Acetylsalicylic acid/dipyridamole explained

The combination drug acetylsalicylic acid/dipyridamole (trade names Aggrenox, Asasantin) is a drug combination of:^[1]

• Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) - An extremely common NSAID that has anticoagulant effects
• Dipyridamole, a drug that inhibits platelet activation when given chronically and causes vasodilation when given at high doses over short time.

The combination acts as an extended release formulation and is primarily used for platelet inhibition in patients suffering, or at risk from, acute coronary events and stroke.^[2] Its use has been shown to be better than the use of either dipyridamole or aspirin alone.^[3]

Notes and References

1. http://www.fass.se/LIF/produktfakta/artikel_produkt.jsp?NplID=19971212000035&DocTypeID=7&UserTypeID=2 FASS (the Swedish official drug catalog) > Asasantin
2. Malinin AI, Eisert RM, Atar D, Barkagan Z, Serebruany VL . 71396361. Aggrenox (Extended-Release Dipyridamole and Low-Dose Aspirin in Combination): Protecting Platelets from Excessive Activation in Patients with Vascular Events. Heart Drug. 2002. 2. 2. 93–104. 10.1159/000063427.
3. Serebruany VL, Malinin AI, Sane DC, Jilma B, Takserman A, Atar D, Hennekens CH . Magnitude and time course of platelet inhibition with Aggrenox and Aspirin in patients after ischemic stroke: the AGgrenox versus Aspirin Therapy Evaluation (AGATE) trial . European Journal of Pharmacology . 499 . 3 . 315–24 . September 2004 . 15381054 . 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.07.114 .