Taking Aspirin for Your Heart? How to Make It Even More Effective?

[consul]

There has been some press lately, at least in the USA on adding rivaroxaban (Xarelto) to your daily aspirin regimen, as a result of new studies. I am sure some of you have seen this press. I intend to raise the issue with my cardiologist, in that I am taking Xarelto, so I need to ask him should I add aspirin in view of recent studies stating this is a positive thing to do, supposedly.

But someone may have already asked the question to their doctor, if you have it would be interesting to know what the outcome was.

[BobD Volunteer]

Hmmm! Aspirin is an anti platelet and is useful when there are issue such as blocked arteries or stents but it has no place as a prophylactic where stroke is an issue for people with AF. At the same time is can actually cause damage from stomach irritation and bleeding whilst doing nothing for your stroke prevention. It is no longer recommended for such in UK.

Strangely it can be beneficial post stroke or heart attack but as mentioned not as a preventative measure. Those with artificial heart valves may be on both anticoagulant and anti platelet therapy.

[Clareowenpearcy in reply to BobD]

I'm on 20mg of Xeralto daily. I was told to add a baby aspirin for 30 days post Ablation then stop.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Clareowenpearcy]

Can't see the point and this is not generally the advice in UK.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi consul,

I suggest a little digging, and it doesn't take much to google this.

The study was carried out in 2011 by "Johnson and Johnson Research"

Try googling who distributes Rivaroxaban in the US, and then see who owns them.

Far be it from me to cast aspersions on the research, you make up your own mind.

Be well

Ian

[consul in reply to Beancounter]

The issue is not who paid for the study, it is the determination of the information being of any benefit or value. Hence why I posted the question. I do not believe research must be ignored dependent on who carried it out.

[Sunshine89 in reply to consul]

I am always skeptical of research done by the manufacturer because I know how clever some people are at putting a point across.

[Sunshine89 in reply to Beancounter]

I agree that one has to check the source of all research.

[MarkS]

I assume you refer to the Compass trial when low dose Rivaroxaban was added to aspirin for the treatment of CV disease (note not AF)

The issue is very much who paid for the study. Industry sponsored trials show a much greater positive outcome compared with independent trials.

Also you need to read this article by Dr John Mandrola:

"The COMPASS Trial: Time for Clear Heads, Not Celebration"

medscape.com/viewarticle/88...

Death from cardiovascular disease was slightly reduced by 1.3% but at the expense of a 1.2% increase in major bleeding. The trial was also terminated early. It's a bit like stopping a football game at half time when your team is leading. The number treated for anyone to benefit is also very high.

John M concludes that there's a lot of spin about these results and I have to agree.

[Bauldy]

I take aspirin along side apixaban, I was put on aspirin after having a stent fitted after having a heart attack.

The apixaban prescribed with the onset of AF.

The recommendation to take both to combat different issues .