Persantine

Persantine is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots after heart valve replacement. Persantine belongs to a group of drugs called antiplatelet agents. It works by preventing excessive blood clotting.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken typically 4 times a day.

Common side effects of Persantine include stomach pain, headache, and rash. Persantine can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Persantine affects you.

Persantine is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots after heart valve replacement. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Persantine. See "Persantine Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Persantine include:

• Dizziness
• Rash
• Headache
• Stomach upset

This is not a complete list of Persantine side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including adenosine and cholinesterase inhibitors, prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Persantine including the following: 

• Coronary Artery Disease: Persantine has a vasodilatory effect and should be used with caution in patients with severe coronary artery disease (e.g., unstable angina or recently sustained myocardial infarction). Chest pain may be aggravated in patients with underlying coronary artery disease who are receiving Persantine. 
• Liver failure. Elevations of liver enzymes and liver failure have been reported with taking Persantine.
• Low blood pressure. Persantine should be used with caution in patients with low blood pressure since it can produce peripheral vasodilation.

Do not take Persantine if you are allergic to Persantine or any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Persantine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Persantine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Persantine or to any of its ingredients, or any other drugs
• take aspirin and vitamins
• have or have ever had low blood pressure
• are having surgery, including dental surgery
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Persantine. if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take Persantine because it is not as safe or effective as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Persantine falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Persantine. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, Persantine should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Persantine has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Persantine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take Persantine exactly as prescribed.

Persantine comes in tablet form and is typically taken four times daily.

Continue to take Persantine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Persantine without talking to your doctor.

The recommended dose range of Persantine to prevent blood clots after a heart valve replacement is 75-100 mg four times daily as an adjunct to the usual warfarin therapy. 

If you take too much Persantine, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store at 25°C (77°F).
• Keep out of reach of children.