I have been on aspirin since 1993 and my Dr wants me to stop it. I am also on warfarin since late 1990s . I am unsure what to do ,any help would be appreciated. Many thanks.
Aspirin question: I have been on... - British Heart Fou...
Aspirin question
Written by
Gordy47
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
49 Replies
•
Am not a doctor and I don’t know what your health problems are .or why they want you to stop the aspirin But google stopping long term aspirin . There can be a risk involved the rebound increases your risk of heart attack which is why I resist stopping mine . But I don’t know if the warfarin would negate that risk as I say am not a doctor but personally I would raise it with your cardiologist
MilkfairyHeart Star
Hello Gordy47
Did your doctor explain to you why they are suggesting you stop taking aspirin?
As patients we should be able to make a shared decision with our clinicians based on evidence and your doctor should give the reasons why in their professional opinion you should stop taking aspirin.
You can of course ask for a second opinion
I suggest you give the BHF nurses a call and speak to one of the Cardiac nurses.
Simple question: WHY are you on Aspirin?
I take Rivaroxoban to thin blood for my AV post surgery. I am on Aspirin to thin my blood to manage my AF.
If it is ever possible for me to stop taking one of these medications, i will - but for now, it appears i need to take them. Maybe you no longer need to take Aspirin, or the long term effects outweigh the benefits...
You don't say what type of Doctor you are referring to - your GP or a Cardiology Consultant.
Ultmiately, the choice will be yours.
Good points well made
MilkfairyHeart Star
Can you provide the evidence for your above statement?
You can google it for yourself .
There are many members who take aspirin without any issues on the forum.
Please can you explain why you made the statement that
'They think aspirin is the devil by and large on this forum'
Look at any time the subject comes up on a discussion on anti coagulation and look at the comments on aspirin
Aspirin isn’t an anticoagulant it’s an anti platelet.
It gets branded as dangerous while DOACS are viewed as harmless in comparison. Both carry risks
Where’s the branding? MHRA? EMc? I’m not sure I’ve seen a comparative study of risk. But would appreciate seeing it as would be very helpful.
On threads I have taken part in . I did say in my original comment on the forum not by the MHRA etc
Do you mean on the AF forum?
Yes . Can I point out that I can express a genuinely held opinion whether or not other people agree with it it’s called free speech
Everyone has the right to express and opinion.
People can agree to disagree too.
However Forum members also all have the right to scrutinise and ask for validation of any comment otherwise it is just that a personal opinion.
This is the BHF forum not the AF forum a different group of members with perhaps a different perspective informed by our lived experience of a large variety of heart conditions.
Few are members of the AF forum.
Absolutely correct, Warfarin is an anti-coagulant (blood clotting - thinner) Asprin is an anti-platelet (blood stickyness - for want of a better word) The research I have done is that they do not advise both to be taken once you are on Warfarin, somewhere in my post history. HTH
Although it’s not advised some doctors will weigh up the risks of serious events and choose to prescribe together. That’s why they’re the experts - they can use clinical judgement and experience as well as research to make those decisions. But should always be discussed with the patient.
capecodhealth.org/medical-s..... Hope that link works. Am not good technically. The study shows that if you just stop your aspirin you increase your risk of having a heart attack by 37% and there is a lot more evidence out there
/03/2019 · A study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation earlier this year showed that suddenly stopping aspirin therapy increased the risk of suffering a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, by 37 percent. The study included more than 600,000 patients over a three-year period in Sweden.
Don’t think that is accurate. Aspirin is a big part of heart medication
I take eliquest 5mg mg twice daily no problems, just don"t hit any thing that will bruise.
My dad had taken Asprin, warfarin and simvastin since 1989. Following a fall and a spell in hospital he was taken off all of his medication and at the age of 96 takes no medication at all. I gather that the benefits of many medications are outweighed by the risks as we get older.
The micro dose of aspirin that most of us take has very few real side effects. If you take another blood thinner it isn’t unusual to take aspirin too, at least for a while after an intervention. You seem to have been on both for a long time so reasonable to stop I would have thought if you’ve had no problems since the 90s. But chat to your doc. As for this group hating aspirin? Fake news.
