I've been taking baby aspirin for my heart. Now my arthritis is acting up. Should I just increase my dosage of aspirin? I'm worried about getting an ulcer on top of everything else.
It's best to seek medical advice directly from your doctor for this type of question. Each patient responds differently based on history, body metabolism and type and severity of arthritis. A careful examination and knowledge of medications is required.
We can offer some information that may be helpful to you when talking with your doctor. As you may know, aspirin is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). It is also an anticoagulant and can prevent the formation of blood clots. This is why it's used with heart patients. But as you point out, it is also acidic and causes ulcers in some people.
The dosage used for heart attack prevention is very low and not likely to effectively treat painful joint symptoms. Patients with mild OA often try ibuprofen, a popular over-the-counter NSAID.
But studies show there is an increased risk of heart attack in aspirin users taking ibuprofen. Other NSAIDs may be a safer choice. Sometimes TylenolŪ works well for pain relief of mild joint pain. Since it's not an antiinflammatory, there is little concern about an increased risk of heart attack with its use. Your doctor will know what's best for you. « Back
All content provided by eOrthopod® is a registered trademark of Mosaic Medical Group, L.L.C.. Content is the sole property of Mosaic Medical Group, LLC and used herein by permission. Alteration of these documents in any way is a violation of the copyright.