Aspirin/dipyridamole and Alcohol/Food Interactions

Ask your doctor before using dipyridamole together with caffeine. Using these medications together can decrease the effects of dipyridamole. It is recommended that caffeine including caffeine be avoided for 12 to 24 hours before dipyridamole administration. You may need a dose adjustment or special test if you use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Information for this minor interaction is available on the professional version.

Ask your doctor before using aspirin together with ethanol (alcohol). Do not drink alcohol while taking aspirin. Alcohol can increase your risk of stomach bleeding caused by aspirin. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This includes black, bloody, or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Caffeine and other xanthine derivatives (e.g., theophylline) are nonspecific, competitive antagonists of adenosine receptors. As such, they may interfere with the vasodilating effect of dipyridamole, an adenosine receptor agonist. In studies of healthy volunteers, caffeine has been shown to reduce the hemodynamic response (i.e., heart rate increases, vasodilation, blood pressure changes) to dipyridamole infusions, and both caffeine and theophylline have been reported to cause false-negative results in myocardial scintigraphy tests using dipyridamole.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should avoid consumption of caffeine-containing products for at least 24 hours prior to administration of dipyridamole for myocardial perfusion imaging.