Aspirin Therapy Can Complicate Pain Relief

04/02/08 Disease Basics

Millions of adults who are at high risk for complications from cardiovascular disease may be taking aspirin (ASA) as part of their daily regimen. And many of them are also at the age when the aches and pains of daily activity and perhaps osteoarthritis are taking their toll. Many individuals are wary of taking more aspirin for relief. Instead, ibuprofen, more commonly known by its trade name Motrin, is the reliever of choice. But studies to be released in the April issue of Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases by a team from Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City indicate this to be a dangerous practice.

The chemical interplay between the two drugs increases risk of blood clots and cardiac congestive failure. This directly increases the chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or clots in lungs and limbs. The study compared low dose aspirin used in combination with ibuprofen or naproxen to aspirin alone or in combination with a third drug.

The only group to demonstrate increased adverse effects was the ASA and ibuprofen combination. This means that the class of drug, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory or NSAIDs, are not entirely off limits for cardiac patients. Naproxen was found to have no ill effects or increased risk when used in combination with aspirin.

While this is significant to cardiac patients seeking pain relief, it may also have implications for individuals placed on low dose aspirin as a preventative measure. However the study did not include a non-cardiac control group or any patient on precautionary aspirin therapy.

One study is never enough to hang your hat on in the scientific world. But the results leave little to the imagination and it is probably better to give up ibuprofen and switch to naproxen if you take aspirin regularly—at least until there’s confirmation otherwise. As always, speak to your physician before altering your medication routine, and in this case you may need to cite the source of the study.

Corie Richter is a nurse and physician's assistant who started her career as a health educator. The survivor of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and partially successful quadruple bypass surgery, she did not let her health challenges hamper her. Neither the limitations of spinal surgery nor of diabetes have deterred her from a mission of service. She now encourages others through writing and speaking engagements to master their disabilities through education and a proactive attitude.