Dypridisol

Dipyridamole 50mg/5ml Oral Suspension

Dipyridamole 50mg/5ml

For excipients see section 6.1

Oral Suspension

Bright yellow suspension with odour of almond.

An adjunct to oral anticoagulation for prophylaxis of thromboembolism associated with prosthetic heart valves.

Administration:

For oral use only.

Dipyridamole suspension should usually be taken before meals.

Adults: 300mg to a maximum of 600mg daily in three or four doses.

Children: Dipyridamole is not recommend for children.

Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the product.

Among other properties, dipyridamole acts as a vasodilator. It should be used with caution in patients with severe coronary artery disease, including unstable angina and/or recent myocardial infarction, left ventricular outflow obstruction or haemodynamic instability (e.g. decompensated heart failure).

Dipyridamole should be used with caution in patients with coagulation disorders.

In patients with myasthenia gravis, readjustment of therapy may be necessary after changes in dipyridamole dosage (see Drug Interactions).

Patients treated with regular oral doses of dipyridamole should not receive additional intravenous dipyridamole. If pharmacological stress testing with intravenous dipyridamole for coronary artery disease is considered necessary, then oral dipyridamole should be discontinued 24 hours prior to testing.

Excipients in the formulation

Dipyridamole suspension contains liquid maltitol. Patients with a rare hereditary problem of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.

The medicine also contains parahydroxybenzoates which are known to cause urticaria, generally delayed type reactions such as contact dermatitis and rarely, immediate reaction with urticaria and bronchospasm.

Adenosine:

Dipyridamole increases plasma levels and cardiovascular effects of adenosine. Adjustment of adenosine dosage should be considered if use with dipyridamole is unavoidable.

Aspirin:

There is evidence that the effects of aspirin and dipyridamole on platelet behaviour are additive.

Antacids:

The administration of antacids may reduce the efficacy of dipyridamole.

Anticoagulants:

It is possible that dipyridamole may enhance the effects of oral anticoagulants. When dipyridamole is used in combination with anticoagulants and acetylsalicylic acid, the statements on intolerance and risks for these preparations must be observed. Addition of dipyridamole to acetylsalicylic acid does not increase the incidence of bleeding events. When dipyridamole was administered concomitantly with warfarin, bleeding was no greater in frequency or severity than that observed when warfarin was administered alone.

Anti-Hypertensives:

Dipyridamole may increase the hypotensive effect of drugs which reduce blood pressure.

Anti-cholinesterases:

Dipyridamole may counteract the anticholinesterase effect of cholinesterase inhibitors thereby potentially aggravating myasthenia gravis.

There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy but dipyridamole has been used for many years without apparent ill consequence. Animal studies have shown no hazard. Medicines should not be used in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, unless the expected benefit is thought to outweigh the possible risk to the foetus.

Dipyridamole is excreted in breast milk at levels approximately 6% of the plasma concentration. Therefore, dipyridamole should only be used during lactation if considered essential by the physician.

None stated.

If side effects do occur, it is usually during the early part of treatment.

Blood and the lymphatic system disorders

Isolated cases of thrombocytopenia have been reported in conjunction with treatment of dipyridamole.

Cardiac Disorders

In rare cases, worsening of symptoms of coronary heart disease has been observed.

Vascular Disorders

The vasodilating properties may occasionally produce a vascular headache which normally disappears with long-term use.

As a result of its vasodilator properties, dipyridamole may cause hypotension, hot flushes and tachycardia.

Hepato-biliary disorders

Dipyridamole has been shown to be incorporated into gallstones.

General Disorders

Vomiting, diarrhoea and symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, nausea, dyspepsia, and myalgia have been observed.

Hypersensitivity reactions such as rash, urticaria, severe bronchospasm and angio-oedema have been reported.

Surgical and medical procedures

In very rare cases, increased bleeding during or after surgery has been observed.

Due to the low number of observations, experience with dipyridamole overdose is limited. Symptoms such as a warm feeling, flushes, sweating, restlessness, feeling of weakness, dizziness and anginal complaints can be expected. A drop in blood pressure and tachycardia might be observed.

Symptomatic therapy is recommended. Administration of xanthine derivatives (e.g. aminophylline) may reverse the haemodynamic effects of dipyridamole overdose. Due to its wide distribution to tissues and its predominantly hepatic elimination, dipyridamole is not likely to be accessible to enhanced removal procedures.

Dipyridamole has an antithrombotic action based on its ability to modify various aspects of platelet function, such as platelet aggregation, adhesion and survival, which have been shown to be factors associated with the initiation of thrombus formation. Dipyridamole also has coronary vasodilator properties.

Oral administration of dipyridamole gives a peak plasma level 0.5 - 2 hours after dosing. The drug has an apparent bioavailability of 37-66%. These figures were obtained with other oral immediate release forms of dipyridamole.

The volume of distribution is 2.43 ± 1.1l/kg. When given orally the elimination half life is 9 –12 hours. The major route of excretion of dipyridamole is in the bile.

There are no preclinical data of relevance to the prescriber additional to those already included in other sections of the SPC.

Methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216), propylene glycol (E1520), xanthan gum (E415), ammonium glycyrrhizinate, almond flavour (including propylene glycol and ethanol), levomenthol, liquid maltitol (E965), polysorbate 80 (E433), simethicone emulsion, aluminium magnesium silicate, disodium hydrogen phosphate (E339), citric acid monohydrate (E330) and purified water.

Not applicable.

24 months

1 month - once open

Do not store above 25°C.

Bottle: Amber (Type III) glass

Closure:

HDPE, EPE wadded, tamper evident screw cap

HDPE, EPE wadded, tamper evident child resistant closure.

Capacity: 150ml or 500ml

Not all pack sizes may be marketed

This product may settle during storage. Please shake the bottle thoroughly before use.

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Rosemont House, Yorkdale Industrial Park, Braithwaite Street, Leeds, LS11 9XE, UK

PL 00427/0133

8/8/02

September 2007