I would think Warfarin would be doing what aspirin does thinning the blood. Can’t see why you need both
in reply to Tullymore
Strangely enough, it appears blood thineers can thin th blood in different ways for different parts of the heart - i have Aspirin to manage my AF and Rivaroxoban to manage my AV post surgery - who knew? Information courtesy of my surgeon - a man for whom i will not have a word said against 👍😉
JennyRx in reply to
Because one is an anticoagulant which affects coagulation rate and the other is an anti platelet that stops platelets sticking together. The term blood thinner is so misleading
in reply to JennyRx
Thank you for that - as i spotted your reply, i got a copy of a letter from my surgeon to my GP Surgery Pharmacist saying exactly the same thing. Amazing how 2 tablets can do the same job, but with different outcomes and maange different conditions. We live an amazing world
JennyRx in reply to
That’s because I’m a pharmacist in my other life.
in reply to JennyRx
I'm now looking for my new 'other life' - in a former life i enjoyed driving trains
👍
JennyRx in reply to
Well during lockdown(s) I’ve found a slightly new other life as a 111 senior clinician. But would love to find something where I was neither the clinician or the patient but still involved helping people.
in reply to JennyRx
Helping people comes in so many varieties... I spent a few years working at Tesco doing the picking for click and collect and home delivery. Even got to drive the vans for a a bit. Helping people out is so rewarding... Sadly, another career screwed by health -Degenearative Menescus - all 4 cartlidges on both knees! Annoyingly, i can't even ride my bike since the op - too much light headedness has cost me my licence and any opportunity to use a vehicle or walk alone. But i'm refreshing my skills on building web sites etc. One day, i'll be able to help in another way - build a web site for a hospital that is actually simple for patients to use and not full of Corporate Speak!
Interesting......My husband is on low aspirin for his stent
Dabigatran for his AF.
Information courtesy of his Cardiologist 😊
I would definitely ask why you are being asked to stop taking aspirin. I am firmly of tge opinion that we need to be part of the decision making process with regards to our medication. My GP was quite impressed that I had done some research before we met to review my medication and he has encouraged me in this ever since. A far cry from my previous GP who was a "take these and don't ask questions" kind of guy.
How stable is your INR? There is an increased risk of internal bleeding whilst you’re on both meds so they may be making a judgement call on risk of haemorrhaging over risk of cardiac event. As with any of these decisions they should be made with the patient and the doctors thought processes revealed clearly to the patient. So ask what the rationale is behind this decision.
The doctor knows best!
For those of us who take aspirin. As long as we take 75mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets Enteric Coated - usually taken on advice after by-pass surgery and to prevent further heart attacks or strokes - there is no problem unless a person has a Stomach Lining issue: Some people have this issue due to taking pain killers, self-prescribed, over a long period and especially if taking the maximum dose or exceeding it.
... and then we get some people who refuse to take anything . A plumber told us that his father had a triple bypass 10 years ago. He eats everything he shouldn’t is overweight and refused all the drugs prescribed . The only good part is that he doesn’t smoke
I have been on both Aspirin and Warfarin since my heart operation in 2005 during that time I have been seen by a lot of cardiologists none of them have ever said to stop the Aspirin, so my advice is to ignore your Doctor
It may be worth putting a call or email in to the secretary of your Cardiologist and see if they can get a response from the Cardiologist for you. It may take a few days to get a response back but I have found secretaries to be a very good way of getting questions to and information from doctors.
Another source of information is a Pharmacist. I believe Pharmacist specialise within their profession in the same way doctors do, where some specialise with all drugs associate with cardiology. If your GP surgery has a Pharmacy liaison, they would be a good place to start if the know of any Pharmacist specialising in cardiology medicine.
Thank you for that 👍
My OHs prescription states to discontinue Aspirin from this month. He isn't on any other blood thinners.
I should pay more attention to things. My GP put me on aspirin because of family history of CHD deaths (Father, older brother and youngest brother). I took them for a considerable time until at an annual review with my GP he asked me why I was on aspirin. I told him he had put me on them and his reply was "Well stop taking them now." I didn't bother querying it as I haven't been to medical school. I had a triple bypass in July 2020 and have been put back on aspirin since then. Again, I haven't asked why.
You have been taking these medications for a long time, so maybe you need to stop taking them! I recommend that you consult with other doctors who can offer you an alternative solution to your problem. Medications treat but sometimes destroy our health, so it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations. My children are under constant medical supervision, and as soon as I notice any symptoms, I immediately make an appointment with a pediatrician at cameronmch.com/services/ped... . I think that self-medication without medical education is very dangerous.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Aspirin
I have been prescribed 75mg x2 Aspirin since my bypass op over 10 years ago along with Lansoprazole
Aspirin
I take an Aspirin every day to prevent blood clots presumably. However my father died of a brain...
Aspirin
statins and aspirin can I ask what sort you take I.e coated or dispersive and does it make any...
Aspirin
for aspirin and atorvastatin. Should I take these before the consult, I have diviculitis and any...
Aspirin 
Taking Aspirin with Aspirin
Magnesium and aspirin 
aspirin and diverticulosis 
