Posted by Mark H. on February 12, 2001, at 16:30:57
Dear Friends,
About seven or eight weeks ago, I started taking one or two enteric coated low-dosage (81 mg) aspirin a day, based on reports that doing so can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. I did so without bothering to research potential interactions with the five medications I take daily and without checking with my doctor. As stupid as that sounds, it just never occurred to me to think of aspirin as a "real drug."
To make a long story short, my stomach hurts, my knees hurt, I have bruises on both legs from bumps I don't even remember, and my AST and GGT are mildly elevated, which apparently suggests liver irritation. I'm just glad I thought to stop before several more months (or years) went by.
While there is no proof that any of the above are the result of my taking aspirin, just last week there was an article in the paper about SSRIs and aspirin increasing each other's tendency to cause bleeding in the digestive tract. Who knows what other interactions might be involved?
The lesson is so simple I'm embarrassed to have forgotten it when it comes to something as common as aspirin: check with your doctor, do your research.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:53820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/53820.html