Drug & supplement interaction

Niacin + Dipyridamole

Dipyridamole brand names: Persantine, Dipyridamole, Persantin, Persantin Injection, Persantin Retard.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Niacin has a moderate interaction with Dipyridamole. Theoretically, niacin may have additive effects when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Niacin and Dipyridamole

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Dipyridamole

Dipyridamole falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group Niacin interacts with.

Theoretically, niacin may have additive effects when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Several cases of clotting factor synthesis deficiency and coagulopathy have been reported in patients taking sustained-release niacin. Also, thrombocytopenia has been reported in patients treated with niacin or niacin plus lovastatin.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: dipyridamole is an antiplatelet medicine, which means it already makes it a little harder for your blood to clot. High-dose niacin can add to that effect. In some reports, large niacin doses (especially sustained-release forms) lowered platelet counts or interfered with clotting factors. Stack that on top of dipyridamole and you could, in theory, tip the scales toward easier bruising or bleeding, like nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or cuts that take longer to stop.

To be fair, this is a theoretical concern based on how these work, not a strongly proven one. Everyday food and a regular multivitamin amount of niacin are very unlikely to matter. The caution is really about prescription-strength niacin. Before starting any high-dose niacin, check with your pharmacist or doctor.

References
  1. Dearing BD, Lavie CJ, Lohmann TP, Genton E. Niacin-induced clotting factor synthesis deficiency with coagulopathy. Arch Intern Med. 1992;152(4):861-3. DOI
  2. O'Brien T, Silverberg JD, Nguyen TT. Nicotinic acid-induced toxicity associated with cytopenia and decreased levels of thyroxine-binding globulin. Mayo Clin Proc. 1992;67(5):465-8. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Niacin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Niacin has 726 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Dipyridamole one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Niacin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Niacin. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dipyridamole

This page covers Niacin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dipyridamole page lists 219 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Adenosine (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major) and Aconite (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 190 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dipyridamole page

“Dipyridamole (Persantine) keeps platelets from clumping so clots don't form, often after a stroke or heart valve surgery, and that job is exactly why the 219 supplements on this page warrant real vigilance. The bulk of the list, including most of the 190 moderate entries, adds its own blood-thinning or antiplatelet effect on top of the…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dipyridamole interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Niacin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 933 real supplement products containing Niacin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Niacin. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Dipyridamole too, on top of Niacin — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Niacin and Dipyridamole Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Niacin
Top 25%

#237 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Dipyridamole
Top 25%

#491 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Niacin

What is Niacin?

Niacin
  • High cholesterol
  • Vitamin B3 deficiency (pellagra)
  • Heart health support
  • General energy and metabolism

Niacin (vitamin B3) is an essential nutrient your body needs for energy and metabolism, and deficiency is uncommon in most developed countries. Prescription-strength niacin has been used to adjust cholesterol levels, but high doses can cause flushing and other side effects and should only be taken under medical supervision. Always talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using high-dose niacin supplements.

Read the full Niacin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Dipyridamole

What Is Dipyridamole Used For?

Brand names: Persantine, Dipyridamole, Persantin, Persantin Injection, Persantin Retard

Dipyridamole tablets are used alongside warfarin (a blood thinner) to help prevent dangerous blood clots from forming after cardiac valve replacement surgery. It is not used alone for this purpose — it works as an add-on to anticoagulant therapy.

Dipyridamole Injection is used as an alternative to exercise during thallium myocardial perfusion imaging — a type of heart scan that checks blood flow through the coronary arteries. It is given to patients who are unable to exercise adequately for the test.

See full Dipyridamole drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Niacin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Niacin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
726Moderate
0Minor
2,103No known interaction
Moderate

726 interactions

Showing 60 of 726 moderate interactions — see all 726 on the Niacin page.

No interaction 2,103 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Niacin and Dipyridamole Together: Common Questions

Can you take Niacin with Dipyridamole?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Niacin and Dipyridamole interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Dipyridamole and Niacin?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.