Dipyridamole, sold as the brand Persantine, is a prescription-only medication taken with other drugs for treating certain heart problems. It prevents blood clotting and is classified as an adenosine receptor agonist, according to PubMed Health. Coordinating your use of Persantine with your daily diet routine can prevent side effects and ensure the medicine is effective.
Function
Persantine is prescribed with anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin to lower the risk of blood clots after a heart valve replacement. Some doctors prescribe Persantine as an added treatment with other drugs to treat angina, to decrease the damage from a heart attack and prevent another one, and to prevent complications during a heart bypass operation, observes PDR Health.
Side Effects
Side effects when taking oral Persantine are not very common, notes Drugs.com. More side effects are associated with injected Persantine. The most likely effects from oral Persantine include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, flushing, headache and itching. These effects usually are mild and do not last long.
Usage
Persantine is available in tablet form and is usually taken four times a day. Although it's best to take this medication on an empty stomach with a full glass of water, you may take it with food or milk if you experience digestive side effects otherwise, according to PDR Health. Take Persantine exactly as your doctor directs and at the same times every day.
Food Interactions
Caffeine and theophylline, which are in regular coffee and tea, interact with Persantine, notes Drugs.com. Caffeine also is found in cola drinks and chocolate. Caffeine and theophylline are antagonists of adenosine receptors, so they interfere with adenosine receptor agonists such as dipyridamole. This could make Persantine less effective. Caffeine reduces the circulatory response to dipyridamole, and both caffeine and theophylline can cause false-negative results in imaging tests using dipyridamole. Ask your doctor about consuming substances with caffeine or theophylline while you're taking Persantine.
Considerations
You may not be able to safely take Persantine if you have a dietary sensitivity or allergy to any of the inactive substances in its formulation. Some of these ingredients include carnauba wax, corn starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, methylparaben, polyethylene glycol, povidone, propylparaben, sodium benzoate, sucrose, synthetic food colorings, talc, titanium dioxide and white wax.
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