Anyone here take aspirin for their heart?

[DinerDave]

Former insurance company thought it was a good idea, they sent out packages of 81 mg for free, to get you started. Current insurance co doesn't do that, and my current doc likes to not medicate if possible, and I've never brought it up.

Dave

[Don C]

I asked about daily aspirin at my checkup a few years ago. The doc said, "I would be taking them if I were your age." So I started taking the low dose ones every day. With no noticeable side effects and low cost of the drug store generics, why not?

[Rick-o]

Yes, low dose, 81mg twice a day, once I was diagnosed with A-Fib that pops in and out.

Fun times when the family Doc says I'm in A-Fib, then a few weeks later, the cardiologist checkup says no A-Fib. We all finally figured that I was going in and out, so neither Doc was wrong.

BTW, I don't think they call it baby aspirin anymore, since it's not good to give even low dose to younguns. IIRC, Reyes Syndrome the reason?

[Speedy]

Don C wrote: low cost of the drug store generics?

Eh, low dose aspirin costs a lot more than the regular dose stuff. But it is coated which probably costs more than the active ingredient.

[IronMac]

Wow...I thought about taking ibuprofen once in a while but now am going to take a more serious look at this.

[wurm]

Mild heart attack in '96. Doc put me on 325mg/day (along with a couple of other meds). At a checkup a couple of years ago, my cardiologist said I could drop down to the 81mg.

[mrlynn]

I have a family history of heart disease, so was taking 81mg aspirin as a preventive. Then I read that a study in England had concluded that long-term aspirin was associated with increased incidence of macular degeneration. So, figuring going blind was to be avoided, I stopped the aspirin.

A few months later I had some slight 'lightness' in my left leg, which after an MRI was diagnosed as a small TIA (stroke). Dr Janie and neurologist said it could have been a rebound effect from stopping the aspirin, and recommended double dose from then on. I figured avoiding a stroke was more imperative than avoiding remote blindness, so now I take 2 x 81mg 'baby' aspirin.

/Mr Lynn

[Speedy]

I have an aunt who stopped her doctor prescribed aspirin. She didn't do it intentionally, she simply ran out and thought she would substitute Advil. One week later she had a significant stroke and now uses a walker.

[RAMd®d]

Is stopping the daily use always contraindicated?

Could one taper off, say an aspirin every other day?

TV ads of controlled substances often warn of not stopping without a doctor's permission.

I fell pray to cynic thinking, believing that was solely Big Pharma wanting your money.

[mrlynn]

RAMd®d wrote:
Is stopping the daily use always contraindicated?

Could one taper off, say an aspirin every other day?

TV ads of controlled substances often warn of not stopping without a doctor's permission.

I fell pray to cynic thinking, believing that was solely Big Pharma wanting your money.

Depends entirely on the medication and circumstances. Some medications must be tapered, and not stopped suddenly, like the Xarelto that Diana says she's taking.

/Mr Lynn