In this Article

• What is aspirin?
• What are antiplatelet agents and how do they work?
• What is dipyridamole?
• When is aspirin used for preventing and treating heart attacks and strokes?
• Treatment of heart attacks
• Treatment of exertional and unstable angina
• Treatment of ischemic strokes
• How effective is aspirin for preventing heart attacks among healthy subjects?
• What are the side effects of aspirin?
• What is aspirin allergy?
• What is the optimal dose of aspirin for treating and preventing heart attacks and strokes?
• Who should be taking aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes?
• Who should not be taking aspirin?
• What interactions might aspirin have with other medications?
• What can be done to reduce the risk of ulcers from long-term aspirin use?
• What are the limitations of aspirin treatment?
• What is aspirin resistance?
• What is in the future for the research on aspirin resistance?
• Aspirin and Antiplatelet Medications Glossary
• Aspirin and Antiplatelet Medications Index

What is aspirin allergy?

Allergy to aspirin is a rare condition in which a patient can develop swelling of tissues, spasm of the airways (bronchospasm) that causes difficulty breathing, and even anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. Clearly, patients with a history of allergy to aspirin should not take aspirin. Since aspirin is related chemically to the other NSAIDs, patients who are allergic to the other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), also should not take aspirin.

What interactions might aspirin have with other medications?

Aspirin may interact with other medications and cause undesirable side effects. For example:

• Aspirin, when taken together with an anti-coagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin) or enoxaparin (Lovenox), can greatly impair the body's ability to form blood clots, resulting in excessive bleeding spontaneously, from ulcers, or related to a procedure. Therefore, patients on such combinations must be closely monitored by a doctor.
  
  
• Aspirin can raise levels of uric acid in the blood and may need to be avoided in patients with increased uric acid levels or gout.
  
  
• Aspirin can increase the effect of medications used for lowering blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, resulting in abnormally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Blood sugar levels may need to be more closely monitored.
  
  
• Certain NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), if taken just before aspirin or in multiples doses each day, can reduce the anti-platelet effects of aspirin and theoretically render aspirin less effective in preventing heart attacks and ischemic strokes. The ibuprofen molecule is believed to adhere to the COX-1 enzyme, thus keeping aspirin from reaching the enzyme.

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