General Chat

Know what you mean Elizabeth.
Just mentioning an article on page 11 of today's Daily Express.
Sorry to read you get bad head aches, hope they're not migraine.

I am taking part in one of the research studies for aspirin as a preventative against bowel cancer.

There was a previous study that apparently concluded that aspirin does have preventative qualities and they are now using the study I am in to work out the most effective dose.

It is a blind trial and I am taking either 100mg, 300mg or 600mg for up to 5 years!

Chris

I have a stent.

I was told to take 1/2 an aspirin every day......... simple explanation given to me.... blood is sticky and can stick (teeny teeny bits) to the stent, eventually blocking it. Aspirin also thins the blood, helping to avoid blood clots.

I have to stop the aspirin 4 weeks before any surgery... including dental surgery such as extractions.

That's what I've been told by doctors, dentists & nurses.

A big down side is that taking Aspirin long term may cause stomach/intestinal bleeding and ulcers. Older adults may be more likely to suffer from this side effect and drinking and smoking will increase the risk even further.

In addition it should not be taken with NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen.

Other than short term use as a painkiller, Aspirin should only be taken with the approval of your doctor. Self medication is not a clever idea and you only have to read some of the posts above to see how much misunderstanding there is over the use and purpose of different medication.

I took part in an asprin trial about two years ago as I had , on medical advice, been taking quarter of an asprin for some years. The results were ambitious, so, again on medical advice, the daily dose was cut down to three doses a week. I reinterate IGP's comments about medication, and making absolutely sure you know what your medicines are for, and exactly what they do i.e., asprin does not lowered blood pressure!!!! Self medication is an absolute No No, as is taking someone else's, even if these meds do the same job as yours.

Morning Chris in Wessex, there's a huge difference in strength between a child's dosage and 400, 500, 600mg

David, it's obviously a research study involving a number of people taking different strengths over a period of time to try to ascertain which dosage is most effective. The strengths would have to vary considerably for researchers to be able to ascertain this.