Aspirin and Anticoagulant

[Sherbett]

Had been taking Aspirin for 18 years got taken off and put on Edoxaban due to episode of AF. Cardiologist ( due to heart disease) is adding back the aspirin along side the Edoxaban. When googled it doesn’t make very good reading. Is anyone else on similar.

[CDreamer]

Yes many of us are on anticoagulants such as Edoxaban and NO don’t mix with Asprin unless expressly instructed to do so by a doctor.

Asprin, far from being benign, is a dangerous drug anyway but mix with anticoagulant carries high risk of internal bleeds.

Both carry a bleed risk but asprin is known to cause bleeds in your stomach, where you won’t see it until you are very ill. Taking both together will increase that risk.

As an aside why would you want to take Asprin for 18 years?

[Sherbett in reply to CDreamer]

Hello, thanks for reply, have been taking 75mg aspirin for Heart attack 18 years ago.Got diagnosed with AF Jan 2022, which is when I was prescribed Edoxaban and taken off Aspirin. I think he is now weighing up the benefit of adding back an aspirin for the anti platlet benefits.

[BobD Volunteer]

There are a few occasions when both are taken, for example if stents or artificial valves are present (my brother in law who had a carbon fibre valve took both) but this is not common. On the very few occasions when I was given both (in hospital) I had to swim out of a very red bed due to massive nose bleeds.

I agree with CDreamer that 18 yeasr is a very long time to be at risk and if I were you I would check with cardiologist.

[Sherbett]

Thanks Bob, please see my reply to CD dreamer, my cardiologist is a professor but he always seems to rush things and not take time to explain things properly, bit of a dilemma for me.

[frazeej]

Similar here, on small dose aspirin since 1999 due to minor MI in distant past that was not diagnosed at the time (1987, left coronary artery way down at bottom tip of the heart). Diagnosed a fib in 2021, cardio guy put me on Xarelto, and DEFINITELY stop aspirin. Works for me, a LOT less bruising and bleeding. A friend with a fib is on Warfarin AND aspirin, with lots of bleeding issues-he was told by his guy that he has to take both because of his stent in the abdominal aorta (aneurysm).

[Sherbett in reply to frazeej]

Thanks frazeej, it’s all very confusing, I have been on another site and some are taking aspirin and Edoxaban, I suppose it’s a judgement made on risk factors with arterial disease.

[plopper]

I take apixaban and 81 mg aspirin due to stroke.

[Sherbett]

Thanks for reply plopper I think are a lot of people taking both.

[Vanna-C]

Slightly off topic, I take Rivaroxaban for AF, and during lockdown I developed severe toothache. Desperate to at least calm the pain one evening , I took Aspirin as well as paracetamol every 4 hours. (Didn’t work!)Early the next morning (Sunday) I rang my dentist surgery, and was given an emergency number to call. The dentist answered, asked me what I was taking for pain relief, and what other medications I was taking.

He told me that I must never take aspirin with the anticoagulant, and asked me to come to the surgery straight away, so that he could monitor the situation (75mile round trip)

The tooth was cracked lengthways, but he could not take it out because of my taking the 2 medicines together, as the risks of bleeding would be greatly increased. An appointment was made for a time when there would be more coverage in the surgery, and nearby hospital on standby in case of emergency.

He then went into great detail as to why I must never, ever take aspirin again, as long as I am taking Rivaroxaban. Incidentally, I did cut my finger later that day, the bleeding was definitely impressive!

[Sherbett]

Thanks for reply Vanna, l have been extremely careful in the kitchen the last couple of month, no cuts. First day out in the garden and nearly cut the top off my finger with secateurs, immediate thought OMG, it wasn’t that bad at all, clotted fairly easy. I think it must vary from person to person, haven’t added the aspirin yet. 😊