Dipyridamole Diagnostic (Systemic)

Brand Names : Persantine, Apo-Dipyridamole FC, Apo-Dipyridamole SC, Novo-Dipiradol

Before Having This Test

In deciding to use a diagnostic test, any risks of the test must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. Also, test results may be affected by other things. For dipyridamole, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to dipyridamole. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Although studies have not been done in pregnant women, dipyridamole has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that dipyridamole decreased the number of successful pregnancies in female rats given many times the maximum human dose.

Breast-feeding - Although dipyridamole passes into breast milk, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - This medicine has been tested only in adults and in children older than 12 years of age. There is no specific information comparing use of dipyridamole in children younger than 12 years of age with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Dipyridamole for diagnostic use has been tested in older people. It has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Before you receive dipyridamole, it is especially important that your doctor knows if you are taking any of the following:

• Aminophylline (e.g., Phyllocontin) or
• Caffeine (e.g., NoDoz) or
• Dyphylline (e.g., Lufyllin) or
• Oxtriphylline (e.g., Choledyl) or
• Theophylline (e.g., Theo-Dur) - These medicines will interfere with the results of this test. Caffeine should not be taken for 8 to 12 hours before the test. It is present in many medicines (for example, stay-awake products, pain relievers, and medicines for relieving migraine headaches) and foods or beverages (for example, coffee, tea, colas or other soft drinks, cocoa, and chocolate). If you are not sure whether any medicine you are taking contains caffeine, check with your pharmacist

• Aspirin or
• Carbenicillin by injection (e.g., Geopen) or
• Cefamandole (e.g., Mandol) or
• Cefoperazone (e.g., Cefobid) or
• Cefotetan (e.g., Cefotan) or
• Divalproex (e.g., Depakote) or
• Heparin or
• Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
• Pentoxifylline (e.g., Trental) or
• Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
• Sulfinpyrazone (e.g., Anturane) or
• Ticarcillin (e.g., Ticar) or
• Ticlopidine (e.g., Ticlid) or
• Valproic acid (e.g., Depakene) - The chance of bleeding may be increased

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dipyridamole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or history of or
• Chest pain - The chance of side effects may be increased

• Low blood pressure - Large amounts of dipyridamole can make your condition worse