Aspirin. Two questions....: Hi all, l... - British Heart Fou...

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Aspirin. Two questions....

chicolini profile image
22 Replies

Hi all, l hope everyone is well. OK first can anyone confirm that it is right to give an aspirin of 300 to 320mg to a person who is, or possibly is, having a heart attack if that person is already taking100mg daily aspirin. I can only find one article that says yes to this.Also, how long after starting 100mg per day low dose aspirin is it fully effective and the blood is unstickied? I can't find that info at all.

I just want to be ready in case my husband has another heart attack . Currently l only have 500mg soluble aspirin at home, so tomorrow l will try to buy 300mg tablets.

Thank you.

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chicolini
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22 Replies

hi dependent on where you are in world you can’t go wrong with NHS advice:

nhs.uk/conditions/heart-att....

Also I saw something that said they should not be the coated ones.

👍

You should be asking your doctor or pharmacist who are professionals not the ex patients on this site

You are absolutely right of course,but I would not like to be the one who advised someone to take additional meds without their doctors approval

I keep some handy too👍

Interesting post thank you and one that we needed to remind us how and when to use aspirin.

Normally the low dose is 75mg a day and certainly it is advised to take 300mg if a heart attack is suspected or being had.

Just asked my heart nurse { phone appointment } and she said if you only had 500mg then that would be ok if the person was not allergic to it { but they are on low dose anyway } on top of their low dose.

As for how quick it works, She says that depends on your weight, but aspirin gets into the system fast.

Either coated or uncoated for the low dose, but best to get uncoated for the 300mg as it will get into the system faster.

Hope that helps

in reply to

thanks for clarifying useful to all,

does the same apply if your on an alternative blood thinner i..e clopidogrel? Aspirin still advisable in emergency? Sorry if silly question.

We keep a packet of aspirin in pride of place on the mantle piece, one in my bedroom, and one in car. Just in cases, you never know……

in reply to

I have no idea sorry. Im just on low dose aspirin , but reading NHS recommendation on using aspirin , it doesn't mention other drugs, would imagine that the medical profession will have more on their hands with dealing with the heart happening , but best get that checked out.

Same here I carry them around with my GTN spray

in reply to

my cardiologist is adamant I won’t have a heart attack due to my CHD but I’ll keep the aspirin handy anyway. 👍

Manhattan1 profile image
Manhattan1 in reply to

i asked my Cardiologist if because i had mild Ischaemic heart disease if i could stop taking my daily 75mg aspirin .. he was nearly apoplectic! ‘ NO!! you could still have a HA.. don’t stop taking aspirin’ 😂.. a couple of times i’ve had to dial 999 due to chest pain… was told to take 4 75mg aspirins and chew them

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to

Ah that old chestnut. You can have a heart attack due to a supply demand mismatch, without obstructed coronary arteries.

I am on clopidogrel for life to help prevent a heart attack due to my poorly functioning endothelium.

Not a blockage in sight.

I don't take aspirin as it can make coronary vasospasms worse.

in reply toMilkfairy

and that’s why I keep the aspirin around just in case😉 I’m not convinced about no heart attack!

Smitty1956 profile image
Smitty1956 in reply to

Hi, All,

Seems like some excellent advice from many. My doctor prescribed that I take one low-dose aspirin daily. I take an 81 mg orange-flavored baby aspirin.

I have read that taking 300 mg uncoated aspirin is a good thing to do if you suspect that you are having a heart attack. That can be in your system for when the emergency team arrives. I also carry aspirin in my purse.

I am not on aspirin or carry them around with me,so if I did come across someone having a heart attack I would ring emergency services,keep them comfortable and keep reassuring them as I have been trained

Palpman profile image
Palpman in reply to

Training is not necessary for giving aspirin to possible heart attack patients as it should be common knowledge.

in reply toPalpman

I am just saying what I would do mate

Douglas91 profile image
Douglas91

I’m not sure. Have you spoken to a doctor regarding this. Aspirin is used to “thin” the blood to stop a blood clot. In someone who’s at risk of a heart attack it’s recommended to take a baby aspirin each day. However it’s sometimes necessary to be on anticoagulants instead. Check with your GP what you need to do in an emergency. Good luck

chicolini profile image
chicolini

Thanks everyone for your input,. 🙂I guess my first question wasn't clearly expressed. Specifically l wanted to know if the emergency aspirin was OK for someone already on aspirin, as l already knew that it was strongly recommended to give a dose of aspirin in the case of heart attack. Googling just got me masses of info saying to give aspirin but nowhere seemed to address the question of the patient already taking aspirin. But yes l think that's clear now from your answers. Thanks for the link fishface. 🙂 . No answer though to my 2nd question of how long after starting low dose aspirin does it have the full effect on the blood? We are on 7 doses so far.

Thank you .

in reply tochicolini

you’re right no answer to second question as such but logically I’d say (not a doctor) if it’s labelled immediate release then it should start to work quickly (some info says 20 to 30 mins but for pain relief not helpful) and as it’s one dose a day enough to last 24hours? But agree bewildering amount of info that I don’t think I’d be happy linking here.

Need a pharmacist!

Good luck!

chicolini profile image
chicolini in reply to

🤯🤪😂

I think you are on very dodgy ground if you ever gave aspirin to someone unknown to you, say on the street, after a suspected heart attack, unless directed to do so by a health professional at the time who then takes on the responsibility for any outcomes. You have no knowledge of the victims medical background. Unless you are medically qualified and on duty and therefore covered by professional indemnity insurance you are putting yourself at risk. What happens if your aspirin causes a problem. In a litigious society you might, in extreme, be sued if anything goes wrong. Do your best to get professional help and make the person comfortable by all means, but stop short of administering medication.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to

Aspirin can cause an allergic response in some people. Kounis syndrome leading to a coronary vasospasm.

I don't take aspirin on the advice of my Cardiologist.

Barre01 profile image
Barre01

I have carried 300mg chewable aspirin for some years attached to my keys. When I had my HA 111 advised me to take aspirin If I had one whilst I waited for the ambulance. Which I did and with prompt action from the nhs I am still here. I don’t know what this isn’t more widely known.

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