Hello dynodub - I apologize for being so late in replying to your question but it somehow got by me. Oh, by the way, I'm not an MD, but an allied health professional. Still, I think I can answer your question. Here goes:
Aggrenox is, as you accurately point, out a vasodilator, or at least contains something (dipyridamole) which has that property. It also, however, contains
aspirin. While on paper Plavix and Aggrenox should provide increased protection, and Aggrenox has become very much favored by doctors for its protective capabilities regarding
strokes, adding
aspirin to a Plavix regimen increases one's bleeding potential to an undesireable (because potentially dangerous) degree. While
aspirin has anti-coagulant properties, Plavix reduces the viscosity of blood. The combination could, in a worst-case scenario, lead to a very dangerous and difficult to stop bleed.
If you feel you might be better served by Aggrenox than Plavix (a controversial issue) I would strongly suggest you contact your doctor, asking if he would be willing to prescribe a trial of Aggrenox. If he doesn't feel it's appropriate he probaby has his reasons and since I don't have access to your chart (nor the authority of an MD), I wouldn't second-guess such a decision on the part of any MD.
In any event I would discontinue the
aspirin unless specifically recommended by your doctor, for the reasons stated above. You've already noted that your self-medication with the
aspirin might be risky, and you are correct. Since Plavix does not cause blood vessel dilation, any signifcant increase in blood pressure could result in a bleed on the brain that would be far more serious than an ischemic
stroke.
Hope this helps answer your question.
