Daily Aspirin Use Can Harm You!

I wrote about Aspirin a couple of years ago when the FDA denied Bayer the claim that Aspirin can and should be used as a preventive for heart conditions without any prior heart attack. Bayer was then denied by the FDA because Aspirin doesn’t prevent heart attacks when used prior to having had a heart attack first. Even after, it can only used as a secondary medicine together with a primary. Furthermore, this is only for men. For women, Aspirin doesn’t ever help to prevent heart attack even after a first heart attack. For women it only helps to prevent stroke caused by a blood clot (TIA)–but again, as a secondary medicine!

The Denial

Here is a quote of the 2014 regulation from the FDA that you can find in full here:

“FDA has reviewed studies on the use of aspirin for the prevention of a first cardiovascular event (primary prevention) and did not find sufficient support for the use of aspirin for primary prevention in these trials. FDA is currently awaiting results of additional clinical trials that are underway and are estimated to have reportable results in the next few years. These clinical trials may provide new evidence that could be the basis for changing the current uses (indications) for aspirin….

FDA recently denied a request submitted by Bayer HealthCare, LLC, requesting a change in the prescribing information for health care professionals (professional labeling) for aspirin to allow marketing of the product for prevention of heart attacks in patients with no prior history of cardiovascular disease.

After the 2003 advisory committee meeting, FDA was aware of several ongoing studies for primary prevention in patients with diabetes and diseases of the arteries and veins located outside of the heart and brain (peripheral vascular disease). We opted to wait for the outcome of these studies. The results of these studies were published over the past several years.  They did not demonstrate a significant benefit for primary prevention….

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) national initiative, the Million Hearts Campaign, is focused on increasing appropriate, secondary prevention aspirin use in individuals who already have heart disease or stroke.  The CDC, in its Million Hearts Campaign, agrees with FDA’s position.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends, as does FDA, the use of aspirin for secondary prevention.  Specifically, NHLBI recommends using aspirin to lower the risk of a heart attack for those who have already had one, and to keep arteries open in those who have had a previous heart bypass or other artery-opening procedure such as coronary angioplasty.”

The OTC Scam!

Although the FDA removed the rights for Bayer to claim any connection with heart attack prevention, recently, the FDA found that heart-associated images started to show up on OTC medicine labels that contained Aspirin.

The FDA is now reaching out again and blocking all false advertisement. All OTC products containing Aspirin with any image or statement referring to the heart is deemed against FDA guidelines.

In addition to not working as advertised by Bayer, Aspirin is also dangerous for the digestive system! Several studies show that Aspirin causes major gastrointestinal distress. A very large longitudinal study was stopped as a result of GI complaints by the patients–as reported in JAMA.

Watch Out for Clueless Doctors!

I had my encounter with a clueless doctor in an ER when a doctor was about to force an Aspirin down my throat for heart arrhythmia. When I reminded him of the FDA guidelines, his response was “my knowledge and experience overrules the regulations of the FDA“… I don’t think so dear clueless (and ignorant) doctor! You are not above the FDA regulations when it comes to medications!

In conclusion: don’t use Aspirin unless your doctor prescribed it and if you already had a heart attack or a TIA! Don’t take daily baby Aspirin! It may hurt you more than benefit you!

Comments are welcome!

Angela