To asprin or not to asprin

[Max1986]

Iam a 33 year old male and am currently on ACE inhibitors for bp. I used to get random stabbing like pains in heart and I went to doctor and he performed an ECG which said I may have an abnormal T wave and RBB. But he also said it may be a coronary spasm. That was about 2 months ago. He referred me to see a cardiologist but couldn't go immediately because they are quite expensive and needed to raise the money. I had read online that daily asprin can perhaps alleviate it in the meantime so I started taking it. I have an appointment to see one mid June. Seeing as I have been taking daily asprin for 2 and a half months now is it dangerous for me to continue taking considering my age or is it worse for me to stop it?

[Pilgrim1956]

I was put on aspirin by a GP, new GP took me off them and now I'm back on them so who knows!!

Your close to your cardiologist appointment now so I'd suggest you carry on with what you are doing now and then talk about it with them.

[Sunnie2day]

Taking aspirin without medical advice can be something of a 'taking your chances' thing - there are a lot of reasons it should be managed carefully including stomach bleeds, asthma, clotting issues that can cause problems after dental work or surgery, more.

And, it depends on how well you tolerate it, what strength you take, and what type it is - there are aspirins out there 'over the counter' with a coating that protects the stomach, for example. More importantly - are you careful to read the package insert and follow the directions and guidelines (warnings and list of complication symptoms), and are clear regarding the other ingredients in the tablets? If you've been taking a certain brand or switching brands, every time you open an over-the-counter box you must check to make sure the formula hasn't changed - aspirin isn't just aspirin, there are other ingredients to keep the tablets stable in storage, etc.

Have you discussed the potential complications with your doctor - does he/she know you are taking aspirin as part of your way to manage the condition that has caused the doctor to put you on the ACE inhibitors?

I do take aspirin as part of the management of my particular condition but I do so under supervision owing to the high dosage I'm on (currently 300mg once a day), and I've been taking high dose aspirin since my mid-thirties with no problems. But I'm in my early 60s now so more attention is being paid - for example, my daily morning dose was a whopping shocking 600mg (after the usual 75mg proved ineffective) and was recently dropped to 300mg now I'm on a morning Bisoprolol 1.25mg.

Every patient is different and you really need to have a visit with who ever it was who put you on the ACE inhibitors to discuss taking aspirin.