Dipyridamole is used for:

Evaluating coronary artery disease in patients who cannot exercise adequately before thallium imaging (cardiac blood flow scan).

Dipyridamole is a coronary vasodilator. It works by increasing blood flow to the heart, which mimics an exercise test. It is followed by the thallium test.

Do NOT use Dipyridamole if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Dipyridamole

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Dipyridamole :

Some medical conditions may interact with Dipyridamole. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have asthma; chest pain (angina); heart disease; heart block; or abnormal, rapid, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• if you have severe muscle weakness

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Dipyridamole. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Theophyllines (eg, aminophylline) because they may decrease Dipyridamole 's effectiveness
• Adenosine because the risk of its side effects, including low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, may be increased by Dipyridamole
• Anticholinesterases (eg, pyridostigmine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Dipyridamole

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Dipyridamole may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Dipyridamole :

Use Dipyridamole as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Dipyridamole is administered as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic.
• If you miss a dose of Dipyridamole , contact your doctor right away.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Dipyridamole.

Important safety information:

• Dipyridamole may cause dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Dipyridamole with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Avoid food or drink that has caffeine (eg, coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, chocolate) before you use Dipyridamole.
• Dipyridamole should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Dipyridamole while you are pregnant. Dipyridamole is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Dipyridamole.

Possible side effects of Dipyridamole :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; fatigue; flushing; headache; nausea.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; confusion; fast, irregular, or slow heartbeat; one-sided weakness; seizures; slurred speech.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.