Baby Aspirin

[Vandalbragg]

Doc said I should keep taking it but it’s messing my stomach up. Is the literature correct about it not helping prevent stroke? Can I just cut it off? Been taking daily for about 2 months.

[Hidden]

Why are you taking it?

[Vandalbragg in reply to Hidden]

I have para Afib. Doc said it can help reduce stroke.

[Hidden in reply to Vandalbragg]

I think common practice is that is not used to prevent stroke. That's for patients with AF . You need to be on an anticoagulant if deemed at risk of stroke . Is it your GP advice? Maybe look at advice sheets on AF association site and arm yourself with info and help with your understanding of the condition

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Vandalbragg]

Doc is wrong. NICE no longer recommends aspirin for stroke prevention in AF. If you are in UK refer your doctor to the latest NICE guidelines. In USA apparently aspirin is still pushed heavily by the all powerful drug companies.

[Tabsher in reply to BobD]

FYI Bayer, producer of aspirin is German based.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Tabsher]

Can and is made by anybody.

[Tabsher in reply to BobD]

agreed and not trying to start a scrap I just felt the all powerful drug company statement was a tiny bit snarky. I wouldn't equate marketing to 'pushing'.

[Hidden in reply to Tabsher]

Their sales here (US) for many products other than aspitin are in the 'B's of $.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I agree. It's a money thing over here. Bayer )the main"aspirin" here. This Pharma has a very powerful lobby! They are the umbrella company for many other companies (world wide) who do a booming business in the US.

[Janith in reply to Vandalbragg]

Same here ... l do notwanttotake blood thinners ... my cardiologist won’t allow me to stop.

[Hidden in reply to Janith]

I wanted off and was determined to do so. Found out and really pushed for my Watchman Procedure. Had a few skirmishes with a couple of docs but my EP backed me. Am now off Coumadin and will soon be off the interim Plavix (3 months). Then no more AC's. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. BTW " My (doctor) won't allow me....." is NOT in my vocabulary! Ask your docs and don't accept just one opinion. It may not be the answer for you but you won't know without investigation. It's your body and your right to control who does what to it. W usually think in terms of regular people re this subject but it also includes medical treatments, drugs, etc. Same principles apply! iBTW am in permanent AF(dx in 2011.) And have a Chad score of 2 (stroke risk)Good luck.

[Hidden]

We need to be careful here Vandalbragg because we are not medically trained, but hopefully your doctor is. Are we talking about doctor as in GP, or doctor as in Cardiologist/Electrophysiologist? All the advice I have heard from Heart specialists is that aspirin serves no benefit for people suffering from AF. On the contrary, it can contribute to a stomach bleed which would be very unhelpful. However, there are other heart conditions where aspirin is helpful, so I suggest you check this out again with your doctor. If you check out the NICE guidlines for AF, I believe they cover this in some detail......

[Vandalbragg in reply to Hidden]

I saw a cardiologist here in the United states

[Hidden in reply to Vandalbragg]

Thanks, as you can see, things are different here in the UK and all we can really do is make you aware.......good luck

[azriverrat in reply to Vandalbragg]

From personal experience aspirin sucks. If your EP need anti coagulants many to choose from.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Good advice. Some GP?PCP's, and even cardiologists can be biased from lack of knowledge, The most valid answers (IMO) on this subject come from the Electrophysiologists.

[Smokie2D]

I was taken off the baby asprin when I went into AF and got put on Apixiban. I went into hospital some time later and met a hospital pharmacist who ensured this was reviewed. It seems asprin is required because after this review I was put on asprin again. (some mutters one for stroke one for heart but didnt pay attention, sorry never do!). If you must take aspirin and are not already on the gastro coated ones ask for them. Before being put on apixiban I was on them as I had gastro reflux. Now back on bog standard!

[Vandalbragg]

Yea my doctor told me I’m not at risk for stroke either. I have “lone” para Afib.

[CDreamer in reply to Vandalbragg]

If you are considered low enough stroke risk to not warrant AC’s I would be questioning your doctor as to his reasoning for telling you to continue and I would be reading up about the bleed risk of taking aspirin daily.

Aspirin is an anti-platelet not an anti-coagulant and is recommended for some people with other conditions alongside AF.

Ask why?

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Absolutely ask why? And if his answer doesn't resonate make your own decision but talk to him about what you want to do. It's always a good idea to keep your docs in the picture even when you disagree and want to take your own path. A level playing field on both sides.

[Janith in reply to Vandalbragg]

Same here,

[opal11uk]

Aspirin should never be taken on an empty stomach, I was told this when taking 375mg daily, that was soluble Aspirin taking due to PA/F

[Hidden]

It's certainly not a drug of choice for PAF I would look at the following website for alternatives sparctool.com which lists all the available alternatives some of which are far more protective than aspirin and don't have any additional risks from bleeding ! I would seek out a second opinion if you are not happy with the advice ! Best wishes ! Andy

[Polski]

I believe aspirin is recommended to prevent stroke caused by artherosclerosis, but not for AF. Do you have other heart issues which might explain the doctor's advice?

[LindaDaisy]

If you do carry on taking aspirin then you need to look at when you take it in relationship to when you eat. Talk to a pharmacist.

[Clayr361]

I'm 32 also and score a 0 on the stroke risk scale (whatever it is refereed to). I stopped taking my baby aspirin about a week ago after doing some of my own research and from the opinion of some on here. My cardiologist originally put me on a 375mg aspirin when discharged from the hospital. When I went to see him a month later, I asked him if I needed to keep taking the aspirin and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "eh just take a baby aspirin". I did not find that as too sure of a need by him so I don't feel bad not taking it. Plus when I went to see my GP a couple weeks ago for a yearly physical he was puzzled as to why I was put on the aspirin. I am not one of those natural remedy people but I did some research into natural anti-coagulants such as garlic, cayenne pepper etc and started incorporating more of those. Might not help but I like garlic and cayenne as it is so it cant hurt.

[Hidden in reply to Clayr361]

IMO and for me they do help. But you have to take enough. For instance, if I make oatmeal I sprinkle a lot of cinnamon on it (raises INR.)

[Mike11]

If you really need aspirin rather than an anti-coagulant, either ask to change to clopidogrel or take it with lanzoprazole to protect the stomach.

Very surprised at comments here about drug companies pushing aspirin - it's so cheap there can hardly be any profit in it. NOACs are much more profitable.

[Hidden in reply to Mike11]

VOLUME!

[roychris45]

Are you taking any "blood thinners"? My doctor had me stop taking aspirin when I started taking Eliquis.

[CDreamer in reply to roychris45]

Anticoagulants - they do not thin the blood. Before Bob D explodes.....

[vaga_v]

In quit xarelto approved by my doc (vagal PAF) and by mentioning aspirin as kind of replacement, my cardiologist response was "it is even worst" from bleeding perspective.