Aspirin for high blood pressure

 

Common name: aspirin
Product Name: Arthritis Pain, Aspi-Cor, Aspire 81, Aspir-Low, Bayer Plus, Bufferin, Durlaza, Ecotrin, Ecpirin, Miniprin, Vazalore.
Class of drugs: Platelet aggregation inhibitors, Salicylates

What is aspirin?

Aspirin is a salicylate. It works by reducing the number of things in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.

Aspirin is used to treat pain, and to reduce fever or inflammation. It is sometimes used to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes, and chest pain (angina).

This should be used for cardiovascular conditions only under the direction of a physician.

High blood pressure ( hypertension) is an important risk factor for heart disease. For years taking a small dosage of daily aspirin has been regarded as an appropriate and safe way to reduce the risk of heart disease.

It’s therefore reasonable to link aspirin to lowering blood pressure as a major method of preventing heart attacks as well as strokes. However, experts believe that aspirin’s benefits for cardiovascular health most of the time to its antiplatelet affect–its ability to thin the blood and reduce its stickiness not its capacity to alter blood pressure.

Aspirin and Blood Pressure

In the end, research on the connection with aspirin in relation to blood pressure has been insufficient and is a matter of debate. For instance, aspirin could alter blood pressure in certain instances and at specific times of each morning

Here are some of the most important points that are well-known to date:

• For those suffering from prehypertension or mild hypertension that is not treated, aspirin administered prior to the time of bed (instead of when you wake up) can lower the blood tension. 2
• For women in the midst of pregnancy who are at the highest risk of developing preeclampsia, taking a small dose of aspirin prior to bedtime but not immediately upon awakening can lower the blood tension. 3
• In patients with a history of hypertension that has been accumulated for a long time taking high blood pressure medication aspirin is not believed to alter blood pressure, no matter if it is taken at night or in the early morning.
• Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID); NSAIDs could actually cause blood pressure to rise in patients with hypertension.

Reasons for Taking a Daily Aspirin

However, there are a handful of situations where a daily moderate dose of aspirin might be recommended by your medical doctor.

For instance:

• Have you experienced a heart attack or stroke within the last five years?
• You are suffering from stable coronary arterial disease (CAD) or peripheral arterial condition 
• You are pregnant and at risk for preeclampsia.

However, taking an everyday aspirin to reduce blood pressure or to treat other ailments is not normally recommended.

In light of this, organisations like that of AHA, ACC, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggest patients not to use aspirin without talking the medication with their healthcare medical professionals.

Warnings

You should not use this medication if you have a bleeding problem such as hemophilia, recent gastrointestinal history or intestinal bleeding, or if you are suffering from NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.

Do not give this medicine to a child or teenager who has the flu, flu symptoms, or chickenpox. Salicylates can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.¶

If Your Healthcare Provider Recommends Aspirin

If your physician approves you to take a low dose daily aspirin, make sure you follow the instructions exactly. Dosing the wrong dosage or taking aspirin in the wrong way could increase the risk of negative adverse effects or even complications.

Other things to discuss with your physician prior to taking aspirin are:

• What is the maximum amount of alcohol you are allowed to drink
• What supplements or medications should stay clear of (e.g. having another NSAID such as Ibuprofen together with aspirin may increase your risk of bleeding)
• If you’re undergoing surgery, it is important to know if (and what time) you should stop taking aspirin 12
• Signs to look out for and what to do in the event they are present (e.g., black or bloody stool)

Lowering Your Blood Pressure

If you suffer from elevated blood pressure instead of taking aspirin therapy, your physician will concentrate your attention on lifestyle adjustments and/or picking one or more medicines that have proven to be to be safe and effective in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Examples of these lifestyle changes are:

• Restricting salt in your diet
• Losing weight, if you’re overweight or obese
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day, on all days of the week
• Limiting the consumption of alcohol
• Quitting smoking

The medications your doctor might recommend may include:

• Thiazide diuretics
• Calcium channel blockers
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Beta blockers

Before taking this medicine

Do not give this medicine to a child or teenager who has the flu, flu symptoms, or chickenpox. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• recent history of gastrointestinal bleeding;
• hemorrhagic fever such as hemophilia; or
• if you have ever had asthma or overdose after taking aspirin or NSAID (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• asthma or allergies of the year;
• stomach ulcers;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• bleeding or blood disorders;
• diarrhea; or
• heart disease, high blood pressure, or heart failure constipation.

Taking this medication during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or baby during childbirth. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm the nursing baby. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

How should I take aspirin?

Take aspirin as directed on the label, or as directed by your doctor. Do not use in large or small amounts or for longer than recommended.

Always follow the directions on the medication label about giving the child aspirin.

Take with you food if aspirin affects your stomach.

You should chew the chewing tablet before swallowing it.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open the enteric or delayed/extruded pill. Swallow the whole pill.

If you need surgery, tell your surgeon early that you are taking this medication. You may need to stop using it for a short time.

Do not use aspirin if you have a strong odour of vinegar in a bottle. The drug may no longer work.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What to avoid

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking aspirin. Drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach.

If you are taking this medicine to prevent heart disease or stroke, also avoid taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Ibuprofen can make this drug less effective in protecting the heart and blood vessels. If you have to take both medicines, ask your doctor how different your dosages should be.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication for colds, allergies, or pains. Most over-the-counter medications contain aspirin or NSAIDs. Taking certain products together can make you more likely to get these types of medications. Check the label to see if the drug contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, or NSAIDs.

Aspirin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have symptoms of aspirin allergy: hives; shortness of breath; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have:

• ringing in your ears, confusion, hallucinations, shortness of breath, fainting (convulsions);
• severe nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain;
• bloody or stool stools, coughing up blood or vomiting that look like coffee grounds;
• fever lasting more than 3 days; or
• swelling, or pain that lasts longer than 10 days.

Common side effects of aspirin may include:

• stomach ache, heartburn;
• drowsiness; or
• a headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and some may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect aspirin?

Ask your doctor before taking aspirin if you are taking antidepressants such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone. Taking any of these medications with NSAIDs may cause you to injure or bleed easily.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to use this medicine if you are using any of the following drugs:

• blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven), or other drugs used to block blood clots; or
• other salicylates such as Nuprin Backache Caplet, Kaopectate, KneeRelief, Pamprin Cramp Formula, Pepto-Bismol, Tricosal, Trilisate, and others.

Lastly

The most important thing to remember is that aspirin should not be an effective treatment in the treatment of high blood pressure aside from a few instances. Aspirin can be dangerous, including bleeding and should be used only under the supervision of a medical professional.