Aspirin, the Original Wonder Drug

Aspirin went off patent shortly before the 1918 flu pandemic. Drs. were prescribing it in MUCH bigger doses than later in the 20th century. Large doses of aspirin cause lung hemorrhaging, a common finding in Spanish flu autopsies. No one has attempted the research needed to verify this by examining records from that time. (source: mercola.com)

ASA is used routinely in the prevention of leg clots and pulmonary embolism after joint replacement surgery. Usual dose is 325 twice daily for 4-6 weeks. The literature supports its use, is very effective and has an excellent safety profile.

You and other journalists always tell us to “discuss this with your doctor”. However, most doctors—yes, including specialists—have not read the latest medical news about your particular concern. They rely on what they learned in Medical School, however long ago that might have been. A patient would be far better off to consult a reputable web site like Mayo Clinic which is constantly being updated by scientists.

I began taking two low-dose aspirin, after reading a NYT article on a study relating body mass to effectiveness of low-dose aspirin in preventing clots. My doctor cautioned me against taking a higher dose and had my blood tested for “aspirin tolerance”. As I understood it, that means reduced effectiveness that comes from regularly taking higher doses. Is that a thing? Why don’t doctors recommend just taking a cheaper 325mg tablet?

I'm sorry about your friend dying. But I think the real culprit was the "routine" colonoscopy, not the aspirin. Too many medical "routines" are unnecessary. It is useful to say No to many of them.

The Times has no business in publishing most of the readers comments furnishing medical advice and counseling by persons totally unqualified and not licensed to give medical advice, that accompany this article. If this isn't obvious to you, Ms Brody, maybe it's time to retire. It seems to method taking aspirin as a blood thinner without medical supervision should be discouraged. I've had a long history of high blood pressure, which can be a very dangerous situation even leading to death. To remedy this, I take drugs prescribed by a physician (Nifepidine & Losartan). Self medicating oneself with aspirin is madness and this article is remiss in failing to point this out.

A medical doctor and professor has no business saying “my feeling is” in this context, and quoting that without questioning it is irresponsible.

What great, well researched advice. How about an article on the “cleanse” craze that I suspect is just that?

Hydrating on a long flight is out of the question with aisles narrowed, midplane bathrooms replaced by seats, and long, long lines. Also with so many people (men!) hydrating pee speckles commode and floor, soap dispensers are empty, and paper towel litters the floor, but no clean towels in dispenser.

New research shows that your weight determines if you take low dose va 325mg daily. If you are above 150lbs you have to take 325 mg or it’s ineffective.

I have been using ecospirin150( entric coated Aspirin for more than twenty five years. One per mb day. No problems till date.

Aspirin is safe if taken with a glass of liquid.

Treat Aspirin as a Drug not as a food supplement! And a drug to be taken only when you are not well in someways. Just as any drug, Aspirin's effects can be dulled if taken too many times. So take it only when necessary and it will do its wonders.

On my doctor's advice, I do not take a baby aspirin or other aspirin products. In addition to statins,I used to take a coated baby aspirin daily to help my high cholesterol until I had (over 17 years ago) a major hemorrhagic (not aneurytic) stroke. I doubt that the stroke was caused by the aspirin but why take the chances of another stroke,

I take a statin daily and, with my doctor’s concurrence, a coated baby aspirin. He calls the statin a miracle drug because it dramatically decreases the risk of a heart attack. More often than not, so-called conventional medicine has the answers.

Aspirin is a synthesized chemical as are all pharmaceuticals. As such they should be avoided unless no alternative treatment exists. For most of mankind’s history healers relied upon plants. Our bodies are genetically designed to handle plants, not chemical bombs which target symptoms while having all kinds of unintended consequences and side effects on the rest of our bodies.

Pharmaceutical companies make so much money selling things a simple aspirin could remedy. Pharmaceuticals may rectify whatever symptoms we have, but cause other problems that require other meds, and so on, until we have piles of them to take each day. We’ve got to be smarter. This article is a start.

