Advertisement
Aspirin increases the risk of stomach and intestinal ulcers and internal bleeding. Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have this same risk. Taking them both increases that risk a little more.
NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, generics) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) and many others.
Many people need to take both aspirin and an NSAID. For example, aspirin is used to prevent a heart attack or stroke by "thinning" the blood and reducing blood clots. NSAIDs are used to treat arthritis or some other inflammatory condition.
My advice is to use the lowest possible dose of each. For most conditions, a baby aspirin (81 milligrams) per day is enough. The dose of the NSAID varies depending upon the specific drug and why it is needed.
If a person has ever had an ulcer or internal bleeding, and they take both an aspirin and an NSAID, I recommend that they also take an acid inhibitor. This lowers the risk of stomach and intestinal ulcers and internal bleeding. I usually suggest a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole. These three drugs are available as generics.
One other fact you need to know about taking aspirin and an NSAID -- they should not be taken at the same time of the day. This is especially true for ibuprofen. Take the baby aspirin in the morning with breakfast. Then wait at least an hour before taking any ibuprofen.
The reason is that ibuprofen latches on to platelets in the blood at the same spots where aspirin attaches to platelets. If you take the ibuprofen first, the aspirin won't have its usual effect of reducing blood clotting.
NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, generics) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve) and many others.
Many people need to take both aspirin and an NSAID. For example, aspirin is used to prevent a heart attack or stroke by "thinning" the blood and reducing blood clots. NSAIDs are used to treat arthritis or some other inflammatory condition.
My advice is to use the lowest possible dose of each. For most conditions, a baby aspirin (81 milligrams) per day is enough. The dose of the NSAID varies depending upon the specific drug and why it is needed.
If a person has ever had an ulcer or internal bleeding, and they take both an aspirin and an NSAID, I recommend that they also take an acid inhibitor. This lowers the risk of stomach and intestinal ulcers and internal bleeding. I usually suggest a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole. These three drugs are available as generics.
One other fact you need to know about taking aspirin and an NSAID -- they should not be taken at the same time of the day. This is especially true for ibuprofen. Take the baby aspirin in the morning with breakfast. Then wait at least an hour before taking any ibuprofen.
The reason is that ibuprofen latches on to platelets in the blood at the same spots where aspirin attaches to platelets. If you take the ibuprofen first, the aspirin won't have its usual effect of reducing blood clotting.
More About this Book
Harvard Medical School Arthritis: Keeping your joints healthy
If you have arthritis, you can take steps to protect your joints, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility all of which are detailed in this report. Because describing your symptoms is so important...
Continue Learning about Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.