a well-recognized list of drugs that are inappropriate for use in older adults because it may cause a rapid lowering of blood pressure when a patient stands up (orthostatic hypotension) that could lead to fainting and falling.[2]

last reviewed December 31, 2023