I take 2 low dose asprins every day. I also take a daily swig of a homemade elixir containing grated, ginger among other ingredients which now concerns me as these foods have blood thinning properties. I think I’ll reduce my aspirin intake to one tablet. I just googled “foods that thin blood” and there are 12. I think that we sometimes forget that our daily foods can have potent medical interactions.

Further testament to the benefits of this simple drug: I have a 15 year old 82 pound husky lab mix with debilitating arthritis in one of his shoulders and worsening arthritis in his hips. After many very expensive therapy trials including physical therapy ($400), injections ($150-$300), carprofen ($65/month) and leftover prescription synthetic narcotics, it is a daily 325mg aspirin for pennies a day that keep him moving, happy, and pain free. I’m not sure it’s a miracle. It’s not surprising that such an old remedy derived from trees that costs little to make is so effective.

I was hoping this article would cover use of aspirin to prevent (or lower risk of recurrence for breast cancer). I understand there have been a couple of studies showing effectiveness but there’s no money in it for big pharma of course.

I am a 62-year old with T1 diabetes. The recommendations from doctors wrt aspirin have been all over the place for the past few years. I suspect the problem is that the recommendations are often not based on the individual case, but on the most recent publication—which if not necessarily applicable to a given individual.

I took low dose aspirin for years,5 years ago suffered a brain bleed. Aspirin as a preventive measure is not worth the risks.

Can aspirin exacerbate macular degeneration?

In preparation of a minor procedure I was told only “take no blood thinners, you know” I asked about NSAIDs and vitamins and was told that they didn’t matter...so even if you ask you may well be given incorrect information.

The article doesn't mention that a subset of asthmatics (often also with nasal polyps) has a true allergy to aspirin - meaning that taking just one OTC aspirin can cause anaphylactic shock. This happened in my case many years ago, and I was rushed to the hospital, where I was thankfully treated in time, and where this allergy was confirmed. Some folks may get a bit of an upset stomach with aspirin, but it can literally kill others. After that episode, I've been careful to look at all labels on OTC meds, and to wear an aspirin allergy bracelet. The last thing I need is the paramedics administering aspirin to me if they suspect I'm having a heart attack. This risk should be mentioned, inasmuch as asthma is not a rare disease, and certain asthmatics must take care to avoid aspirin.

My story is that I collapsed at work (at an academic medical center) and was carted off to the Emergency Department. After lots of testing, they concluded it could have been a small stroke. I spent the night in the hospital for observation, and left at noon with a prescription for Plavix. I went to the supermarket pharmacy, which has pharmacy students to answer questions. I asked 2 of them about the effectiveness of Plavix. They eagerly looked it up on the computer, found 2 studies comparing Plavix with other similar prescription medications and aspirin. The results were that aspirin did as well or better than Plavix and the other drugs. I called a friend of mine who is a neurologist, and she said taking aspirin was probably fine in my case--she had stopped by the morning of my release from the hospital and read my records. A colleague in my department had called her about my situation. I (& my colleague who is an MD) did not have much confidence in my hospital doctor, who came by a couple of times with his pod of medical students and talked down to them and treated me like a piece of furniture he was repairing. Here's the kicker: Current retail price of 15 765 mg Plavix=$160 Current retail price of 500 325 mg Wallgreen's aspirin=$4.79 I took an aspirin a day for 30 days under the care of my neurologist friend. She came up with 5 hypotheses about what might have been the cause of my collapse. All is fine since.

After two years of treating a fluid-filled ear canal with tubes and drainage an allergist diagnosed me with an aspirin allergy. The fluid disappeared after three days!

Interesting that even though nobody has given aspirin to babies or children for decades the term "baby aspirin" has hung around.

The article neglects to mention that people with GERD should not take aspirin or other NSAIDS.

I was hoping this article was going to address the effectiveness and safety of aspirin vs. NSAIDs for long term use, such as for the treatment of pain from osteoarthritis. I experience side effects from prescription meds and can't use them. Anything new to report there?

Way too anecdotal without important details. Aspirin is essentially safe and a holistic therapy. Big pharma hates ASA. Always tell health care providers if you are taking ASA.