Common questions about dipyridamole

Dipyridamole slows the blood's clotting action by making platelets less sticky.

Platelets are blood cells that stick together and block cuts and breaks in blood vessels.

However, in people at risk of heart attack or stroke, platelets can stick together inside already narrowed blood vessels to form a clot. The clot can stop blood flowing to the heart or brain and cause a heart attack or stroke.

If you take it every day, dipyridamole stops platelets from clumping together to form unwanted blood clots. This helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Dipyridamole works within 2 hours of taking it.

You may not feel any different after you start taking dipyridamole. However, this does not mean the medicine is not working.

Carry on taking dipyridamole even if you feel well, as you'll still be getting the benefits.

Dipyridamole is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best if you take it for many months or years.

Do not stop taking dipyridamole without talking to your doctor.

If you stop taking dipyridamole, your blood will go back to clotting at the rate it did before. This usually happens within 2 days of stopping the medicine. This means you may be at increased risk of serious problems like heart attacks or strokes.

Other antiplatelet medicines include low-dose aspirin, clopidogrel and ticagrelor.

Anticoagulant medicines such as apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban and warfarin are also prescribed to help prevent blood clots.

Not all medicines that prevent blood clots are suitable for everyone. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out why you've been recommended a particular medicine.

Because of the risk of bleeding, you may need to stop taking dipyridamole a few days before you have an operation. Tell the surgeon in advance that you are taking dipyridamole.

Yes, you can have vaccinations while taking dipyridamole.

Dipyridamole will not affect your sex life.

Dipyridamole does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined contraceptive pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.

However, if dipyridamole makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Most people can drive or ride a bike while taking dipyridamole. However, if dipyridamole makes you feel dizzy, do not drive, cycle or operate tools or machinery until the dizziness is gone and you feel better.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking dipyridamole. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking dipyridamole.

However, both alcohol and dipyridamole can reduce your blood pressure. Together, they can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you find dipyridamole makes you feel dizzy, it's best to stop drinking alcohol.

If you do drink alcohol while taking dipyridamole, stick to the national guidelines of no more than 14 units a week.

Apart from limiting your alcohol intake, you can eat and drink normally while taking dipyridamole.

If you've been prescribed dipyridamole, you can also improve your health by making some key lifestyle changes.

• Quit smoking. Smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking will cut your risk of heart attack and stroke. Try to avoid second-hand smoke too.
• Cut down on alcohol. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across 3 or more days.
• Get more exercise. Regular exercise keeps your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be too energetic – walking every day can help.
• Eat well. Aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins. It's a good idea to limit the amount of salt in your diet too. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.
• Manage stress. When you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe more heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help keep stress at bay.
• Get vaccinations. If you have heart disease, it's recommended that you have the flu vaccine every year and the pneumococcal vaccine as recommended by your GP. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations. You can have them free on the NHS. The COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for most people. Make sure you've had all the doses that you're eligible for. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be in one of the at-risk groups.