Aspirin yes or no?

[Juliachoo]

Hi I am testing the water here for other points of view. I have RA & am on MTX injections plus SFZ & naproxen.. two days ago while suffering from flu I accidentally took an aspirin. When I realized I panicked & looked up contraindications of taking aspirin with methotrexate.. on some sites it’s a definite no no & on others it says it’s fine if 75mg or less.. it also comes under the nsaids umbrella which includes naproxen... one thing I’m very certain of is that yesterday & today the “always on” severe pain in my hands & feet has lessened considerably!! Therefore has anyone else had a similar experience? Thanks muchly in advance x

[Cherub198889]

SFZ is a combination of a sulfa antibiotic & aspirin. So I think you should ask your rheumatologist if you need to increase your Sulfasalizine dose since the aspirin lessened your pain.

[Hidden]

Not medical advice but asked rheumatology nurse same thing as paracetomol makes me sick so only used aspirin. I'm on mtx and hydroxychloroquine. She said fine as long as in moderation/not all the time. I'd check advice line if worried.

[Nettac]

I wouldn't take it with the naproxen.

[bpeal1]

I would take advice from a pharmacist or your Rheumatologist but I think the greater issue would be taking aspirin with the naproxen rather than the MXT. A quick google search says to leave at least 8-12 hours between taking aspirin and naproxen.

[helixhelix]

For these sorts of things it's always best to ask your own doctors, as they know the rest of your medical history - and we don't (and we're not doctors...).

But generally the online information about contraindications is very cautious, as it should be, as it factors in people with fragile health taking maximum doses of everything. If it says you "must" not take X with Y them pay attention, but often it sits on the fence and says "should be avoided" which is fine in theory... but the real world is very different and if you want some quality of life you can't avoid everything.

I asked my rheumy early on about some of these things, and her view is that since we are on MTX we are well monitored so any possible problems would be picked up.

Here's a link to a Cochrane study (the most reliable type of study) on MTX and anti-inflammatoires. Which basically says MTX and NSAIDs are ok, but aspirin "should be avoided". The doses of aspirin mentioned were high - 2g or so, not 75mg.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

So personally I wouldn't panic, but if it has helped then question your doctors further about continuing with it or increasing the Sulpha as cherub says.

[Juliachoo]

Thank goodness I realised in time & didn’t take the naproxen that night...just goes to show the power of aspirin...a very old remedy that still works. The only problem is the “knawing “ in the stomach with aspirin which I suppose is better if enteric coated. On 4 sfz a day already..thank you everyone for your Input, hands really feel 50% better so at least a silver lining. I see the consultant Friday, if I’m over this awful sledgehammer flu xx