If you want to reduce adverse reactions when taking aspirin for a long time, what should you do?

Aspirin is the most classic antiplatelet drug, which can prevent the occurrence of ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. But many people asked Huazi how to reduce the adverse reactions of aspirin, and whether it is okay to take it for a period of time and then stop for a period of time. Huazi said that aspirin needs to be taken every day to play a protective role on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and it cannot be stopped.

Although aspirin has adverse reactions, 90% of people can tolerate it well, and only 10% may experience adverse reactions. However, most people's adverse reactions are very mild, and reasonable use of the drug can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions. Very few people really need to stop taking the drug.

1. How does aspirin play a protective role? Diseases such as cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction are closely related to atherosclerosis. Some sclerotic plaques are unstable, and their surface is not covered by the normal arterial intima, but a layer of fibrous cap. Under the influence of arterial contraction, spasm, or blood pressure fluctuations and blood flow, the fibrous cap may rupture, which will induce platelet aggregation, and then activate fibrin to form a thrombus.

Aspirin works by binding to cyclooxygenase on platelets, causing irreversible acetylation, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation. In this way, when plaques rupture, platelets will not aggregate and blood clots will not form, thus preventing the occurrence of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.

2. Why do we need to take aspirin every day? Aspirin can protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels only when plaques rupture. But it is impossible to predict when plaques will rupture, so aspirin is a passive defense.

Although aspirin's inhibition of platelets is irreversible, the platelets in the human body are renewed by about 15% every day, so aspirin needs to be taken every day to combine with newly generated platelets to continuously play a role in preventing thrombosis.

Related studies have found that if aspirin is discontinued for more than 48 hours, platelets may form blood clots. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the drug, aspirin needs to be taken every day without interruption.

III. How to reduce the risk of aspirin use 1. Time of taking medicine: Aspirin is irritating to the gastric mucosa. In order to reduce irritation, aspirin currently used is basically enteric-coated tablets. It needs to be taken on an empty stomach 30 minutes to 1 hour before meals or before going to bed, so that the tablets can quickly pass through the stomach and release the drug after entering the intestines to avoid irritation to the gastric mucosa.

2. Take a small dose: Taking a small dose of aspirin (75mg~150mg, most people use 100mg) every day is enough to inhibit the formation of new platelets. Do not take an overdose. If you occasionally forget to take a dose, do not double the dose when you remember the next day. Just take the normal daily dose.

3. Control blood pressure: Many people worry that aspirin can cause cerebral hemorrhage. In fact, the real cause of cerebral hemorrhage is high blood pressure, but aspirin can prolong blood clotting time and may aggravate cerebral hemorrhage. Therefore, when taking aspirin, blood pressure should be controlled below 160 mmHg.

4. Stop taking the drug during surgery: If you need surgery for other diseases, you need to stop taking the drug 7 days before the surgery to avoid blood clotting difficulties and excessive bleeding during the surgery. After the bleeding stops after the surgery, you need to resume taking aspirin.

5. Be cautious when using drugs together: Aspirin will increase the risk of medication when used together with other antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, and glucocorticoids. Therefore, when using multiple drugs together, it should be done under the guidance of a doctor.

6. Protect the digestive tract: The most common adverse reaction of aspirin is damage to the digestive tract. The digestive tract needs to be checked before taking the medicine. People with Helicobacter pylori infection need to be cured before taking the medicine. People with active digestive tract ulcers are prohibited from using the medicine. Digestive tract damage is common within 12 months after taking the medicine. At this stage, you can consider using gastric acid inhibitors and gastric mucosal protective drugs to prevent the occurrence of digestive tract damage.

During medication, you need to pay attention to monitor adverse reactions. If symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, indigestion, and melena occur, seek medical examination and treatment in time.

To sum up, aspirin can prevent the formation of blood clots, but it may also cause adverse reactions when used. Before use, it needs to be evaluated by a doctor to determine that the benefits outweigh the risks before the medication can be used. Aspirin needs to be taken every day without interruption. Reasonable use of the medication can reduce the incidence of adverse reactions. If you are allergic or cannot tolerate aspirin, you can switch to other anticoagulant drugs under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.