Aspirin Contraindications & Interactions

50 million American adults are on aspirin heart therapy (AHT)¹

Your guidance can help patients choose an OTC analgesic appropriately.

• For patients on aspirin heart therapy, adding any NSAID for pain relief increases the risk of GI bleeding². Furthermore, taking ibuprofen can compromise aspirin’s cardioprotective benefits³.

• Below is a list of medical conditions and potential drug interactions to consider before recommending aspirin for pain management. It is not a substitute for the full OTC Drug Facts label. Patients should always read and follow the product label for additional product information.

STOMACH ULCERS AND GI BLEEDING

• Patients who are age 60 or older and patients with a history of GI problems who take any NSAID, including aspirin, are at higher risk for serious GI events such as stomach bleeding and ulcers.

HYPERTENSION

• Aspirin and other NSAIDs may be associated with modest increases in blood pressure. The adverse effect of NSAIDs on hypertension may have the most clinical impact in elderly patients, who have a high prevalence of arthritis, hypertension, and NSAID use^2,4.

LIVER CIRRHOSIS OR LIVER DISEASE

• Aspirin and other NSAIDs are metabolized in the liver and can therefore pose risks for patients with hepatic problems⁵.

KIDNEY DYSFUNCTION

• For patients who have renal abnormalities, using aspirin or other NSAIDs may lead to chronic kidney disease.⁶ Adverse renal events from NSAIDs may be dependent on dose and therapy duration, and can include nephritic syndrome, reduced glomerular filtration, and chronic renal failure⁷.

ASTHMA

• In some adults who have asthma, aspirin and other NSAIDs that inhibit COX-1 can aggravate the condition⁸.

ANTIPLATELET MEDICATIONS OR ANTICOAGULANTS

• Antiplatelet medicines—including low-dose aspirin—pose their own risks of GI complications and bleeding. Adding aspirin or any NSAID can compound these risks. Concomitant use of anticoagulants and NSAIDs also increases GI bleeding risks^2,9.

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATIONS

• Aspirin and other NSAIDs may be associated with modest increases in blood pressure. They may diminish the effects of certain antihypertensive agents, including beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics⁴.

ASPIRIN HEART THERAPY

• For patients on an aspirin regimen, the use of ibuprofen can reduce aspirin’s cardioprotective benefits³. Also, taking any NSAID while on aspirin therapy can increase the risk of GI bleeding².

ADDITIONAL NSAIDs

• More than 900 OTC and prescription medicines contain an NSAID. The use of aspirin when there is frequent chronic use of other NSAIDs can increase the chances of stomach bleeding.

CORTICOSTEROIDS

• Using aspirin or other NSAIDs with corticosteroids increases the risk of severe stomach bleeding, possibly because steroids can decrease production of protective gastric mucus, which in turn can delay healing of NSAID-induced erosions^10,11.

DO NOT USE

• If you are allergic to aspirin or any other pain reliever/fever reducer.

ALCOHOL USE

• If a patient consumes three or more alcoholic drinks every day while taking aspirin or another NSAID, the chance of GI bleeding increases.

ASPIRIN INDICATIONS

• Aspirin is indicated for temporary relief of headache, pain and fever of colds, minor pain of arthritis, muscle pain, menstrual pain, and toothache.

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